Product recalls

[Dexter Morgan]

New IRS Email Phishing Scam offers Refund

Updated Nov.  2007 -  In a variation, an e-mail scam claims to come from  the IRS and the Taxpayer Advocate Service (a genuine and independent organization within the IRS whose employees assist taxpayers with unresolved tax problems). The e-mail says that the recipient is eligible for a tax refund and directs the recipient to click on a link that leads to a fake IRS Web site. The IRS recommends that recipients do not click on links in, or open any attachments to, e-mails they receive that are unsolicited or that come from unknown sources.     

Suspicious e-Mail/Phishing

Phishing (as in "fishing for information" and "hooking" victims) is a scam where Internet fraudsters send e-mail messages to trick unsuspecting victims into revealing personal and financial information that can be used to steal the victims? identity.

Current scams include phony e-mails which claim to come from the IRS and which lure the victims into the scam by telling them that they are due a tax refund.

You Can Help Shut Down Phishing Schemes

The good news is that you can help shut down these schemes and prevent others from being victimized. If you receive a suspicious e-mail that claims to come from the IRS, you can relay that e-mail to a new IRS mailbox, phishing@irs.gov.

Follow instructions in the link below for sending the bogus e-mail to ensure that it retains critical elements found in the original e-mail. The IRS can use the information, URLs and links in the suspicious e-mails you send to trace the hosting Web site and alert authorities to help shut down the fraudulent sites. Unfortunately, due to the expected volume, the IRS will not be able to acknowledge receipt or respond to you.


   

    Actual Phishing Email
    (appears to be from Internal Revenue Service)

http://www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=274&z=1

This one is scary...

Jesum Crow!!!  What's next? 

[Dexter Morgan]

Have I mentioned I hate the IRS? 

Me too my friend.  They suck. 

[Locutus]

Here's some information on a ground beef recall that just came out.


GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (AP) -- A company voluntarily recalled nearly 96,000 pounds of ground beef products after two people were sickened, possibly by the E. coli bacteria, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service said Saturday.

The recalled ground beef products were distributed in seven states.

The beef products by American Foods Group include coarse and fine ground beef chuck, sirloin and chop beef. They were distributed to retailers and distributors in Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Virginia.



http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/25/beef.recall.ap/index.html

[tallulahdahling]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyid=2008-01-19T033650Z_01_N18356424_RTRUKOC_0_US-FDA-RECALL-BEANS.xml




WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New Era Canning Co is expanding a recall of canned green beans and garbanzo beans because of potential botulism contamination, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday.

The FDA said the beans might be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism, a serious and sometimes life-threatening condition.

The affected cans are large institutional-sized containers, weighing approximately six and a half pounds, the FDA said.

"To date, no illnesses have been reported to the FDA; however, consumers should not consume these products, even if they appear to be normal," the agency said in a statement.

New Era distributed the beans nationwide over the last five years.

The cans and contents should be thrown away carefully, as even tiny amounts of the C. botulinum toxin can cause serious illness, the FDA said.

Michigan-based New Era made the recall voluntarily in the interest of public health, the agency said.

[Dexter Morgan]

What next? If I read correctly some of the cans date back to 5 years?? Five years? Jesum Crow!!! That's scary. 

[tallulahdahling]

I predict that we are going to see a resurrection of the 70's Co-Op system.  A place where you know your food is safe to buy and eat.
It's just getting too crazy out there.  If I had kids, I would be a freak about feeding them these days!

[Dexter Morgan]

I predict that we are going to see a resurrection of the 70's Co-Op system.  A place where you know your food is safe to buy and eat.
It's just getting too crazy out there.  If I had kids, I would be a freak about feeding them these days!

When the pet food recall went down, I almost lost my mind.  I'm not kidding, everytime I fed them, I wondered if it would make them sick, or kill them.  It was a horrible time. Many sleepless nights, and endless hours on the internet checking for new recalls, and doing research. 

[me]

6:45 p.m.: UPDATE: Tri-bean deli salad pulled at Pay Less, Kroger stores
List of recalled products included

The Herald Bulletin

New Era Canning Co. in New Era, Mich., has expanded its canned food recall because of potential Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum) contamination to include all canned green beans and garbanzo beans distributed by the company nationwide over the last five years.

The affected cans are large, institutional-sized containers weighing about 6.5 pounds. Botulism is a muscle-paralyzing disease caused by a toxin made by the bacterium, Clostridium botulinum.

Due to this recall, Inter-American Products, a division of The Kroger Co., Wednesday announced a voluntary recall on all codes of Deli Chef Tri-Bean Salad sold from store deli counters.

Pay Less stores in Anderson are affected. Mike Chase, spokesman at Pay Less in Applewood Centre, confirmed that the product had been removed but deferred further inquiries to John Elliott, Kroger's public affairs manager in Indianapolis.

Elliott said the recall affected all Kroger-owned stores in Indiana.

The green beans in the Tri-Bean Salad were processed by the New Era Canning Co. He said consumers should not consume this product even if it does not look or smell spoiled. No illnesses had been reported.

"People who have any of these products or any food made with these products should throw them away immediately," said Lynae Granzow, enteric epidemiologist at the Indiana State Department of Health. "The toxin is so potent that any exposure to it could cause botulism. People can become sick if the toxin gets on their hands or their face, so I recommend consumers do not even open the cans. "

The FDA says consumers should place recalled products in two plastic bags tightly sealed before placing in a non-recyclable trash receptacle outside of the home. If cans are swollen, bulging or leaking, gloves and eye protection are recommended before double-bagging and disposing of the cans. Health officials recommend thoroughly washing both hands for at least two minutes after carefully removing and disposing the gloves.
http://www.heraldbulletin.com/local/local_story_023114510.html

[tallulahdahling]

This is scary!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1714158,00.html?xid=rss-topstories

USDA: Nation's Largest Beef Recall
Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008 By AP/GREG RISLING


Officials said it was the largest beef recall in the United States, surpassing a 1999 ban of 35 million pounds of ready-to-eat meats.

The federal agency said the recall will affect beef products dating to Feb. 1, 2006, that came from Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co., which supplies meat to the federal school lunch program and to some major fast-food chains.

Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer said his department has evidence that Westland did not routinely contact its veterinarian when cattle became non-ambulatory after passing inspection, violating health regulations.

"Because the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection, Food Safety and Inspection Service has determined them to be unfit for human food and the company is conducting a recall," Schafer said in a statement.

Federal officials suspended operations at Westland/Hallmark after an undercover video surfaced showing crippled and sick animals being shoved with forklifts.

Two former employees were charged Friday with animal cruelty. No charges have been filed against Westland, but an investigation by federal authorities continues.

Officials estimate that about 37 million pounds of the recalled beef went to school programs, but they believe most of the meat probably has already been eaten. There have been no reported illnesses linked to the beef at any of the schools.

"We don't know how much product is out there right now. We don't think there is a health hazard, but we do have to take this action," said Dr. Dick Raymond, USDA Undersecretary for Food Safety.

Federal regulations call for keeping downed cattle out of the food supply because they may pose a higher risk of contamination from E. coli, salmonella or mad cow disease because they typically wallow in feces and their immune systems are often weak.

About 150 school districts around the nation have stopped using ground beef from Hallmark Meat Packing Co., which is associated with Westland.

[Sandy Eggo]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Sunday recalled 143 million pounds of frozen beef from a Southern California slaughterhouse that is being investigated for mistreating cattle.

Officials said it was the largest beef recall in the United States, surpassing a 1999 ban of 35 million pounds of ready-to-eat meats.

A bit of an update

I was just coming here to post this. This is just crazy!

[Locutus]

Yep.  The largest beef recall in history. 

[me]

I don't know how people can work in these places and not report things like that. 

[tallulahdahling]

A vegan lifestyle isn't sounding so bad at the moment   

[me]

The only thing is sometimes you get contaminated veggies too.  Remember the lettuce and spinach scare a few months back?

[Locutus]

I read today where the majority of the beef involved in this latest recall has most likely been consumed.