Concerns of Effective Microwave Cooking
Posted By Pritzker | Ruohonen In Banquet Pot Pie Lawsuit , Food Safety , General Mills Lawsuit / Jeno's and Totino's Lawsuit | Permalink | Comments |
The International Association for Food Protection has released a series of presentations dealing with a growing concern among the frozen food industry to address the risks of microwavable foods. Frozen foods have been the target of many recent foodborne illness outbreaks, including the Jeno’s and Totino’s frozen pizza E. coli outbreak and the Banquet Pot Pie Salmonella outbreak.
At the forefront of addressing the issue of microwavable foods is the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), which has undertaken various measures to eliminate risks associated with frozen foods. (Lawsuit prevention is most likely the reason for the AFFIs renewed interest in educating consumers about microwave safety. Interestingly, food manufacturers commonly defend foodborne illness claims by arguing that it was the consumer's fault for not cooking the product correctly.)
AFFI has developed a guide entitled “Cooking with Microwave Ovens, Nutrition and Food Safety Considerations” which offers consumers ways to prepare nutritious meals with a microwave oven. AFFI has also been working with microwave manufacturers and various organizations to develop better labeling for microwavable products to account for various power ratings and options on the ovens.
Not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) foods pose one of the biggest concerns to safe microwaving, because if not cooked properly, they are not completely safe to consume and may contain foodborne pathogens. A group from the Grocery Manufacturers Association has developed guidelines to validate cooking instructions on NRTE foods to make sure that when cooked following the instructions, the food is safe to eat.
The greatest concern about providing the safest cooking instructions revolves around issues with microwave technology itself, and its incapacity to provide uniform heating throughout food. Uneven cooking allows for hot and cold spots within the food. It also allows for the failure to inactivate certain pathogens in the food. Most research shows that heating in microwaves is the primary mode for the inactivation of pathogens, so it is quite important to solve the problem of uneven cooking.
The presentations address a variety of areas that affect uneven heating:
- Non-uniform distribution of dipolar molecules and ionic materials within the food.
- Differences in microwave absorption of frozen/thawed areas.
- Product/component edge heating effects.
- Areas of high and low microwave field strength within the oven cavity and product.
- Different food component and thermal properties.
There are many ways to improve the safety of microwavable products, and doing so will greatly reduce the risk of outbreak of foodborne illnesses related to these products. As is shown, there is much research and thought going into the betterment of these products to ensure safer products for consumers to prepare.
Throw Out Recalled ConAgra Pot Pies
Posted By Pritzker | Ruohonen In Banquet Pot Pie Lawsuit , Salmonella | Permalink | Comments |
Health officials in Illinois are concerned by the growing number of Salmonella cases linked to frozen pot pies recalled by ConAgra Foods. The ConAgra recalled pot pies (Banquet pot pies in particular) have been linked with a multi-state Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 272 people. Dr. Damon T. Arnold, state public health director, is warning consumers again today to throw out the recalled ConAgra frozen pot pies.
“If you currently have pot pies in your freezer, even if you bought them a couple months ago, you need to pay attention to this recall. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) continues to receive reports of ill people who have consumed the recalled pot pies within the last month. Salmonellosis can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within eight to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may include chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days. Consumers should not eat these pot pies,” said Dr. Arnold.
To date, Illinois has a total of 15 cases of Salmonella that are believed to be associated with eating the recalled pot pies, compared to six cases as of October 12 when IDPH first warned consumers.
The following brands and all varieties, including chicken, turkey and beef, of frozen pot pie products are subject to this recall:
| Albertson’s | Kirkwood |
| Banquet | Kroger |
| Food Lion | Meijer |
| Great Value | Western Family |
| Hill Country Fare |
These frozen pot pies include all varieties in 7 oz. single serving packages bearing an establishment number “P-9” or “Est. 1059” printed on the side of the package.
Pritzker | Ruohonen, a leading foodborne illness litigation law firm, is accepting cases involving Salmonella infections (salmonellosis) associated with ConAgra pot pies sold under the above brands. To contact one of our lawyers, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form. Please see information on hiring a lawyer for your Salmonella case.CongAgra-Banquet Plant Had Flawed Safety Plan
Posted By Pritzker | Ruohonen In Banquet Pot Pie Lawsuit , Outbreaks , Recalls , Salmonella | Permalink | Comments |
According to the USDA, ConAgra’s Missouri plant that produced recalled Banquet pot pies associated with a Salmonella outbreak had flaws in its safety plan. This seems obvious given that over 270 people were sickened in this outbreak. From the Sun-Sentinel:
USDA inspectors found flaws in the safety plan ConAgra Foods Inc. used at the Missouri plant where it makes the Banquet and private label pot pies that were linked to a salmonella outbreak.
. . . [USDA spokeswoman Amanda] Eamich would say only that there was a record-keeping problem and an issue with ConAgra's Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point plan that spells out what the company does to ensure its products are safe.
Over 200 Cases of Salmonella Associated with ConAgra Pot Pies
Posted By Pritzker | Ruohonen In Banquet Pot Pie Lawsuit , Outbreaks , Recalls , Salmonella | Permalink | Comments |
The Salmonella outbreak associated with ConAgra pot pies has sickened at least 211 people, according to the CDC. All of these people were sickened by an identical strain of Salmonella.
So far, 34 states are involved in the outbreak: Arizona (1 person), Arkansas (3), California (5), Colorado (7), Connecticut (6), Delaware (5), Florida (2), Georgia (2), Idaho (7), Illinois (6), Indiana (3), Kansas (2), Kentucky (8), Massachusetts (6), Maryland (7), Maine (1), Michigan (3), Minnesota (7), Missouri (13), Montana (4), Nevada (6), New York (9), Ohio (10), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (3), Pennsylvania (15), Tennessee (6), Texas (4), Utah (11), Virginia (7), Vermont (2), Washington (14), Wisconsin (22), and Wyoming (3).
At least 40 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
After what could be argued was a negligently long period of time after being made aware of the possible connection between its pot pies and the Salmonella infections, ConAgra recalled the following 7 oz. single serving brands of pot pie bearing an establishment number "P-9" or "Est. 1059" printed on the side of the package:
- Banquet (sold at many stores)
- Great Value (sold at Wal-Mart)
- Kirkwood (sold at Aldi)
- Albertson’s (sold at Albertson’s)
- Food Lion (sold at Food Lion)
- Hill Country Fare (sold at HEB)
- Kroger (sold at Kroger)
- Meijer (sold at Meijer)
- Western Family (now discontinued)
If you ate pot pies sold under any of these brands and have been diagnosed with Salmonella, please contact Pritzker | Ruohonen. Our law firm is investigating cases of Salmonella associated with ConAgra pot pies. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s online consultation form.
Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Banquet Pot Pies Made by ConAgra
Posted By Pritzker | Ruohonen In Banquet Pot Pie Lawsuit , Outbreaks , Recalls , Salmonella | Permalink | Comments |
The CDC, USDA and state health officials are investigating the Salmonella outbreak linked to Banquet pot pies made by ConAgra that has sickened at least 139 people in 30 states. The CDC is recommending that people not eat Banquet pot pies or pot pies made by ConAgra Foods that have a printed code ending in “P9.” The multi-state outbreak of Salmonella I,4,[5],12:i:- (pronounced “four five twelve eye minus”) infections is ongoing.
According to the CDC:
Between January 1, 2007 and October 9, 2007, at least 139 isolates of Salmonella I,4,[5],12:i:- with an indistinguishable genetic fingerprint have been collected from ill persons in 30 states. Ill persons whose Salmonella strain has this genetic fingerprint have been reported from Arizona (1 person), California (5), Connecticut (3), Delaware (5), Georgia (2), Idaho (2), Illinois (3), Indiana (3), Kansas (2), Kentucky (7), Massachusetts (5), Maryland (5), Maine (1), Minnesota (5), Missouri (11), Montana (4), Nevada (6), New York (6), Ohio (6), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (2), Pennsylvania (13), Tennessee (5), Texas (4), Utah (2), Virginia (6), Vermont (2), Washington (1), Wisconsin (19), Wyoming (2). Their ages range from <1 to 87 years with a median age of 20 years; 49% of ill persons are female. At least 20 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
According to a ConAgra press release regarding the Salmonella outbreak associated with Banquet pot pie, “The company believes the issue is likely related to consumer undercooking of the product.” ConAgra is wrong. Epidemiological evidence suggests that “the issue” in this outbreak “is likely related” to unsanitary conditions in a ConAgra plant allowing contamination of Banquet pot pies and other ConAgra pot pies with Salmonella. Anyone diagnosed with a Salmonella infection (salmonellosis) associated with ConAgra/Banquet pot pies has a claim against ConAgra and other parties that may be connected to this outbreak.
Pritzker | Ruhonen is a leading food poisoning litigation law firm. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s online consultation form. Pritzker | Ruohonen is a national firm and represents victims of Salmonella outbreaks throughout the United States.