FOOD RECALLS - Here We Go Again!!!

WHEN are we ever going back to the days when the foods we bought and consumed will be relatively safe to ingest?  It seems with all of our so called technologies, foods are still being shelved onto the market place with risks.  Little time bombs waiting to explode into the population?  Time we all thought about getting back to basics.  In truth though, what are the basics anymore?  We have come such a distance in the food proscessing business since the 1800 and 1900's haven't we?  We all love those foods with rich flavours, those junk foods with artificial flavouring that make our lips smack. 

Now I am not that old that I can remember everything, truth is when I was growing up I never gave one thought as to how foods were processed.  Balogne was just that, balogne! 

 Hot dogs were mmmmm so good,

 and luncheon meats were purchased from the butcher shop, rarely could my parents afford to buy expensive foods from a grocery chain, back in the "good old days".  Yes, in our house, we began making dips with flavours in the 60's using those soup mixes (can you remember those?), but I am certain there were hundreds of new methods devised in those days for adding more zest to those plain ole foods we were so familiar with.  Aren't these food images tantalizing?  I dug these tantalizing pictures from got these from Stock Photography and Stock Footage . 

The world seemed ready for those new flavour changes, and as grocery stores became larger and then chains formed, the manufacturing bases also became larger and more diversified, the food industry as a whole exploded in the discovery of how to add new taste to foods we all love to eat. 

It has become such a food mine field, nowadays you have to have a degree in food additives, food preservatives, food this and food that - scary stuff!  How much time do you spend at your local food store deciding what to buy for the week in the food line?  Concievably you could spend 4 to 5 hours just reading labels, asking the produce people where the fruits and vegetables came from, do they have preservatives sprayed all over those pretty coloured foods that are termed perishibles?  Does the meat for school lunches have preservatives, well, of course they do!  On and on it will go, until exhausted you have finally made your food purchase choices and gone through the check out to take some of those tiny little time bombs home to your own cupboards and refrigerators.   I am so glad I'm not a food store owner, these recalls cost a fortune to take off the shelves, and the costs of reclaiming and destroying all of the recalled food, well, I wouldn't like to have to pay the bill, but I know in the end, I will pay, higher food costs will be implemented once again.  There is always a cost.   

What began this morning as a fine sunny day turned out a tad cloudy because I caught a news release about foods being recalled again, and this time on a massive scale.  To ensure I had heard correctly I went to check it out, found the information online and have copied it in its entirety for you below.  Just to be safe I also gave you the link to go and see for yourselves.  There are other sites and other countries involved in this one, so if this site doesn't suit you there are plenty of other sites with the same information.

I hate hearing all about Food Recalls, I love eating, I enjoy junk foods, and I now wonder whether or not all of the enhancements these lip smacking good tasting foods have is worth it, I don't think so!  A person the reporter in the newscast I heard this morning, asked someone their thoughts on this latest outbreak of food recalls, and that person said ....

"I think people will just forgive and forget until the next time".

Sadly, I think he is absolutely right!

Consumer Advisory - Salmonella in Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein (HVP)


The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) are closely following an investigation by U.S. authorities into possible Salmonella contamination of Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein (HVP) in the United States.

HVP is used as a flavour enhancer in many commercially processed foods. These can include soups, hot dogs, sauces, and seasoned snack foods. Products sold in Canada that contain the affected HVP and pose a risk to consumers will be removed from the Canadian marketplace.

Here is what you should know about the investigation:

There have been no reports of any confirmed illnesses in Canada or the US linked to the food product containing this HVP. Public health officials are looking at previously reported cases of Salmonella to determine if there are any links.
The risks related to this contamination are considered to be very low. However, consumers should ensure they cook their food properly to avoid any risks of Salmonella. Some ready-to-eat foods, like chips or dip, may contain the affected HVP manufactured by Basic Food Flavors Inc., and these may represent a higher risk. Please consult CFIA's Website for the list of products that were recalled. Products that you would cook or heat after you buy them are unlikely to pose a risk as long as they are cooked and handled properly.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is investigating what products on the Canadian market may contain HVP manufactured by Basic Food Flavors Inc. A number of food recalls have already occurred.

What can you do as a consumer?

•Be aware of the list of recalled products. You won't necessarily be able to tell from ingredient lists if HVP is in the food because it is often a part of a flavour mix. You can get a list of recalled products from the Government of Canada's food safety portal. If you have recalled products in your home, don't eat them.

•Use proper safe food handling practices and carefully follow the cooking instructions as ready-to-cook food in your home could potentially contain the recalled ingredient. More information can be found on the food safety portal.

While all Canadians can get sick from bacteria like Salmonella, older adults, pregnant women and those with pre-existing medical conditions are more vulnerable to long-term complications from Salmonella. If you belong to one of these groups, it's particularly important to be aware of this advice.

•Main Page - Potential Salmonella Contamination - Certain products manufactured in the USA and Canada containing Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein (HVP)

Today its recalled food flavouring ingredients, wonder what it will be tomorrow, or next week.  Stay safe, make yourself aware of what it is your eating and wash those hands, cook the food properly, and cross your fingers the rest will all turn out okay!

I guess if you've made time to read my rant today then like me we're both blessed and above ground, so have yourself a totally FRIENDTASTIC day today.