CFIA ALLERGY ALERT (milk)

Le texte français suit le texte anglais.

ALLERGY ALERT - UNDECLARED MILK IN SAFEWAY CRUMPETS

OTTAWA, February 28, 2008 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Canada Safeway Limited are warning people with allergies to milk protein not to consume Safeway Crumpets. The affected crumpets  may contain milk protein which is not declared on the label.

The affected Safeway Crumpets, 6 count, in 264 g packages bear a lot code 0448 C and a UPC 0 58200 18492 1.

This product was distributed on or after February 13, 2008 in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Northwest Territories.
There has been no reported illness associated with the consumption of this product.

Consumption of this product may cause a serious or life-threatening reaction in persons with allergies to milk protein.

Canada Safeway Limited, Calgary, Alberta is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace.  The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:

Canada Safeway Limited at 1-800-SAFEWAY;

CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

For information on milk protein, one of the nine most common food allergens, visit the Food Allergens web page at www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/allerg/allerge.shtml.

For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.


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Media enquiries:

David Ryzebol
Canada Safeway Limited, Vice President Public Relations and Government Affairs
403-730-3511

Fred Jamieson (English)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall and Emergency Response
613-760-4376

Julie Lacoursière  (French)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall and Emergency Response
613-760-4044

Make your own Dishwasher Detergent

Phosphate free dishwasher detergents cost a fortune, even though they are made of very simple ingredients.

From TheNewHomeMaker.com comes this recipe for a DIY dishwasher detergent:

1 cup baking soda
1 cup borax
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup citric acid (which can be bought at a winemaking store, or might even be available in the grocery store with canning products)

In addition, vinegar makes a great rinse agent instead of Jet Dry

If you make it, let me know what you think.

Make your own Laundry Detergent

As part of our quest to reduce our family's exposure to harmful compounds, as well as use products that are less harmful to the environment, I've been looking for ways to make my own laundry soap. After hunting around a bit, I've found a simple enough recipe that I'm going to try this week.

1 cup of pure soap (like Sunlight) grated
1/2 cup washing soda (sodium carbonate)
1/2 cup borax (Careful handling this, it is an irritant and is slightly toxic).


This recipe is based on this Instructable.

If you try it, let me know how it goes.

Tired and Rich? Call A Consultant. Tired and Broke.... Tough Luck

Zen Girl went through the night for the first time last night. It hasn't really been a problem though. Usually she just wakes up, eats and goes right back to sleep. The same was not true for Curious Boy. Scientific American Video has a story about a sleep consultant for hire in (where else?) NYC. More and more people are ready to drop $350 for a consultation. I probably spent that much on books.

Watch the video here.

For those of you in Montreal or elsewhere in Quebec, you can call the pediatric sleep clinic at Hopital St. Justine for a phone consultation (French only) at 514-345-4931

More Bisphenol A News

The evidence that we are constantly exposed bisphenol A, and that this exposure is probably harmful keeps piling up.

How Plastic We've Become

Our bodies carry residues of kitchen plastics

Janet Raloff

In the 1967 film classic The Graduate, a businessman corners Benjamin Braddock at a cocktail party and gives him a bit of career advice. "Just one word…plastics."

Although Benjamin didn't heed that recommendation, plenty of other young graduates did. Today, the planet is awash in products spawned by the plastics industry. Residues of plastics have become ubiquitous in the environment—and in our bodies.

A federal government study now reports that bisphenol A (BPA)—the building block of one of the most widely used plastics—laces the bodies of the vast majority of U.S. residents young and old.

Manufacturers link BPA molecules into long chains, called polymers, to make polycarbonate plastics. All of those clear, brittle plastics used in baby bottles, food ware, and small kitchen appliances (like food-processor bowls) are made from polycarbonates. BPA-based resins also line the interiors of most food, beer, and soft-drink cans. With use and heating, polycarbonates can break down, leaching BPA into the materials they contact. Such as foods.

And that could be bad if what happens in laboratory animals also happens in people, because studies in rodents show that BPA can trigger a host of harmful changes, from reproductive havoc to impaired blood-sugar control and obesity (SN: 9/29/07, p. 202).

From Science News

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Playing. Seriously

This weekend's NYT Magazine has a great article on the science and study of play.  It seems as though many of our intuitive ideas about why we play are disproved by research on both animals and humans.  The quest for a theory of play goes on.  Let the games begin.

On a drizzly Tuesday night in late January, 200 people came out to hear a psychiatrist talk rhapsodically about play — not just the intense, joyous play of children, but play for all people, at all ages, at all times. (All species too; the lecture featured touching photos of a polar bear and a husky engaging playfully at a snowy outpost in northern Canada.) Stuart Brown, president of the National Institute for Play, was speaking at the New York Public Library’s main branch on 42nd Street. He created the institute in 1996, after more than 20 years of psychiatric practice and research persuaded him of the dangerous long-term consequences of play deprivation. In a sold-out talk at the library, he and Krista Tippett, host of the public-radio program ‘‘Speaking of Faith,’’ discussed the biological and spiritual underpinnings of play. Brown called play part of the ‘‘developmental sequencing of becoming a human primate. If you look at what produces learning and memory and well-being, play is as fundamental as any other aspect of life, including sleep and dreams.’’

Read the article here

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ALLERGY ALERT (egg)

e texte français suit le texte anglais.

The following alert was transmitted by Michelina's Canada to the news media on February 15, 2008.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

******************************

*****

ALLERGY ALERT - VOLUNTARY RECALL OF MICHELINA'S
AVANTAGE WHOLESOME MENU BOWL SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN

Toronto, February 15, 2008 -  Michelina's is voluntarily recalling Michelina's Avantage Wholesome Menu Bowl Sweet and Sour Chicken, and warning consumers with allergies to eggs not to consume the product. The affected product may contain egg which is not declared on the product label.

The following product is affected, Michelina's Avantage Wholesome Menu Bowl Sweet and Sour Chicken sold in 312g packages, and bearing UPC 7 17854 21622 7 and the embossed manufacturing code J7270 which can be found on the side panel of the packaging. No other Michelina's products are affected by this alert.

The affected product was distributed nationally.

Consumption of this product may cause a serious or life-threatening reaction in persons with allergies to eggs.

There have been no reports of illness associated with the consumption of this product. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has been advised and is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

Consumers who have purchased this product are asked to contact our Consumer Response Line at 1-800-568-5801 to arrange to have the product replaced, or return it to the store it was purchased for a full refund or product replacement.

For more information, consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342/TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

For information on eggs, one of the nine most common food allergens visit the Food Allergens web page at www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/allerg/allerge.shtml. For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit the CFIA web site at  www.inspection.gc.ca.


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For further information:
Joel Spoonheim
Michelina's
Ph: 612-490-8890

Media enquiries:

Davendra Sharma (English)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall and Emergency Response
613-755-2890

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Bisphenol A Lit Review

I've been doing my homework on Bisphenol A exposure. It's not easy to sort out the wheat from the chaff, but I've made a lot of headway. After a lot of reading, it's clear that the jury is still out on how dangerous bisphenol A exposure really is. There are a significant number of animal studies that show serious health effects. The trouble is that animal models don't always correlate with humans, and that the doses in these studies are usually well above the levels considered safe for humans.

On a personal note, I've decided to err on the side of caution. We are being exposed to an ever widening range of contaminants, and our children are especially vulnerable. Some of the exposure is beyond our everyday control, so I think that it is important to mitigate what we can. In addition, history has shown us that we tend not be cautious enough in determining what safe exposure levels are. Just think about how the acceptable limits for lead exposure have changed in the past fifty years.

Below is a list of links that I have found informative. They present both sides of the argument.

Polycarbonate Plastic and Bisphenol A Release Information

Bisphenol-A, an Environmental Contaminant that Acts as a Thyroid Hormone Receptor
Antagonist in Vitro, Increases Serum Thyroxine, and Alters RC3/Neurogranin Expression in the Developing Rat Brain -- Zoeller et al. 146 (2): 607 -- Endocrinology

Urinary concentrations of bisphenol a and 4-Nonylphenol in a human reference population | Environmental Health Perspectives

Bisphenol-A: an estrogenic substance is released from polycarbonate flasks during autoclaving -- Krishnan et al. 132 (6): 2279 -- Endocrinology

Bisphenol A. (CASRN 80-05-7) | IRIS | US EPA

humanSafetyAnOverview.pdf

Recall Notice - Lead in Mexx Shoes

This one was kind of surprising....

Recall Notice

Date
February 2008

Product Name
Mexx Kids brand shoes and sunglasses

Full Product Description
Boy's trekker shoe, #J1824F

Mini boy's trekker shoe (soft sole), #J1825F

Mini girl's shoe, #C1815F

Sunglasses, #CC925F

Hazard Identified
Mexx Kids items are being recalled due to their lead content. No complaints or injuries have been reported to date.

Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

For more information on the risks and symptoms of lead exposure, visit Health Canada's:

It's Your Health: Effects of Lead on Human Health

Corrective Action
Consumers are advised to discontinue use of these recalled items.

Customers may return these items to any Mexx store for a full refund by May 31, 2008.

Mexx will offer a $20 gift card to all customers returning these items.

Read the rest of the recall.

Recall Notice - Lead in Spiral Skectchbook

Date
February 2008

Product Name
Sketchbooks with Coloured Spirals

Full Product Description
The recalled children's sketchbooks have coloured spiral metal bindings, drawing paper, and cardboard covers in the following styles. "eeBoo" and the style name are printed on a sticker on the back cover.

See the rest of the recall

What' in "Fragrance"?

My research into phthalates has taken me down a number of strange paths. Here is an explainer from EWG on what the word "fragrance" means when it's listed in cosmetics.

Video

Human Breastmilk Bank

Today on CBC Radio One's The Current, there was a great segment on the need for human milk banks in Canada. There is only one functioning milk bank in Canada, at B.C. Women's hospital, and there are about 10 in the US.

Hear the segment here.

Plastic recycling symbols

My research is underway.... here is a breakdown of the recycling numbers found on most plastic products.  Polycarbonate falls under 7.

Poly(ethylene terephthalate):  Soda bottles, water bottles, vinegar bottles, medicine containers, backing for photography film. Why PETE and not PET?

High-density Polyethylene:  Containers for:  laundry/dish detergent, fabric softeners, bleach, milk, shampoo, conditioner, motor oil. Newer bullet proof vests, various toys.

Poly(vinyl cloride):  Pipes, shower curtains, meat wraps, cooking oil bottles, baby bottle nipples, shrink wrap, clear medical tubing, vinyl dashboards and seat covers, coffee containers.  [PhilosopherDad's Note:  PVC is far and away the most harmful plastic.  It can release vinyl chloride through off-gassing (you might recognize the smell of these products).  It often also contains pthalates which are harmful as well.]

Low-density Polyethylene:  Wrapping films, grocery bags, sandwich bags.

Polypropylene:  Tupperware®, syrup bottles, yogurt tubs, diapers, outdoor carpet.

Polystyrene:  Coffee cups, disposable cutlery and cups (clear and colored), bakery shells, meat trays, "cheap" hubcaps, packing peanuts, styrofoam insulation.

The hotdog of plastics!  Products labeled as "other" are made of any combination of 1-6 or another, less commonly used plastic. [Philosopher Dad's Note:  Polycarbonate falls into this category and is sometimes denoted by PC.]

Symbols and descriptions taken from http ://pslc.ws/macrog/work/recycle.htm

Bisphenol A - Measuring my response.

In the wake of the terrifying report on leaching of bisphenol A from polycarbonate baby bottles released this month (LINK) and the frenzy of media panic that ensued ( here, here and here), I am taking a deep breath and doing my homework before deciding what to do, or what to say.

My concern over our exposure to a wide range of industrial and commercial products has been growing over the past year or so, and I'm taking this opportunity to take a detailed look at what's out there, how it gets inside us and what it does once it's there.

Keep your eye on the site for the next few days, I'll let you know what we've decided to do in our house, as well as what some other options might be - and if there is cause for concern at all.

Read the full report here.

Health Hazard Alert - Botulism in Olivier brand Parmesan & Asiago Dip with Garlic & Basil

HEALTH HAZARD ALERT - OLIVIER BRAND PARMESAN & ASIAGO DIP WITH GARLIC & BASIL MAY CONTAIN DANGEROUS BACTERIA

OTTAWA, February 5, 2008 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume Olivier brand Parmesan & Asiago Dip with Garlic & Basil described below because the product may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Toxins produced by this bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.

Information on the original recall of this product in the USA can be accessed at: http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/olivier01_08.html

Olivier brand Parmesan & Asiago Dip with Garlic & Basil is sold in 11.76 oz. (335 g) jars, manufactured by Olivier Napa Valley Inc., Saint Helena, California. The following lot codes are affected by this alert:

OPA 34171
OPA 23471
OAP 17271
OAP 17671
OAP 36061
OAP 36161
OPA 33961

The lot code information is located on the side of the glass jar where there is no label.

This product is known to have been distributed through Williams-Sonoma retail stores in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. However, it may have been distributed through other retail stores across Canada.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with the toxin may cause nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, headache, double vision, dry throat, respiratory failure and paralysis. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

The US distributor, Williams-Sonoma Inc., San Francisco, California, is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information, consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

For information on Clostridium botulinum, visit the Food Facts web page at
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/causee.shtml.

For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

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Shashi Kulkarni (English)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall and Emergency Response
613-368-1622

Linda LeBlanc (French)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall and Emergency Response
613-760-4112

Food Recall - Salmonella in Sesame seed crackers

HEALTH HAZARD ALERT - CERTAIN SESAME SEED CRACKERS MAY CONTAIN SALMONELLA BACTERIA

OTTAWA, February 5, 2008 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the sesame seed crackers described below because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The following products are affected by this alert:

1. Craquelins dorés, Raw Golden Chips
2. Crâque Pôt, Raw Gourmet Chips
3. Dulse Vita, Sea Magic
4. Les Biscrus des Gamins, Raw Cookies

The product labels bear the mention "Dépanneur Sylvestre, 9 rue Fortier à Gatineau" and all lots, sold up to and including January 30, 2008, are affected by this alert.

These products have been distributed in Gatineau, Quebec, and Ottawa, Ontario.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this bacteria may cause salmonellosis, a foodborne illness. In young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, salmonellosis may cause serious and sometimes deadly infections. In otherwise healthy people, salmonellosis may cause short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

The manufacturer is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information, consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

For information on Salmonella, visit the Food Facts web page at
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/causee.shtml.

For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

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Shashi Kulkarni (English)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall and Emergency Response
613-368-1622

Linda LeBlanc (French)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall and Emergency Response
613-760-4112