Food Revolution Summit

If you do not know about the Food Revolution Summit coordinated by John and Ocean Robbins, you should check it out.  It started this past Saturday and runs through the week.  You can catch the replays for a short time here:  http://summit2016.foodrevolution.org/replays/

I was somewhat skeptical when I first started listening, but I have been impressed with what I have heard so far.

The replays won't be up for long, so if you have any interest at all you should check it out NOW.

Recalls of the Week:

Back when Blogger updated their format I ran into many problems trying to compose with HTML. Being self-taught and using a lot of cut-and-paste techniques, I had too much trouble with the format and I got frustrated trying to get the layout for these "Recall of the Week" posts to look the way I wanted them to look. Being the dedicated blogger that I am, I simply gave up trying. But I still get the weekly reminders and it still pisses me off that we waste so much food and seem to be going about fixing the problem in all of the wrong ways that I have decided to suck it up and try again. With a different format, of course. So here's what happened this past week*:

Tyson Foods, Inc. of Sedalia, Missouri, is recalling approximately 33,840 pounds of chicken products that may be contaminated with a Salmonella Heidelberg strain (1/10/14).
   

Gusto Packing of Montgomery, Illinois, is recalling approximately 67,113 pounds of sliced, spiral ham products due to concerns about possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination (1/17/14). 



*This list does not include recalls issued due to mislabeled foods, only recalls for food products that pose a potential health threat due to contamination issues.

Source: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)

Turning Footballs into Sweet Potatoes

Ugh - I'm not posting nearly as much as I would like to these days, but here's something quick.

A small college in Texas, of all places, cut their football program and turned the field into an organic farm.  It turned out to be one of the best decisions the school's President made.

You can find the rest of the story here.

DZ Bank out of the Food Speculation Business

Here's a step in the right direction.  DZ Bank, the fourth largest in Germany, has announced their decision to withdraw from food speculation and called for tighter regulations in the commodities market.

It's a good start.  Let's see if anyone else will follow their example.

h/t: Eater.com

Recall: Nesquik (yes, Nesquik)

Salmonella in a powdered chocolate drink?

Recalls: Ricotta Salata

I'm happy to report that there was just one new recall this week:

• Forever Cheese Inc. has issued a recall for all Ricotta Salata Frescolina cheese from a specific production date due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

  The cheese was sold to distributors for retailers and restaurants in CA, CO, D.C., FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MT, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, VA, WA between June 20 and August 9, 2012. Products were sold to supermarkets, restaurants and wholesale distributors.

  There have been some illnesses reported in relation to the consumption of the cheese. News Release.

Recalls: Lots More Mangoes, Soy and Tofu Products, and Bratwurst Patties

• Splendid Products has issued a recall of certain lots of Daniella brand mangoes because they have the possibility to be contaminated with Salmonella braenderup. The mangoes were sold at various retail stores throughout the US between July 12 and August 29, 2012.

  Mangoes have been linked to a number of recent cases of salmonellosis in Canada, and may be linked to cases in California and perhaps other states. Although an investigation is still ongoing, out of an abundance of caution Splendid Products is recalling Daniella mangoes in the U.S. The recall is being conducted in consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the California Department of Public Health.

  News Release.
• Spokane Produce, Inc., is recalling some 128 16-oz containers of Pineapple/Mango Pico de Gallo because they were made with the Daniella mangoes. News Release.
• Real Foods of Kent, WA, and Charlie's Produce of Anchorage, Alaska is recalling 1,336 cases of 13 products that contain the Daniella mangoes. News Release.
• Food Lion, Harveys and Reid's have been notified that they are part of the national Splendid Products recall for the Daniella mangoes, and have removed any items containing the mangoes from store shelves. News Release.
• Taylor Farms in New Jersey has recalled specific codes of specific Wawa products containing the Daniella mangoes distributed to Wawa retail stores in New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. News Release.
• World Food, LLC in Florida has initiated a voluntary recall on products distributed to retail stores that contain mangoes associated with the recall, mostly in Florida. News Release.
• BI-LO has recalled Daniella mangoes being sold in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. News Release.
• Pacific Coast Fruit Company of Portland, Oregon, is recalling multiple types of fresh cut processed items that contain the mangoes that were distributed to retailers in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska. News Release.
• Ready Pac Foods, Inc., in Irwindale, CA, is recalling packaged fruit products that contain the Daniella mangoes. News Release.M
• Winn-Dixie announced a recall of select cut fruit produced by Renaissance Food Group that contain the mangoes. News Release.
• F&S Produce Co., Inc., from Rosenhayn, New Jersey is recalling a limited quantity of expired products that contain the mangoes. News Release.
• Manna Organics, Inc. of Newark, NJ has recalled soybean sprouts and tofu products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The items were distributed to restaurants, retailers, and distributors in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois and Texas. No illnesses have been reported to date. News Release.
• Klement Sausage Company, Inc., of Milwaukee, Wisconsin is recalling about 2,920 pounds of frozen bratwurst patties that may contain pieces of a plastic pen. The pieces were discovered by food preperation folks when they were preparing to cook the patties. No injuries or illness have been reported. News release.

Recalls: More Cantaloupe, Italian Blend Salad, Salmon, and Mangos

• Chamberlain Farm Produce of Owensville, Indiana, has issued a voluntary recall of all of its cantaloupes because some of them may be contaminated with Salmonella.

  During the period June 21, 2012 to August 16, 2012, Chamberlain Farm Produce, Inc., marketed cantaloupes to four retail grocery stores with grocery store retail outlets in Vanderburgh, Warrick, Gibson, and Dubois County, Indiana, and Wabash County, Illinois; and also to four wholesale purchasers located in Owensboro, Kentucky, St. Louis, Missouri, Peru, Illinois, and Durant, Iowa, respectively.

  Some 178 cases of persons that may have become sick in connection with the consumption of cantaloupes has been reported. News Release.
• Not for the first time, Dole Fresh Vegetables is recalling their Italian Blend Salad due to a possible risk from Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported, and no other salads have been included in the recall. News Release.
• Spence & Co. Ltd. in Brockton, MA, has recalled Wellsley Farms brand 16-oz Nova salmon and Spence & Co brand 8-oz smoked trim salmon because of possible contamination by Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported. News Release.
• Giant Food of Landover, Md., has followed a voluntary recall by Splendid Products LLC Daniella mangos due to possible salmonella contamination. Illnesses have been reported in Canada. News Release.

Recalls: Mushrooms, Lettuce, Beef, Soup, Sausage, and Cilantro

• Ciolino Produce was notified that the 8-oz packaged sliced white mushrooms they sell may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Grower/processor Highline Mushrooms of Leamington, ON, is voluntarily recalling the affected product, which was on sale in Temperance, MI and Monroe, MI. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume the sliced mushrooms. No illnesses have been reported. News Release.
• In related news, Pure Hothouse Foods of Leamington, ON, has issued a voluntary recall for a total of 1,402 cases and 8,412 individually distributed Meijer Brand grilling trays because they contain whole or sliced mushrooms. The recall includes items distributed to retailers in the following states: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. News Release.
• Tanimura & Antle Inc. has issued a voluntary recall of a single lot of romaine lettuce that may be contaminated with E. coli 0157.H7. A total of 2,095 cases were distributed throughout the US and Canada on August 2. A total of 1,969 cases were shipped to AL, AR, AZ, CA, KS, KY, MD, NC, NM, NV, NY, NJ, PA, SC, TN, TX, WA and Puerto Rico. No illnesses have been reported. News Release.
• Dale T. Smith and Sons Meat Packing in Draper, Utah has recalled about 38,200 puonds of beef products that might be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7. The products were distributed for further processing to wholesale and retail establishments in California and Salt Lake City, Utah. No illnesses have been reported. News Release.
• There are some 4,100 pounds of Wegmans meat and poultry soup products that are being recalled by Blount Fine Foods in Fall River, Mass. They might contain fragments of plastic, the FSIS announced.

  The problem was discovered after consumers complained to the firm about finding plastic fragments in various Wegmans brand soup products. The problem likely occurred during the production of the soup containers.

  The cases of soup were sent to distribution centers in Pennsylvania and New York and from there were sent to retail establishments in Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. News Release.
• Johnsonville Sausages, LLC, of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, has recalled approximately 48,000 pounds of Turkey Sausage with Cheddar Cheese products that may contain pieces of gloves. The affected product is the 13.5-oz. vacuum pacakges. The recall was issued after the company received two customer complaints. News Release.
• Real Mex Foods, a Vernon, California establishment, is issuing a recall for about 77,688 pounds of Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Kits that include dressing made with the cilantro that is the subject of the Fresco Green Farms Inc., recall due to Salmonella contamination. No illnesses have been reported. News Release.

Recalls: Licorice, Tomatoes, Cheese, Cilantro, Melons, and a Lot of Apples

• Lucky Country Inc. in Lincolnton, NC has recalled one lot of Lucky Country Aussie Style Soft Gourmet Black Licorice from Costco and Smart & Final stores in California, Arizona and Utah. Seems like this lot has elevated levels of lead. Yep, lead. News Release.
• Menno Beachy of Cresco, Iowa, has issued a recall for one-pint containers of Certified Organic Grape Tomatoes due to possible Salmonella contamination. Fifteen cases containing twelve one-pint containers were distributed to retail stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. News Release.
• Cheese distributor Tomales Bay Foods, Inc., Petaluma, CA, issued a recall of partial wheels of two cheeses they distribute due to "an abundance of caution" (?). The cheeses could possibly be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The cheese was distributed to restaurants and retail stores in California, North Carolina and Florida between June 25th and July 27th. No illnesses have been reported. News Release.
• Fresco Green Farms, Inc. of Winchester, CA has recalled 1.643 cases of cilantro harvested last month that has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The cilantro was on sale in California and Minnesota. The salmonella was discovered through routine testing. News Release.
• Burch Equipment LLC has expanded their cantaloupe recall to include honeydew melons. The honeydew melons do not have any identifying stickers.

  The cantaloupes and honeydew melons involved in this expanded recall were sold to distributors between June 23rd and July 27th, in the following states: FL, GA, IL, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, and VA, VT and WV. The melons may have further been distributed to retail stores, restaurants and food service facilities in other states [emphasis mine].

  Bottom line, don't buy any honeydew melons this season. Bummer. News Release.
• Missa Bay, LLC, a subsidiary of Ready Pac Foods, Inc. in Swedesboro, New Jersey, is voluntarily recalling 293,488 cases and 296,224 individually distributed units of fruit, vegetable, and sandwich products that contain apples that might be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. It would be easier to list the states NOT affected by this recall: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. There are a lot of products included in this recall. No illnesses have been reported. News Release.

Recalls: Caribbean Gold Cantaloupes (not the Athena variety that was originally listed), Sliced Apple Dippin' Stix, and Armour Active Packs

• Here's a big "Oops." Burch Farms (Burch Equipment, LLC,) North Carolina, has issued a correction for the variety of the melons that were involved in their 8/2/12 recall. It turns out that the cantaloupes affected are the Carribbean Gold variety, and not the Athena cantaloupes as originally identified.

  The whole Caribbean Gold variety cantaloupes were shipped between July 15th and July 27th and distributed in FL, GA, IL, MD, ME, NC, NJ, NY, PA, SC and VA. The whole cantaloupes are identified by a red label reading Burch Farms referencing PLU # 4319.
  

  The melons being recalled have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. News Release.



• Reichel Foods, Inc., issued a voluntlary recall for Dippin' Stix Sliced Apples and Caramel with Peanuts and Armour Active Packs Cheese Pizza Lunch Kits due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported to date. News Release.



• Reichel Foods has also issued a recall for some 15,880 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Being recalled are 5.6 oz. packages of "Armour Active Packs Turkey & Cheese Wrap" and 5.6 oz. packages of "Armour Active Packs Ham & Cheese Wrap." Third party testing discovered the problem. No illnesses have been reported. News Release.

Recalls: Too Many To List in This Title, Most Involving Gills Onions, LLC

Brace yourself, kids. It's been a busy week.

• Gills Onions, LLC of Oxnard, CA has expanded its July 18 voluntary recall of packaged diced onions. The expansion includes additional products contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Among the expanded items are "diced, slivered and whole peeled onions and diced onion/celery mix with use-by-dates on or before August 3." No illnesses have been reported so far. News Release.

• And in related news:

• Spartan Stores is recalling a Three Bean Salad from the Deli Section and the 10-oz Broccoli Stir-Fry from their produce section, both produced under the Fresh Selection brand. Release.


• Publix Super Markets issued a voluntarily recall for custom sub sandwiches that contain onions received from Gills Onions. The onions were used in sandwiches in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Release.


• Huxtable's Kitchen has recalled Trader Joe's Roasted Butternut Squash, Red Quinoa and Wheatberry Salad. The onions used in the salad came from Gills Onions, LLC. The affected stores are in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington only. No illnesses have been reported. Release.


• GH Foods CA, LLC recalled products containing yellow onions distributed by Gills Onions to retail supermarkets. The products list is too long to post here and affects mostly California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah, with some products having a broader range. Release


• Busch's Fresh Food Market recalled various products processed between July 20 and July 27 because they contain onions provided by Gills Onions. No illnesses have been reported. Release.


• Simmering Soup, Inc., Atlanta GA has recalled Trader Joe's brand of Salsa and Balela that contain the onions. Release.


• Whole Foods Market in the state of Florida had to recall an incredibly long list of products that used the onions. Release.


• Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is recalling prepared foods that contain the onions. Release.


• Cool Creations, LLC of North Kansas City, Missouri recalled specific packages of products containing the onions. It's another fairly long list. Release.


• Ken's Foods, Inc. has recalled a limited number of branded dressings and sauces that were prepared using the onions. Release.


• Garden Fresh Foods, Inc. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has recalled some 13,600 pounds of meat and poultry salad products. specific packages of products using the onions. Affected states: WI, MN, IA, IL, OH, IN, TX, FL, MA, MO, MI, PA, AZ, CA, and distributed to retail stores and food services. Here is the long list of products, and the Release.


• San Miguel Produce, Inc. of Oxnard, CA has recalled 48 cases of Cut 'N Clean, Comfort (Cooking) Greens Kits that contain onions from Gills Onions, LLC. Release.


• Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC has issued a recall of their Calico Bean Salad following a recall from Costa Fruit & Produce due to a possible risk of listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported to date, and there is no reference to the Gills Onions< LLC recall. Release.


• Huxtable's Kitchen in Vernon, California has recalled about 5,610 pounds of barbecued chicken salads that contain diced onions that are part of an FDA recall due to possible Listeria moncytogenes contamination. Again, there is no reference to Gills Onions, LLC. The product being recalled: 14.5-oz. trays of Trader Joe's BBQ Chicken Salad. News Release.

• Enslin & Son Packing Company in Hattiesburg, MS has recalled approximately 314 pounds of 1.5-lb. and 2-lb. packages of "Cedar Grove Red Hots" that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The product shipped before the test results that showed positive for the contamination were received by the company. No illnesses have been reported. News Release.

• The New York State Agriculture Commission warned consumers in the Metropolitan New York area not to consume "Quesito Colombiano, Colymbian style Cheese" made by Productos Tita Corp in Glendale, New York, as there is a possible contamination of Staphylococcus aureus.

  The recalled Colombian style cheese under the Brand name “Tita” is contained in 8oz. clear plastic pouches or tubs with a plant code of #36-8440 and with a stamped code of “AUG 10 2012” stamped beneath the label bar code. The product was distributed in the Metropolitan New York area.

  No illnesses have been reported to date. News Release.

• Burch Euipment LLC, North Carolina, has expanded its original recall of 580 cases of whole Athena cantaloupes that may be contaminated with Lysteria monocytogenes. They are now recalling 13,888 cases of the melons and 581 bins, for a total of 188,902. That's a lot of melons. Affected states: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia. No illnesses have been reported. News Release.

• Hannaford Supermarkets has advised its customers of the Burch Equipment cantaloupe recall, as they carry them. The product has been removed. News Release.

• And finally, Kenosha Beef International, Ltd., out of Kenosha, Wisconsin, issued a recall for approximately 37,600 pounds of frozen bacon cheeseburger patties that may contain pieces of gasket material, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The patties were distributed in Indiana, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin. The recall was issued after the company received a consumer complaint. News Release.

Whew. I didn't think I was going to make it through all of that.

Recalls: Fresh Ground Beef, Frozen Meat and Poultry Products, Corn Chowder Soup

• This past Sunday, Cargill Meat Solutions issued a recall for about 29,000 pounds of fresh ground beef products that may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis.

  FSIS [Food Safety and Inspection Service] became aware of the problem during the course of an ongoing investigation of a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis involving 33 case-patients from 7 states (MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VA, VT-preliminary data, subject to change).

  This is a Class I Recall; the health risk is high. News Release.

• Buona Vita, Inc., in Bridgeton, NJ, is recalling some 72,500 pounds of various frozen, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to possible contamination with Listeria moncytogenes.

  The products subject to recall include:

  • 30-lb. case of Silver Lake ".5 oz Cooked Meatballs made with chicken and beef"

  • 30-lb. case of Buon Gusto ".5 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs made with chicken and beef"

  • 10-lb. case of Buon Gusto "1/2 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs made with chicken and beef"

  • 10-lb. case of Mamma Cacciatore "1/2 oz Mamma Cacciatore Baked Beef and Chicken Meatballs"

  • 10-lb. case of Buon Gusto "1/2 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs made with chicken and beef"

  • 10-lb. case of Buon Gusto "2 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs made with chicken and beef"

  • 10-lb. case of Mamma Cacciatore "1 oz Mamma Cacciatore Baked Beef and Chicken Meatballs"

  • 10-lb. case of Buon Gusto "1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs"

  • 10-lb. case of Pisa Brand "1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs made with chicken and beef"

  • 10-lb. case of Buon Gusto "1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs made with chicken and beef"

  • 10-lb. cases of Buon Gusto "1 oz Baked Italian Style Meatballs with Pepper and Onions"

  • 10-lb. cases of Buono Vita "1 oz Baked Gourmet Meatballs with Pork and Beef"

  • 30-lb case of Buono Vita's ".65 oz Baked Gourmet Meatballs with Pork and Beef"

  • 10-lb. case of Sapore Italiano "3 oz Baked Meatballs with Beef and Pork"

  • 10-lb. case of Buon Gusto "1/2 oz Baked meatballs with chicken and beef"

  The problem was discovered through microbiological testing through a third party. No illnesses have been reported to date. News Release.

• Morgan Foods, Inc. has issued a Class II recall of approximately 94,850 pounds of corn chowder soup products after consumers found pieces of a marker pen in the product.

  The “Hill Country Fare Chunky Chicken Corn Chowder” product was shipped to retail stores in Texas. The “Wegman’s Chunky Chicken Corn Chowder” product was distributed to retail stores in New York. The “Chef’s Cupboard Chunky Chicken Corn Chowder” product was distributed to retail stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. The “America’s Choice Chicken Corn Chowder Chunky” product was distributed to retail stores in Connecticut, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

  There are no reports of injury or illness at this time. News Release.

Recalls: More Mexicali Cheese, Romaine Lettuce

• Last week's alert by New York State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel Aubertine warning consumers in the Metropolitan New York area not to consume certain cheese products made by Mexicali Cheese Corp has been expanded to include two additional products. Here is the total list:

  Mexicali Queso Fresco Mexicano, Mexican Style Fresh Cheese;
  Acatlan Queso Fresco, Fresh Cheese;
  Mi Quesito Mexicano, Mexican Cheese; and
  Quesillo Ecuatoriano, Ecuadorian Style Cheese

  A routine sampling was discovered to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Press Release.

• Pacific International Marketing has issued a voluntary recall of 19 cases of bulk Romanie Lettuce sold at Vons and Pavilions stores in California and Nevada due to potential Salmonella contamination. No illnesses have been reported at this time. Press Release.

Recalls: Organic Sprouts, Hearts of Romaine, Queso Fresco

• Banner Mountain Sprouts is voluntarily recalling organic sprouts under the following names:

  4oz. zesty greens, 5oz. sprout salad, 4oz. clover, 2lb. clover, 4oz. alfalfa/broccoli, 4oz. alfalfa sprouts, and 1lb. & 2lb. alfalfa sprouts

  Routine testing indicated that these items may be contaminated with salmonella. No illnesses have been associated with any Banner Mountain sprouts. Press release.

• Dole Fresh Vegetables is voluntarily recalling 2,598 cases of bagged hearts of romaine due to a possible health risk of Listeria monocytogenes. The salads were distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Press release.

• The New York State Agricultural Commissioner warned consumers in the New York area about possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination in certain fresh cheese products made by Mexicali Cheese Corp. Affected product names are Mexicali Queso Fresco Mexicano, Mexican Style Fresh Cheese; or Acatlan Queso Fresco, Fresh Cheese. The Division of Milk Control and Diary Services took a routine sample to be tested by their food laboratory. No illnesses have been reported to date. Press release.

Recalls: Dried Bream, Alfalfa Sprouts, Carrot Juice

• Euphoria Fancy Food Inc. is recalling its dried bream, which was not properly eviscerated prior to processing and may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum spores, which can cause botulism. The improperly eviscerated fish was discovered during a routine inspection by the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors during a routine inspection. No illnesses have been reported to date. Press Release.

• Leasa Industries Co., Inc. (warning, loud video), has recalled 433 cases of 6-oz Living Alfalfa Sprouts that have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The potential was discovered by routine customer sample testing. No illnesses have been reported to date. Press Release.

• Healthy Choice Island Blends, Inc., is recalling all sizes of Liquid Gold Carrot Juice (64 oz, 32 oz, and 16 oz), because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulimum, which can cause botulism, "a serious and potentially fatal foodborne illness." No illnesses have been reported to date. Press Release.

EWG 2012 Shopper's Guide

Well kids, it's my favorite time of year - the 2012 EWG Shopper's Guide has been released! It doesn't look like there are any new players; they've just been moved around some.

You can download the list here. (The photo to the left has a link that will enlarge the image, but if you want to download the pdf you should click on this link and not the photo.)

So if, like me, you want to shop responsibly and make your dollars count but can't afford to only buy organic or local fare, use this guide to determine which items to buy organic.

A note on berries. After reading this article that I posted about last year, I do not buy organic berries from any of the big companies. I save those purchases for the Green Market and enjoy them as much as I can for as long as they last, and then I am done until they come into season again.

photo from the EWG website.

How Chickens are Processed

If, like me, you are interested in knowing from where your food comes but don't have easy access to any providers, you should check out this piece by Mark Ruhlman on how chickens are processed in a small operation.

Ruhlman visited Schmidt Family Farms in Medina, Ohio, a small organic farm that gives space in the summer to Bradley Cramer to raise chickens. The pictorial essay and accompanying video are interesting and informational.

Recall: Red Pepper Onion & Garlic Cheddar

Golden Glen Creamery of Bow, WA is voluntarily recalling Red Pepper with Onion & Garlic Cheddar produced in August of 2011 because it might be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Apparently, the WSDA tested sample was positive, although samples of the same batch have tested negative at a different lab. To date, no illnesses have been reported. Press Release.

Recalls: "Boxed Pasta Mix Products"

• Bay Valley Foods is voluntarily recalling cases of "boxed pasta mix products" manufactured by ST Specialty Foods, Inc. Apparently, the packets of seasoning blend may contain small metal fragments. The affected products are sold at Aldi, H-E-B, Kroger, Meijer, and Wal-Mart. The recall is based on information received from Kerry Ingredients & Flavours. I'm not sure of the connection there. There have been no reports of injury or illness. Press Release.