It has been an undeniably busy year when it comes to food recalls. From salmonella-contaminated peanut butter back in January that sickened thousands and killed nine to the more recent cat food recall issued by Diamond Pet Foods, the same company responsible for the tainted pet food that killed dozens of dogs around the nation in 2005, it seems there’s a new recall each week.

In fact, just yesterday more than 20,000 pounds of beef was recalled amid worries it is linked to at least two cases of salmonella. The beef was packaged by Beef Packers Inc., a Fresno-based company that is owned by Cargill, a company that has had it’s share of time in the spotlight for contaminated food. And last week, the FDA announced that oysters harvested from San Antonio Bay in Texas have caused about a dozen cases of norovirus-related illnesses.

To read the complete list of 2009 food recalls issued by the FDA is astonishing and terrifying. Let’s take a look at the month of November alone:

• November 30, 2009 – La Espiga De Oro, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Whey in Flour Tortillas
• November 27, 2009 – Diamond Pet Foods Announces Recall of Premium Edge Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball Cat Food
• November 25, 2009 – Vita Food Products, Inc. Issues an Alert Announcing Undeclared Wheat in ELF Branded Herring in Sour Cream
• November 25, 2009 – Stryker Corporation’s Instruments Division Issues Worldwide Class 1 Recall of 23 Operating Room System II Surgical Navigation Systems; Catalog numbers 7700-100-000 and 7700-101-201
• November 24, 2009 – Rikki USA, Inc.Re-Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Shrimp in Toi Sauce Thai Red Curry (Panang) produced for the Siamrica Co. to Correct Lot Number
• November 22, 2009 – Timco Worldwide Inc. issuance of a voluntary recall of Large Seedless Watermelons because of possible health risk
• November 20, 2009 – Five Crowns Marketing Voluntarily Recalling Cantaloupes Packed under the Majesty Label Because of a Potential Health Risk Due to Possible Contamination of Salmonella
• November 20, 2009 – Unilever Issues Nationwide Allergy Alert on Undeclared Sulfites in Certain Shedd’s Country Crock® Chilled Side-Dish Products
• November 19, 2009 – Service Smoked Fish Corp. Recalls Smoked Nova Salmon Because of Possible Health Risk
• November 19, 2009 – Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Pecans in Mislabeled Fresh & Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake Pies
• November 19, 2009 – P&G Voluntarily Recalls Specific Lots of Vicks Sinex Nasal Spray in the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom
• November 18, 2009 – Nassau Candy Issues Nationwide Allergy Alert Because Of Possible Undeclared Allergens on their Tasty Dish Snack Tubs of Chocolate Almonds, Chocolate Raisins and Sour Neon Worms
• November 17, 2009 – SNACKS ON RACKS, INC. Issues Nationwide Allergy Alert because of Undeclared Allergens in Their Gourmet Snacks Pack Product Line
• November 17, 2009 – Cardiovascular Systems ViperSheath Sheath Introducer – Recall
• November 17, 2009 – Superior Foods Co. Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Allergens in Fish Product
• November 16, 2009 – Cardiovascular Systems Initiates Voluntary Recall of ViperSheathTM Sheath Introducer
• November 13, 2009 – Cardiac Science Notifies AED Customers of Nationwide Voluntary Medical Device Correction
• November 13, 2009 – Conagra Foods Issues Nationwide Allergy Alert on a Limited Number of 15 oz. Tubs of Blue Bonnet Light Spread
• November 12, 2009 – Synthes USA, Ti Synex II Vertebral Body Replacement – Class I Recall
• November 12, 2009 – IDS Sports Conducts a Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Bromodrol, Dual Action Grow Tabs, Grow Tabs, Mass Tabs, and Ripped Tabs TR
• November 12, 2009 – GMP Herbal Products, Inc. Issues a Voluntary Nationwide Recall of a Weight Loss Supplement Found to Contain Undeclared Drug Ingredients
• November 09, 2009 – Edwards Lifesciences CardioVations EndoClamp Aortic Catheter – Class 1 Recall
• November 09, 2009 – RockHard Laboratories Issues a Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Specific Lots of RockHard Weekend marketed as Dietary Supplement
• November 06, 2009 – Hospira Issues Nationwide Voluntary Recall of Certain Lots of Liposyn™ and Propofol Products That May Contain Particulate Matter
• November 05, 2009 – FDA Health Alert for Certain Pet Treats Made by Pet Carousel
• November 04, 2009 – Jelly Belly Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanuts in 7.5oz cylinder-style packages of 49 Flavors Jelly Belly jelly beans
• November 04, 2009 – Centurion Medical Products – Premie Pack and Meconium Pack – Recall
• November 04, 2009 – PetSmart Voluntarily Recalls Dentley’s Beef Hooves
• November 03, 2009 – American Regent Expands Voluntary Recall to Include All Lots of Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection, USP 15 mg/mL; 1mL Single Dose Vial
• November 03, 2009 – BODYBUILDING.COM Is Conducting a Voluntary Nationwide and International Recall of 65 Dietary Supplements That May Contain Steroids
• November 03, 2009 – Pelican Bay Ltd. Issues Nationwide Allergy Alert on Undeclared Tree Nuts in Caramel Chocolate Truffle Hot Chocolate Mix
• November 03, 2009 – Charleston Cookie Company Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Butter in Almond Cookies Produced for Dean & Deluca

Amazing.

So this brings us to the topic of food safety regulation in the U.S., or lack thereof. In July, a bill was passed by the House that gave the FDA the power to order food recalls and require facilities to have a food safety plan. The bill will make its way to the Senate sometime next year, but it remains questionable that, if passed, the new law will actually have an effect on the current ways in which food is prepared, handled and packaged for sale.

From sour cream to jelly beans to beef and diet drinks, food recalls are increasing at an alarming rate and slow-moving regulations are not giving the consumers confidence in what makes it’s way to the dinner table or lunch box.

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