Want to Avoid Contaminated Food? FDA Has a New Guide for You

Two or three times almost every week, the federal Food and Drug Administration warns that something in the vegetable bins, produce displays or coolers in our groceries may be so contaminated with dangerous pathogens that shoppers shouldn't buy it, nor eat it if they did.

So how does the consumer keep up with what's being sold -- products that can sicken or even kill you?

This week, the FDA released a new, user-friendly search page for consumers who have any concerns about a recall. Its easy-to-read listing organizes information from news releases on recalls since 2009 by date, product brand name, product description, reason for the recall and the recalling firm. Most of the time there is also a photograph of the label or product.

The site also offers information on medications and drugs, animal health products, biologics and vaccines and medical devices.

"Recalls, mandatory or otherwise, are serious, and we must do everything possible to make it easier for people to know about these recalls so they can take all appropriate steps to protect themselves and their families," said Mike Taylor, FDA deputy commissioner for foods.

This tainted market basket will give you a picture of the items recalled by the FDA just over the past two weeks:

• A type of smoked fish and pickled beets were likely contaminated with botulism.
• Twenty-eight sizes and flavors of seafood salads and cured salmon were cited for being fouled with listeria.
• Cantaloupes, jalapeno and serrano peppers, alfalfa and clover sprouts were spoiled with salmonella.
• A bubble gum appropriately named "Toxic Waste Short Circuits" was pulled from the market because it had unacceptable levels of lead.
• Five other products were ordered off store shelves because they contained other undeclared allergens.

President Barack Obama called for a more consumer-friendly way to track items that have been recalled, following the mandate of the Food Safety Modernization Act, which became law in January.

The FDA teamed up with food safety activists including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumers Union, Food Marketing Institute, Grocery Manufacturers Association, the Pew Health Group and others to get their opinions on how to most effectively communicate recall information to consumers.

Taylor, the FDA's top food safety guy, rightly boasted that the product recall page represents the delivery of one of the first major actions demanded by the food safety act. That new law also gave the FDA authority to mandate food recalls under certain circumstances. Before this, most recalls were done by embarrassing food producers into voluntarily blowing the whistle on their own dangerous products.

Shoppers should care about unsafe food because here's what these pathogens can do:

• Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes are organisms that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with salmonella often experience fever, severe diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
• Botulism is a potentially fatal form of food poisoning and can cause general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking or swallowing.
• E. coli 0157:H7 causes diarrhea, often with bloody stools and possibly leading to kidney failure. Young children and the elderly are most susceptible to serious complications and even death.

And if you're worried about recalls that go beyond the FDA's authority, here's a sample of what other federal agencies have on their recall list this week. It's also easy to read and understand.

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service says that Jennie-O Turkey Store, of Willmar, Minn., is recalling 54,960 pounds of frozen, raw turkey burger that may be contaminated with salmonella.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled about 43,000 Troy the Activity Trucks, made in China and sold by Infantino LLC of San Diego, Calif. CPSC warns that the plastic beads on the truck's bead runs can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warned that Dorel is recalling nearly 800,000 child safety seats for harness issues and that Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Dodge Sprinter vans because some seat belts do not meet safety standards. Continental Tire is recalling about 400,000 tires because of tread belt separation.

The Environmental Protection Agency and other regulators also post on the Recalls.gov website.