The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a “Food Safety Alert” for blackberries linked to a hepatitis A outbreak. The initial recall included fresh conventional (non-organic) blackberries purchased between Sep. 9- 30, 2019 from Fresh Thyme Farmers Market.
According to the CDC’s latest update, the outbreak is ongoing and has impacted consumers in six states. Anyone who purchased the affected blackberries during the Sep. 9 through 30 time-frame and froze the fruit should through the berries out immediately.
As of Dec. 2, 2019, the states affected by the berries include Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin, with 16 cases of hepatitis A reported. While nine hospitalizations have occurred, there are currently no deaths due to the recalled blackberries.
The CDC is still investigating the outbreak. Even though the 16 current reported illnesses started between Oct. 8 and Nov. 15, 2019, it can take between two and seven weeks after exposure for symptoms to appear. Common symptoms of hepatitis A include yellow skin/eyes, upset stomach, stomach pain, vomiting, fever, dark urine, light-colored stools, diarrhea, joint pain and fatigue.
If you have the affected blackberries, from Fresh Thyme Farmers Market (sold between Sep. 9-30) or have frozen the berries, throw them away. Consumers who have already eaten the affected berries, or think they may have eaten them, and are not vaccinated against hepatitis A should contact their medical provider.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced a voluntary recall for select vegetable products produced by Mann Packing Co. due to a potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination concern. Representatives from Mann Packing Co. did not immediately return Red Tricycle’s request for comment.
If you have these products in your home, read on for important recall information.
Recalled Product Description: Vegetable Products
The current recall includes a number of different Mann Packaging Co. vegetable products sold under HEB, HEB Organic, Hungryroot, Kroger Organic, Compliments, Mann’s, US Foods, Mann’s Family Favorites, Mann’s Organic, Mann’s Snacking Favorites, Marketside, Marketside Organic, O Organics, Signature Farms, Sysco Imperial, Trader Joe’s and Del Monte brand names. For a full list of recalled products visit Mann’s website here.
Why the Vegetables Were Recalled
The recall was issued due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes. According to the FDA, “To date, public health officials have not reported any illness associated with these products.”
Listeria monocytogenes can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, headaches, high fever, nausea and stiffness. It can also cause miscarriage or stillbirth in pregnant women.
How to Tell If Your Vegetables Were Recalled
Consult the full list of recalled products here for applicable UPC Codes. All products have a “Best If Enjoyed By” date of Oct. 11, 2019 to Nov. 16, 2019.
What Consumers Can Do
Do not eat the recalled products. Throw the vegetables away and contact Mann Packing Co. at 1-844-927-0707 or email the company at consumers@mannpacking.com.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced a voluntary recall for Wawona Frozen Foods frozen raspberries and frozen berry mixes containing raspberries due to possible Hepatitis A contamination. The berries were sold at Aldi Grocery Stores and Raley’s Family of Fine Stores under each retailer’s private label brand. Representatives from Wawona Frozen Foods did not immediately return Red Tricycle’s request for comment.
If you have these berries in your fridge or freezer, read on for important recall information.
Recalled Product Description: Frozen Raspberries
The recalled products include frozen raspberries and frozen berry mix containing raspberries sold under Aldi Grocery Stores and Raley’s Family of Fine Stores private labels. These include Season’s Choice Raspberries and Season’s Choice Berry Medley in Aldi stores and Raley’s Fresh Frozen Red Raspberries in Raley’s stores.
Why the Berries Were Recalled
The recall was initiated after the potential for Hepatitis A contamination was detected. Hepatitis A is a virus that can cause serious liver disease. The illness can last from a few weeks to several months and has symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, dark urine and jaundice.
As of now there are no reported cases of illnesses due to the recalled berries.
How to Tell If Your Berries Were Recalled
The frozen raspberries included in the current recall are:
Aldi: Season’s Choice Raspberries (frozen): 12 ounce bags, “best by” date of June, 10, 2021, August 1,2021 and August 23, 2021. “Product of Chile.” UPC Code: 0 41498 12419 9. Season’s Choice Berry Medley (frozen) containing raspberries: 16 ounce bags, “best by” date of July 17, 2021, July 20, 2021 and July 22, 2021. “Product of USA, Chile.” UPC Code: 0 41498 31344 9
Raley’s: Raley’s Fresh Frozen Red Raspberries: 12 ounce bags, “best by” date of June 5, 2021 (lot code:20156A04), August 1, 2021 (lot code: 20213A06) “Product of Chile.” UPC Code: 46567 00754
The affected berries were imported from Chile.
What Consumers Can Do
If you have the recalled products, don’t eat them. Throw the berries away or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. Consumers with questions can contact Wawona Frozen Foods at 866-913-0667.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced a voluntary recall for 2,297 cases and two bulk bins of McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Jonathon, Fuji, Jonamac and Red Delicious apples sold under the Great Lakes and North Bay Produce Pure Michigan brands due to a potential Listeria monocytogenes concern. Some of the apples recalled were also sold in unbranded clear plastic totes, white paper totes and individually in retailer displays.
According to a press release from North Bay Produce, “The recalled apples were shipped between Oct. 16th, 2019 and Oct. 21st, 2019 from one North Bay facility to wholesalers, retailers and brokers in Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.”
Recalled Product Description: North Bay Apples
The recalled products include McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Jonathon, Fuji, Jonamac and Red Delicious apples sold either in plastic bags with the brand names Great Lakes and North Bay Produce Pure Michigan or clear totes, white paper totes or individually under no brand name. The apples were shipped to wholesale and retail facilities in Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin between Oct. 16 and 21, 2019.
Why the Apples Were Recalled
The recall was initiated out of a Listeria monocytogenes contamination concern. Listeria monocytogenes can cause headaches, fever, nausea abdominal pain and diarrhea, with more severe effects in young children, elderly adults or anyone with a compromised immune system. The microorganism can also cause miscarriage or stillbirth in pregnant women.
As of now there are no reports of illnesses from the apples.
How To Tell If Your Apples Were Recalled
According to North Bay Produce’s press statement, “Apples purchased at retail prior to October 16th are not affected by this recall, and no other North Bay Produce products are affected by this recall.”
For a full list varieties, brands, UPC codes, PLU numbers and item numbers, visit the FDA’s website here.
What Consumers Can Do
If you have the recalled apples, don’t eat them. Throw the apples away or return them to the place of purchase. To contact North Bay Produce with questions call 1-231-929-4001, Monday-Friday, 8am––5pm ET or visit the company’s website at northbayproduce.com.
—Erica Loop
Photos: Courtesy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
If you think you have this product in your home, read on for important recall information.
photo: Courtesy of U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Recalled Product Description: Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour
The recall includes five-pound bags of Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour with a “better if used by” date of Sep. 6, 2020. According to a statement made by General Mills, “This recall only affects this one date code of Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour five-pound bags. All other types of Gold Medal Flour are not affected by this recall.”
Why the Flour Was Recalled
General Mills issued the recall following the detection of E. coli O26 during sampling of the five-pound bag product. As of now, there are no reported illnesses or adverse effects due to the potential contamination.
This strain of E. coli is potentially fatal and can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration—especially in the very young, elderly and anyone with a compromised immune system.
How To Tell If Your Flour Was Recalled
Only the five-pound bags of Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour with the “better if used by” date of Sep. 6, 2020 are part of the recall. Check the use by date to see if your flour was recalled. The date on the packaging will read “06SEP2020KC.” The affected product has the UPC code 000-16000-19610-0.
What Consumers Should Do
If you have the recalled product, don’t use it. Throw the flour away and contact General Mills via the company’s website here or at 1-800-230-8103 with questions or for a replacement coupon.
Getting baby fever and dreaming about having a child is a lot more fun than watching your baby come down with a fever. Read on for all the facts on how to recognize and treat a baby or toddler’s fever, plus the baby thermometers you’ll want in your medicine cabinet.
photo: iStock
Why do babies get a fever?
Babies can come down with a fever from an illness, infection and certain vaccinations.
What constitutes a fever for babies, and when should I call the doctor?
According to the Mayo Clinic, here’s when to be concerned and call your doctor:
• Babies under 3 months: rectal temperature of 100.4F or higher.
• Babies between 3 and 6 months: rectal temperature up to 102F and is irritable, lethargic or uncomfortable, or rectal temperature higher than 102F.
• Babies between 6 and 24 months: If the rectal temperature is higher than 102F but there are no other symptoms, you can wait a day before calling. If there are other symptoms, such as a cough, cold or diarrhea, you may want to call sooner.
• If the fever lasts for more than three days, call the doctor again.
But remember, these are only guidelines. When in doubt, or if you have questions or concerns, call your health-care provider for guidance.
What can I expect when my baby has a fever?
Babies with a fever may appear fine, or they may cry and seem uncomfortable. The Mayo Clinic recommends you contact your doctor if your child is unusually fussy or acting abnormally and it doesn’t improve after taking medications to bring down the fever. (Read on for guidelines of what medications to give and when to give them.)
Other symptoms that warrant a call to the doctor include: trouble breathing, rash or signs of dehydration, such as no tears when crying, no wet diapers for 8-10 hours, refusal to drink fluids or a dry mouth.
Starting at 6 months, children can experience something called a febrile seizure, which can cause them to convulse and lose consciousness. If you suspect your child is having a febrile seizure, lay them on their side or stomach on the ground and loosen any tight clothing. Remove nearby sharp objects and hold your child to prevent them from injuring themselves. When the seizure stops, contact your doctor immediately.
Rest and fluids are important for bringing down your child’s fever. Make your child as comfortable as possible by keeping the room temperature cool, dressing them in lightweight layers, and putting a blanket on them only if they appear cold so you don’t overheat them. When bathing your child, do it in lukewarm water.
Do not give any medication to babies under 6 weeks old. Call your doctor before giving any medication to a child under 6 months old. Between 6 weeks and 6 months, acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) is recommended. After 6 months, you can also give your child ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin). Do not ever give aspirin to children under age 18.
Look for products marked “infant formula” and carefully read the label for the proper dose for your child’s age.
If the fever doesn’t respond to medication, it’s time to call the doctor again.
What kind of thermometer should I use?
First of all, if you have an old mercury thermometer lying around, get it to a hazardous waste collection site. They’re not safe for anyone to use.
Instead, for babies and toddlers, you’ll want a digital thermometer, which can be used in the rectum, armpit or mouth, as well as a temporal artery thermometer (also known as a forehead thermometer). There are also digital thermometers you insert into the ear, but they’re not recommended for newborns.
Digital thermometers record body temperature through electronic heat sensors. A rectal reading is considered the most accurate by the American Academy of Pediatrics, especially for younger babies. If you use a thermometer rectally, label it clearly so you don’t later use it in a child’s mouth. Oral readings are tricky for babies because they can’t keep the thermometer in the right spot for the minute it takes to get an accurate reading, so save those for older kids.
Before using a digital thermometer, clean it with warm, soapy water and rinse with cool water so the water temperature doesn’t affect the reading. After using a digital thermometer, clean it with rubbing alcohol or warm, soapy water.
Forehead thermometers record the temperature of the temporal artery through an infrared scanner. Parents love temporal artery thermometers because they give accurate readings with minimal inconvenience to the baby, and can even be used when baby is sleeping.
Thermometers We Love
Smart Baby Thermometer from VAVA Apply the small silicone patch (FDA approved and made with medical-grade adhesive) to your baby’s armpit and this wireless thermometer will beep and blink red LED lights if their temperature rises above 100°F. Thanks to a 24-hour battery life, temps are monitored all night long. The device also notifies you about low battery, disconnection and if the device falls off your baby. The large, backlit temperature reading is easy to see in the dark, or you can move the device to whatever room you’re in to track the readings.
Infrared No-Touch Forehead Thermometer from iHealth Labs
This temporal artery thermometer (shown above) gives a reading in 1 second and vibrates when done (no annoying beep to wake or startle your baby!). Place it against the center of the forehead, one inch above the skin. The large backlit LED screen clearly gives the reading on the back of the device.
iProvèn Digital Thermometer
This digital thermometer measures a fever in 10 seconds, and has a waterproof, flexible tip for easy cleaning and more comfortable readings.
Kinsa Smart Thermometer
This digital thermometer has a large display and gives readings in 8 seconds or less. It connects to a smartphone app so you can track baby’s temperature readings as well as their symptoms and medications you’ve given them.
If you think you may have this product in your fridge or freezer, read on for more information on the recall.
Recalled Product Description: Dole Baby Spinach
The recent recall includes a limited number of cases of six-ounce Dole Baby Spinach bags and 10-ounce Dole Baby Spinach clamshell. The products were sold in IL, IN, KY, MI, NJ, NY, OH, TN, VA and WI and have the use-by date of Aug., 5, 2019. Products in this recall have either the lot code W20308A (UPC code 0-71430-00964-2) or lot code W203010 (UPC code 0-71430-00016-8).
Why the Baby Spinach Was Recalled
The voluntary recall was issued after a sample of the baby spinach product tested positive for Salmonella during a random Department of Agriculture test in Michigan. Salmonella can cause serious illness, with symptoms that include diarrhea, vomiting, fever and abdominal pain.
How To Tell If Your Baby Spinach Was Recalled
Look for the lot code and use-by date on the upper right corner of the bagged spinach or on the label located on the bottom of the clamshell. These include lot code W20308A (UPC code 0-71430-00964-2) or lot code W203010 (UPC code 0-71430-00016-8).
What Consumers Can Do
If you have the recalled product don’t eat it. Throw the spinach away. Contact Dole Consumer Center at 1-800-356-3111 with any questions about the recall.
—Erica Loop
Photos: Courtesy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently updated a recall for some Pita Pal Foods hummus products. The products, which were sold at Trader Joe’s and other retail stores, were recalled due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Pita Pal Foods, LP did not immediately return Red Tricycle’s request for comment.
As of now the recall includes 87 types of hummus products, according to CNN. If you have the recalled hummus in your fridge, read on for important information.
The recall includes select hummus products made between May 30 and Jun. 25, 2019. The initial recall included products sold under the Buccee’s, Fresh Thyme, Harris Teeter and other brand names. Trader Joe’s recently announced its Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Germantown, Tennessee and Texas stores also carry the affected products.
For a full list of affected brands, flavors, sizes and UPC codes, visit the FDA’s website here.
Why the Hummus Was Recalled
The recall was initiated following detection of the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes at a manufacturing facility. The bacteria was not found in the finished products.
Listeria monocytogenes can cause diarrhea, stomach pain, high fever or headaches. It can also cause a serious infection in young children, elderly adults or anyone with a weakened immune system and miscarriage or stillbirth in pregnant women.
How To Tell If Your Hummus Was Recalled
Visit the FDA’s website here for a full list of recalled products. Check the brand name, product name, size and UPC code to see if your hummus is part of the recall. Trader Joe’s shoppers can check their products on the company’s website here.
What Consumers Can Do
Don’t eat the recalled hummus. Return the product to the place of purchase for a refund. Call 832-803-9295 or email Pita Pal at products@pitapal.com for more information.
Cloth diapering is not for everyone, but if you are using cloth diapers (or you’re hoping to once your baby arrives), I know the thought of cloth diapering when you’re out and about can be a little intimidating.
Except for during a brief yeast rash incident and a week filled with nonstop diarrhea, our family has used cloth diapers every day with our daughter since week two.
Here’s what we’ve found to work best for making it quick & easy to use cloth diapers on the go:
The secret to success = a high-quality wet bag. The most important part of successfully cloth diapering on the go is having a high-quality wet bag. You want one that isn’t going to let the smell out or leak through as the day wears on. We’ve tried lots and lots of wet bags and the Medium Planet Wise Wet/Dry Bags are hands down our favorites. They are super sturdy compared to the others we’ve tried, and we love the second dry pocket (you’ll see why here in a bit). We have three of these so that one is always clean when we need to go out.
To line or not to line? That is the question. And for us, the answer is an unequivocal yes. Everyone has their own opinion on using disposable diaper liners but for us, they’ve been a huge factor in our ability to use cloth when we’re out and about. Liners make it easy no matter what situation we find ourselves in. For example:
Situation A: One of us is changing our daughter’s poopy diaper in a bathroom with easy access to a toilet so we plop the poop into the toilet, toss the liner in the trash, and put the diaper in our wet bag. Now it’s ready to go in the wash (or our main wet bag) when we get home!
Situation B: Our daughter has had explosive diarrhea or an extremely messy, non-ploppable poop. We tightly fold/button up the diaper (like you would a disposable) and toss it in the wet bag. When we get home at the end of the day, that diaper is going to be 1000x easier to deal with.
Situation C: We’re nowhere near a bathroom and poop time has struck. We tightly fold up the diaper and toss it in the wet bag, like above. When we get home, it will be easy to plop out the poop. We’ve also tried several different brands of liners and the SmartBottoms biodegradable ones are our favorite. They seem to work the best and are also the softest.
Pre-line your diapers and bring 1-2 more diapers than you think you need. We put the disposable liners in all of our diapers before we add them to the diaper bag. This tiny extra step makes diaper changes on-the-go 2000x easier because you aren’t trying to juggle finding the liners, tearing off a liner, and putting the liner in while you’re trying to keep your toddler from rolling off the changing table. How many diapers you need is going to depend on the age of your baby. Right now, our daughter is 18-months and we only need to change her diaper every 2-3 hours (unless she poops). We typically bring 4-5 diapers with us for a full day out and line them up in the bottom of our diaper backpack.
What to do about wipes? We’ve used both cloth and disposable wipes on the go. If you’re going to use cloth wipes, you’ll quickly find that everyone has a different opinion on the best method. This is just what we personally found to work best for us:
Use Grovia Cloth Wipes. We bought a ton of these wipes. They are a nice size and super absorbent compared to the others we tried.
Pre-wet the cloth wipes and then roll them. We don’t always have access to a sink or water source when we’re out and I personally found using a tiny spray bottle to be extremely annoying. Instead, we would wet the wipes before we went out, roll them up, and place them in a tiny wet bag.
Get a good wipe wet bag. We tried several wet bags for this purpose with disastrous results until finally landing on one that truly doesn’t let the water seep out. If you’re looking for the perfect wet bag for wipes, I highly recommend the Planet Wise Wipe Pouch.
Toss the dirty ones in with your cloth diapers. Once you’ve used a wipe, just toss it in with your dirty diapers. Disposable wipes are pretty straightforward, except what to do with them when you’re on the go if you aren’t within reach of a trash can. Here’s where your wet bags second pocket comes into play! We keep a thin wet bag in the second pocket—we’ve found these Planet Wise Lite Wet Bags to work perfectly. A plastic bag would also work. Then, if we aren’t near a trash can (which happens more often than you would think), we just put the disposable wipe in the wet bag and store the bag in the second (dry) pocket to deal with when we get home.
Be strategic with your diaper bag. I often hear people say that it’s harder to cloth diaper on-the-go because the cloth diapers are so much bulkier than disposables. We use all-in-one cloth diapers and travel mostly by foot in the city, but never have to carry around more than a single diaper backpack. And it’s a normal-sized backpack—not some monstrosity! The diapers squish up more than you might think, and we can easily fit enough diapers for an entire day along the very bottom of our diaper backpack. Stay tuned for our article next week with tricks for packing your diaper bag when you’re headed out to eat!
That’s it! It may seem like a lot, but it essentially works just like disposable diapering: you bring diapers with you and change their diaper as needed, but instead of tossing the diaper in the trash you toss it in your travel wet bag. Tada!
Megan loves hiking with family, a good gin cocktail, and reading Llama Llama Red Pajama to her toddler on repeat. She lives in DC and is the co-founder of Highchair Society, a website & blog dedicated to helping parents have 5-star kid-friendly dining experiences.
Summer means sun, fun, pool days and Cryptosporidium? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infections with the fecal parasite are on the rise—and pool water is a major cause.
So what is Cryptosporidium? Commonly known by its abbreviated name, Crypto, this parasite contaminates pools, playgrounds and other areas where people are in close contact (such as daycare centers). It’s also spread via touching infected cattle.
It only takes one person having diarrhea in the water to contaminate all of the water in a pool. Don’t swim or let your kids swim if sick with diarrhea. Learn more this summer: https://t.co/PaMsqZKT3F. pic.twitter.com/zF6tehFmaD
Crypto can cause seriously severe diarrhea, with an illness lasting up to three weeks. The CDC stats show that 35 percent of Crypto diarrhea outbreaks are attributed to swimming pools.
To reduce the likelihood of Crypto contraction avoid pools with obvious signs of fecal contamination and always wash hands/shower after swimming. Instruct your child to never drink or swallow pool water—which is a major source of infection. If your child has diarrhea, keep them away from the pool and don’t send them to summer camp/child care. Keeping your kiddo home can help to stop the spread of the illness to someone else.
