Two very popular foods--burgers and dips--have been prominent in the news lately.  It's been bad news warning the public about contamination.

Getting the most media attention--close to 2 million pounds of ground beef that have been recalled by the Wolverine Packing Company in Detroit, Michigan because of possible E. coli contamination. CNN calls this one of the largest beef recalls in the nation's history.  So far, 11 illnesses (no deaths) in four states have been associated with this recall.

Approximately 14,800 pounds of hummus and other dips sold nationwide have been recalled due to possible listeria contamination.  The products came from prepared food manufacturer Lansal, Inc. (doing business as Hot Mama's Foods), headquartered in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.  Among the company's customers are Target and Trader Joe's. 

Will the artificial sweetener aspartame--used in both NutraSweet and Equal Original--adversely affect your health? Unless you're an adult drinking at least 16 cans of aspartame-sweetened soda every day or using about 90 tabletop aspartame packets daily, there's no good evidence that this sugar substitute will harm you in any way. This is the position taken by the FDA and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).  The EFSA's recent risk assessment report has made aspartame a major news topic recently. 

March 22, 2014 - The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is alerting consumers to avoid eating certain peanut butter, cheese, salsa, and spreads produced by Parkers Farm Acquisition, LLC of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, after state agriculture department product sampling determined some of the finished products to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

There have been no reports of illness associated with consumption of the products. Parkers Farm Acquisition, LLC is cooperating with the MDA investigation and has issued a voluntary recall of all products with the “sell by” dates listed below. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to return them to the place of purchase or discard them.

The list of recalled products includes:

UPDATE ON REES RECALL (March 3):  

The number of  states in which Roos products have been distributed in retail stores has been expanded.  The total list now includes Washington, D.C. and  these 5 states: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia.

In addition, the recall has been expanded to include more types of cheeses, more sizes of the cheeses listed in the original recall (below), and sour cream.

This recall now includes include all product sizes and containers of Santa Rosa de Lima Queso Duro Blando (hard cheese), and Mexicana Queso Cojito Molido. This update also serves as additional clarification that ALL sizes and containers of the cheese products previously identified are being recalled: Amigo, Anita, Mexicana, and Santa Rose de Lima brands of: Cuajada En Terron, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacer, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresco Round, and Queso Duro Viejo (hard cheeses), Requeson, Queso de Huerta and Quesco Fresco.

Roos Foods is also recalling all product sizes and containers of these brands of sour cream: Santa Rosa de Lima Crema Salvadorena Cultured Sour Cream, Santa Rosa de Lima Mantequilla de Bolsa Tradicion Centroamericana, Crema Pura Mexicana Cultured Sour Cream, La Chapina Crema Guatemalteca Guatemalan Style Cream, and Amigo Brand Crema Centroamericana.

Further questions about this recall can be directed to Virginia Mejia at 302-653-0600, Monday thru Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM EST.

Original Article:

Roos Foods of Kenton, Delaware has recalled at least 16 varieties of cheese after 8 illnesses and 1 death due to Listeria monocytogenes that were linked to Roos products. All of the patients are of Hispanic ethnicity.  Seven are Maryland residents.  California has reported 1 illness and 1 death.