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Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a 2008 decision that allowed patients to file a parallel claim against manufacturers of medical devices.

With the ruling, the court rejected an appeal by Stryker Corporation against a lawsuit foiled by Illinois resident Margaret Bausch who got a replacement hip six days after the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) issued a warning about problems at Stryker’s manufacturing plant.

In seeking to dismiss Bausch’s lawsuit, Stryker cited a 2008 Supreme Court ruling that patients cannot file state-law product liability suits over products that went through FDA review.

However, a Chicago Federal Appeals court allowed Bausch’s suit based on the exception made the Supreme Court which allowed parallel claims.

The FDA investigated Stryker’s facility in Ireland and informed the company in March 2007 that it must correct manufacturing deficiencies. In 2008, Stryker recalled hip and knee replacements manufactured at its Ireland plant, including the one implanted on Bausch, requiring her to undergo a second surgery to have the defective device replaced.

Stryker, based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, reported last month that its profit went down 3 percent in the third quarter due to cost related to recent acquisitions. As a result, Stryker’s earnings went down to $327 million from $337 million after it purchased former rival Orthovita, the neurovascular business of Boston Scientific Corporation and Memometal Technologies, which makes foot and hand implants.

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The cost of living in the U.S. rose in April, led by increases in food and fuel that are starting to filter through to other goods and services.

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Wyoming, MI, United States (AHN) – Nut Bar Company Inc. of Wyoming, MI, is recalling 90 cases (total of 360 individual bags) of 40 ounce packages of “GFS Pecan Pieces” because they may contain undeclared walnuts rather than pecans.

People who have allergies to walnuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

GFS Pecan Pieces, Lot Number 095 1094 with UPC 093901134837 were distributed only through Gordon Food Service’s (GFS) Shepherdsville, KY Distribution Center.

The product was distributed to Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia and reached consumers through restaurant distribution and GFS Marketplace Stores.

The only lot code affected by this recall is 095 1094, which can be found printed near the top of the package.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall was initiated after it was discovered that a walnut containing product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of walnuts. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company’s packaging processes.

Consumers who have purchased GFS Pecan Pieces, UPC 093901134837 are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Nut Bar Company Inc. at 1-800-821-1067 Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm EST.

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Arkansas City, KS, United States (AHN) – Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, an Arkansas City, Kan., establishment, is recalling approximately 14,158 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

• Approx. 40-pound cases of “BEEF FINE GRIND 81/19 NATURAL,” containing 10-pound chubs. These products have an identifying product code of “80185.”
• Approx. 40-pound cases of “BEEF CHUCK FINE GRIND 81/19 NATURAL,” containing 10-pound chubs. These products have an identifying product code of “80285.”
• Approx. 40-pound cases of “BEEF SIRLOIN FINE GRIND 91/9 NATURAL,” containing 10-pound chubs. These products have an identifying product code of “80495.”
• Approx. 40-pound cases of “BEEF FINE GRIND 90/10 NATURAL,” containing 5-pound chubs. These products have an identifying product code of “85165.”
• Approx. 60-pound cases of “BEEF FINE GROUND 93/7,” containing 10-pound chubs. These products have an identifying product code of “86191.”

Each case label bears the establishment number “EST. 27″ inside the USDA mark of inspection. These products were produced on Feb. 22, 2011, and were shipped to firms in Ariz., Calif., Ga., Ind., Iowa, Mo., N.C., Ohio, Pa. and Wash. for further processing and/or distribution.

It is important to note that the above listed products may have been repackaged into consumer-size packages and sold under different retail brand names.

The problem was discovered through third party lab results which confirmed a positive result for E. coli O157:H7. FSIS and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160° F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature.

Consumer and media with questions regarding the recall should contact the company’s Vice President of Marketing, Jim Rogers at (620) 741-3352.

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New Market, Virginia, United States (AHN) – New Market Poultry, a New Market, Va., establishment, is recalling approximately 3,339 pounds of ice-packed, whole chicken products that may be adulterated due to leaking cooler condensate, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The problem was identified Feb. 24, 2011 when the company discovered product under USDA retention had been shipped.

On Feb. 23, 2011 FSIS personnel observed standing water with unidentified black specks pooling on the box lids of the packed chickens stored in a company cooler. The palletized boxes, which contain drainage holes, were retained by FSIS and should not have been shipped.

The products subject to recall include:

Approx. 60-pound boxes of “New Market Poultry 2007, LLC, EVISCERATED POULTRY, For Further Processing Only, Some Parts Missing” bearing case code of “05412.”

Each box bears the establishment number “P-4602A” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The chicken products were produced on Feb. 23, 2011 and inadvertently shipped the same day to six distribution centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Farmington, N.Y.

FSIS has not received any consumer complaints or reports of illness at this time. Anyone concerned about an illness from consumption of this product should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall should contact the company’s General Manager, David Whitehouse at (540) 740-4260.

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Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to take a weight-loss product sold online because it may cause heart problems.

The FDA released a statement that PRock Marketing has voluntarily recalled its Fruta Planta and Reduce Weight Fruta Planta products because the agency determined in tests that they contain sibutramine.

Sibutramine was withdrawn from the market in December 2010.

The FDA said it has received multiple reports of adverse health events associated with the use of Fruta Planta and Reduce Weight Fruta Planta, including several heart-related episodes and death.

Subutramine is known to increase blood pressure and pulse rates in some patients and may pose a serious risk for people with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias or stroke.

People who have the products are being told to throw them away or try to return them to the company.

PRock can be reached at 877-225-1009 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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Hawthorne, CA, United States (AHN) – A California company has issued a recall for more than 34,000 pounds of organic ground beef suspected of being contaminated by E. coli, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Thursday.

Hawthorne, CA-based First Class Foods, Inc., said the affected products were produced on Dec. 7 and 16 for sale in California, Washington state, Wisconsin, New Jersey, New York and North Carolina.

The FSIS said the packages have “EST. 18895″ printed on them, as well as the identifying pack date of 10341 and 10350 Julian date.

Neither the company nor the government has received any reports of illnesses linked to the ground beef. However, samples tested positive for E. coli.

E. coli can cause dehydration and diarrhea with severe cases resulting in kidney failure and death. People with weak immune systems, including babies and senior citizens are most vulnerable.

The following products are under recall:

• 16-oz. packages of “Nature’s Harvest Organic Ground Beef Brick” sold singly with “Use or Freeze by” dates of 12/30/10 or 01/08/11.
• 16-oz. packages of “Organic Harvest Organic Ground Beef Brick” sold singly and in three-packs with “Use or Freeze by” dates of 12/28/10 or 01/06/11.
• 16-oz. packages of “Nature’s Harvest Ground Patty” containing four 4-oz. patties with “Use or Freeze by” dates of 12/30/10 or 01/08/11.

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Dallas, Texas, United States (AHN) – Winn Meats Co., a Dallas, Texas, establishment, is recalling approximately 25,600 pounds of ground beef products that were improperly labeled and potentially adulterated, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The products’ labels include “For Cooking Only,” indicating that they are intended for further processing to apply a full lethality at a federally inspected establishment. Because the products were distributed to non-federally inspected establishments where it cannot be verified that sufficient further processing occurred to remove foodborne pathogens that could have been present, these products must be removed from commerce.

The following products are subject to recall:

• 60-pound boxes of “Ground Beef for Cooking Only”

Each box bears the establishment number “EST. 2338″ inside the USDA mark of inspection and can be identified by the case code “506093.” Boxes contain three 20-pound packages of ground beef.

The ground beef products were produced between August 24, 2010 and November 30, 2010. They were sent to a distribution center in Albuquerque, N.M., who in turn sent the products to restaurants, central kitchens, and caterers throughout the state.

The problem was discovered as a result of an FSIS investigation and review of company records. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

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Pioneer Food Group says it has offered to buy KWV for R828m to diversify its revenue streams.

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World food prices are rising again, but SA consumers are fortunate because the wave of international food-price increases has not spilled over here yet.

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