What is a Food Safety Recall?

If you witness someone having those symptoms listed above, please, do NOT wait until they turn blue to call 911.

I personally have experienced anaphylaxis to food and other chemicals such as plaster dust and perfumes. Sometimes my reactions will start with a whistle in my throat. I sound funny – people laughed not realizing that I was in trouble. Very quickly, I will not be able to even get a sound or a puff of air out of my throat. CPR will do nothing for a swelled shut airway. (Urgently needs medication and intubation.)

https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2023-03-09/food-allergies-take-uneven-toll-on-black-children

…Elijah, age 3, suffered a severe allergic reaction to a grilled cheese sandwich he was fed at the preschool, according to Silvera, despite it being documented that he was allergic to dairy. According to reports at the time of the incident, the preschool did not call 911 but instead Elijah’s mother, who took him to a local hospital where he went into anaphylactic shock and died.

“It’s so disheartening for us as parents to deal with such a situation because the negligence falls on the educators

Please move quickly to call 911.

The FDA website details of required labeling of the 8 to 9 major food allergens on packed food products are responsible for 90% of allergic reactions to foods. (Sesame has recently been added as the 9th allergen alert.)

Some people may still be allergic to other foods not on the allergen alert portion. There are times when one of the 8 or 9 is listed in the ingredients, but, for some unfortunate reason that allergen ingredient got left off the label.

Major Food Allergens

Congress passed the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004(FALCPA). This law identified eight foods as major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans.

On April 23, 2021, the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act was signed into law, declaring sesame as the 9th major food allergen recognized by the United States.

The change was effective on January 1, 2023. All FDA requirements applicable to major food allergens, including labeling and manufacturing requirements, apply to sesame as of January 1, 2023.

• Products already in interstate commerce—for example, products that are on retail shelves, before January 1, 2023—do not need to be removed from the marketplace or relabeled.
• So, consumers should be aware that some products may not carry allergen labeling for sesame right away.
• During the transition period, the FDA recommends consumers check with the manufacturer or distributor identified on the food product if not sure whether a food product contains, or potentially contains, sesame,

Watch our video for more information about the FASTER ActExternal Link Disclaimer. The video includes basic information about the FASTER Act and helps answer frequently asked questions the FDA has received from the food industry and other stakeholders.

Contact the CFSAN Food & Cosmetic Information Center (FCIC) for questions about food allergen requirements.

At the time of FALCPA’s passage, the eight major allergens accounted for 90 percent of food allergies and serious allergic reactions in the U.S.

FALCPA requires that foods or ingredients that contain a “major food allergen” be specifically labeled with the name of the allergen source. Congress passed this law to make it easier for consumers who are allergic to foods and their caregivers to identify and avoid foods that contain major food allergens.

The FDA enforces the provisions of this law in most packaged food products.

This includes dietary supplements but does not include meat, poultry, and egg products (which are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture);

alcoholic beverages subject to Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau labeling regulations; raw agricultural commodities; highly refined oils; drugs; cosmetics; and most foods sold at retail or food service establishments that are not pre-packaged with a label.

Consumers with allergies should be aware of how the major allergens are defined for the purpose of allergen labeling.

For example, FDA interprets “milk” as milk from the domesticated cow; however, the proteins in cow’s milk are very similar to those found in milk from goats, sheep, deer and buffalo.

Consumers with egg allergies should know that for the purpose of allergen labeling, FDA interprets “eggs” as eggs from chickens; however, the proteins in chicken eggs are very similar to those found in eggs from ducks, geese, quail and other birds. People with milk or egg allergies should consult their health care provider before consuming milk or eggs from other animals.

At this time, the FDA has not established a threshold level for any allergens. A threshold is a value below which it is unlikely that a food allergic individual would experience an adverse effect.

https://www.fda.gov/food/food-labeling-nutrition/food-allergies

What is a Public Health Alert or Safety Alert?

You can get sick with food poisoning after swallowing certain germs, like Salmonella or E. coli. Your symptoms may vary, depending on the germ you swallowed. Symptoms can range from mild to serious and can last for a few hours or several days.

The most common symptoms of food poisoning are:

• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain or cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever

If you have diarrhea or vomiting, be sure to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration (not having enough water in your body).

Food Poisoning Symptoms | CDC

Should I See a Doctor for Food Poisoning?

No Non-cents Nanna Note: Some people mistake “food poisoning and hangovers for “the flu” when it is not a “respiratory virus”.

Blowing off symptoms of stomach cramps and diarrhea could lead to further complications. If what ails you is actually food poisoning, the right thing to do would be to let a doctor know so that food can be reported and an ALERT sounded to the public. (Your privacy will be respected.)

See a doctor if you have any symptoms that are severe, including:

• Bloody diarrhea
• Diarrhea that lasts more than 3 days
• High fever (temperature over 102°F)
• Vomiting so often that you cannot keep liquids down
• Signs of dehydration, which include not urinating (peeing) much, a dry mouth and throat, feeling dizzy when standing up

See your doctor if you are pregnant and have a fever and other flu-like symptoms. Some mild infections can cause problems with pregnancy.

 Why see a doctor?

I know that we all need to save money. I know we just don’t have time to be sick and wait in the ER.

I also know that some folks are dead set against doctors feeling that medicine is not natural. But, I will still recommend that you take a loved one who is depending on you to see a medical doctor if there is a possibility of food poisoning.

Disclaimer: This post is not intended to be a substitute for face-to-face licensed medical advice. This post is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe.

This post is for informational purposes only. Your choices are your responsibility. 

If you think you or someone you know got sick from food, please report it to your local health department. Report it even if you don’t know what food made you sick. Reporting an illness can help public health officials identify a foodborne disease outbreak and keep others from getting sick. Food Poisoning Symptoms | CDC

To Avoid Complications:

Complications may include:

• Severe dehydration which could be fatal
• Miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or fatal infection of the new born in case of food poisoning by Listeria
• Damage to tiny blood vessels of the kidneys in case of E. coli infection
• Blurred vision
• Liver and kidney problems
• Seizures

 The following content from the CDC is used for informational purposes on No Non-cents Nanna’s website and podcast.

Image and content are copyrighted by Food Poisoning Symptoms | CDC

Serious Health Problems and Long-Term Effects From Food Poisoning

Most people have mild illnesses, but some infections spread by food are serious or even life-threatening. Some people may need to be hospitalized, and some illnesses lead to other health problems, including:

• Meningitis
• Kidney damage
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure
• Arthritis
• Brain and nerve damage

For some people, these health problems can last for weeks or months after recovering from the foodborne illness. For others, they never go away.

How Soon Do Symptoms Start?

Some germs make you sick within a few hours after you swallow them. Others may take a few days to make you sick.

This table provides details about the symptoms caused by different germs, when they usually start, and common sources for those germs.

Search the table for symptoms you are having.

When Symptoms Begin	Symptoms	Germs	Common Sources

30 minutes to 8 hours	Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea	Staphylococcus aureus (Staph food poisoning)	Foods that are not cooked after handling, such as sliced meats, puddings, pastries, and sandwiches
Within 24 hours	Watery diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, fever, chills	Vibrio	Raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters
6 to 24 hours	Diarrhea, stomach cramps that last for less than 24 hours—vomiting and fever are not common	Clostridium perfringens	Meat, poultry, gravies, and other foods cooked in large batches and held at an unsafe temperature
6 hours to 6 days	Diarrhea (can be bloody), fever, stomach cramps, vomiting	Salmonella	Raw or undercooked chicken, turkey, and other meats; eggs; unpasteurized (raw) milk and juice; raw fruits and vegetables, many animals, including backyard poultry, reptiles and amphibians, and rodents (pocket pets)
12 to 48 hours	Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain—fever, headache, and body aches are also possible	Norovirus	Leafy greens, fresh fruits, shellfish (such as raw oysters), contaminated water, infected person, touching surfaces that have the virus on them
18 to 36 hours	Difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, and difficulty moving eydes – symptoms start in the head and move down as the illness gets worse	Clostridium botulinum (Botulism)	Improperly canned or fermented foods, homemade illicit alcohol (pruno)
2 to 5 days	Diarrhea (often bloody), fever, stomach cramps	Campylobacter	Raw or undercooked poultry, raw (unpasteurized) milk, contaminated water, pets (including cats and dogs)
3 to 4 days	Severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), vomiting Long-term effects: Around 5–10% of people diagnosed with E. coli develop a life-threatening health problem called hemolytic uremic syndrome	E. coli (Escherichia coli)	Raw or undercooked ground beef, raw (unpasteurized) milk and juice, raw vegetables (such as lettuce), raw sprouts, and contaminated water
1 week	Watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, increased gas, nausea, fatigue	Cyclospora	Raw fruits or vegetables and herbs
2 weeks	Fever and flu-like symptoms (such as muscle aches and fatigue), headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures People who are pregnant: Infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn. Call the doctor right away if you have a fever and feel more tired and achy than usual.	Listeria (invasive illness)	Queso fresco and other soft cheeses, raw sprouts, melons, hot dogs, pâtés, deli meats, smoked fish, and raw (unpasteurized) milk

What to Do with a Recalled Product?

Not only do you get rid of food items that may have germs in it that will make you sick – you will need to disinfect the dishes and silverware, the countertops, and the frig as well. (Read below.)

What Is an Outbreak?

It takes a minimum of 2 people to have eaten the same contaminated food and gotten sick with the same diagnosed illness to have what public health would call an “outbreak”.