Ritz Recall? Oh No!
My Day
By Dr. J. Ester Davis
Are you reading the labels of the foods you purchase? For any unknown reason, have your allergies been more active than usual or is your stomach having a disagreement with more of your desired foods?
What about ‘pop-up’ headaches? I am of the opinion that Americans, especially African Americans must be aware that agriculture and our food supply is a matter of national security.
I love Ritz! A Ritz Cracker is like a Lays Potato Chip. You cannot eat just one. They go with everything. And can stand alone as a snack you can eat in your hand. But this week there was a potential presence of salmonella and they were pulled from grocer’s shelves. How could that be? It’s a cracker for Pete’s sake!
Well, there is more undelicious news about food. This is a very important topic especially doing the summer months with vacations, visitors, picking up foods in other cities, eating out more. Be careful too of those ‘quick-for-sell’ items. An allergic reaction or a ‘sour stomach’ will most assuredly ruin a well-planned vacation and hinder you from enjoying your 50th high school reunion. Let me mention a few recall listing from Food Safety.gov, both the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA). . . all in the month of July, 2018.
Gift Tree issued an alert on “undeclared” pecans, walnuts, almonds, peanuts in Sherman Candy Caramels. Flowers Food Brands of Swiss Rolls and Captain John Derst Old Fashioned Bread issued an allergy alert. Another allergy alert issued for “undeclared” milk in Food Lion Brand Dill Pickle Potato Chips, a potential serious life threatening allergic reaction. HEB voluntarily issued a recall for Creamy Creations Ice Cream and Sherbets in three (3) ounce cups due to a broken metal found in processing equipment doing routine maintenance. This recall included HEB stores in Texas. Aldi recalled a Hawaiian brand due to storage at incorrect temperature. I wonder with the three-digit heat, how many of these have we had without recall notices to the public. Ready-to-eat beef jerky products recalled due to misbranding.
Reviewing further down the list at Food Safety.gov., in the month of July, 2018, there was more “undeclared” peanuts due to misbranding mistakenly included in a pack instead of cashews. There were several product recalls due to misbranding and “undeclared” allergens. A sausage company recalled approximately 10,800 pounds of canned chicken gravy products that may have been under processed.
This is a very insightful website. Please read labels and check Food Safety.gov., regularly.
Share the information. We need you to . . . stay well.
National Council of Negro Women (NCNW)
9th Texas State Unity Conference,
August 16 – 18, 2018. Dr. Molly Johnson Williams, Conference Chair.
www.esterday.com or 214.376.9000
