Exactly one month after its official debut on Amazon and other digital book retail sites, TOXIC: From Factory to Food Bowl, Pet Food Is a Risky Business retains its position as #1 New Release, in addition to having earned excellent reviews from a variety of sources and a strong five-star rating on the Amazon website.
To celebrate our successful first month, here is an excerpt from the audiobook edition, soon to be released on Audible, Amazon, and Apple.
TOXIC has garnered a following in Europe as well as North America and Australia. A British reader had this to say:
This book is a sobering read – fact! For any pet owner who wants a behind the scenes look at what goes into (some) pet foods then this is a must read. Entis has written a clear and detailed account of the shortcomings and investigations into some of the unscrupulous practices that some pet food manufacturers have adopted.
[W]hat becomes clear is that laws need to be tightened and those in positions of authority within these pet food companies need to be held to account in a more meaningful and substantial way. This book offers a balanced and insightful view of manufactured pet food recalls over the last 100 years. As a pet owner I for one shall be following Entis’ own example and moving to a home diet for my dog from now on.
Amazon UK reviewer
TOXIC
From Factory to Food Bowl, PET FOOD IS A RISKY BUSINESS
“A complete and compelling account of the hidden and not-so-hidden ways the food we give our beloved pets can be contaminated.” – JoNel Aleccia, Health Reporter, Food & Nutrition, The Associated Press.
Available from all major on-line retailers, including:
Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.
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TOXIC
From Factory to Food Bowl, PET FOOD IS A RISKY BUSINESS
“A complete and compelling account of the hidden and not-so-hidden ways the food we give our beloved pets can be contaminated.” – JoNel Aleccia, Health Reporter, Food & Nutrition, The Associated Press.
Available from all major on-line retailers, including:
OUTBREAK ALERT: An outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes in the state of Washington has sickened five individuals and killed three of them, according to a report by Food Safety News.
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE: CDCreports that the Hepatitis A outbreak linked to frozen organic strawberries has grown to include ten cases in four states.
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE: CDCreports that the number of Salmonella cases in an outbreak linked to contact with backyard poultry has increased to 690 cases in 47 states and Puerto Rico. One hundred forty-one (141) of the outbreak victims have been hospitalized. Six different Salmonella serotypes (Braenderup, Enteritidis, Indiana, Infantis, Mbandaka, and Typhimurium) have been recovered from outbreak patients.
Allergy Alert: FSIS issues Public Health Alert for NEVER ANY! UNCURED HAM & CHEESE LUNCH KIT (2.9-oz. plastic tray packages; Use by SEPT 18 2023) due to undeclared peanut. A recall was not requested because the products are believed to no longer be available for purchase.
Allergy Alert: Nuevo Garcia Foods, LLC recalls H-E-B SMOKEHOUSE FULLY COOKED SMOKED SEASONED PULLED PORK WITH BBQ SAUCE (2 lb; Lot #3135; Best by 8/18/2023, 8/25/2023, and 9/1/2023) due to undeclared soy lecithin.
Food Safety Recall: Cooperstown Cheese Company recalls 1400 pounds of cheese purchased, sold or distributed from June 21, 2023 to July 10, 2023 due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
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Canada
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION UPDATE: The Public Health Agency of Canada reports 185 non-travel related cases of Cyclospora illnesses in Ontario (170), Quebec (9), and British Columbia (6). The PHAC is monitoring the situation, but has not identified a source.
Public Health Alert: The Québec Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) advises the public not to consume various seafood products packed in glass jars that were prepared and sold by Fruits de mer Fougère (Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC), due to potential for growth of Clostridium botulinum. Please refer to the MAPAQ public health alert for a complete list of affected products.
Allergy Alert: The Village Kitchen recalls The Village Kitchen brand Chicken Curry (370g & 800g; UPC 6 90523 11101 9 & 6 90523 11102 6, respectively; All codes where mustard is not declared on the label) due to undeclared mustard.
Food Safety Recall: Poissonnerie de Gaspé (Gaspé, QC) recalls various smoked fish products due to possible food safety risk. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
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Europe
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION (Sweden):Sweden’s Public Health Agency, together with the Swedish Food Agency and regional partners are investigating an outbreak of 14 reported cases of Listeria monocytogenes infections. Four of the cases were reported in the fall of 2022, and the other ten cases developed between the end of May and 2023 and early July 2023. Three victims have died. Several of the victims reported having consumed cold-smoked and/or smoked salmon in the period before falling ill. However, a specific source of the outbreak has not yet been determined.
Allergy Alert (Finland): Kellogg Companyrecalls Pringles Original perunalastuja / Crisps (200g; Batch code L2361036610 0405 3878; Best before 27.3.2024) due to lack of Finnish language labeling and presence of undeclared wheat and soy.
Allergy Alert (Germany): Intersnack SE recalls funny-frisch Brezli / Pretzels (160g; Lots LA.212 20B & LA.253 20B; Best before 22.04.24) due to undeclared milk.
Allergy Alert (Italy): DA Mario Srl recalls MARIO SENZA GLUTINE LA MELIGA / Doughnut (40g; Multiple lot and date codes) due to undeclared lactose (milk sugar). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
Food Safety Recall (Belgium): AFSCA recalls Gina originale brand Kaffee Wiener Art / Ground coffee (250g; Lot A19Y 1/2025) due to ochratoxin contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Deli Drengene ApS recalls Eriks pebersauce / Pepper sauce (230ml; Best before 22-09-2023) due to mold contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Finland): Euro-East Oy recalls Cmak Auringonkukansiemenet, paahdettu ja suolattu/ Sunflower seeds, roasted and salted (300g; Best before 08.11.2023) due to ochratoxin contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): FROMAGERIE REO recalls TH REAUX brand Camembert de Normandie AOP / Raw milk cheese (250g; Lot 23R135; Best before dates between 17/07/2023 and 04/08/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): FROMAGERIE REO recalls VAL D’AY brand Camembert de Normandie AOP / Raw milk cheese (250g; Lot 23R135; Best before dates between 17/07/2023 and 04/08/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): FROMAGERIE REO recalls GASLONDE brand Camembert de Normandie AOP / Raw milk cheese (250g, 1 kg, 800g, 150g; Lot 23R135; Best before dates between 17/07/2023 and 04/08/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): FROMAGERIE REO recalls REO brand Camembert de Normandie AOP / Raw milk cheese (250g, 1 kg, 150g; Lot 23R135; Best before dates between 17/07/2023 and 04/08/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): TRADITION ET BIO ASSOCIES SAS TEBA recalls Petite saucisse pur boeuf / Merguez pur boeuf / Pure beef sausages (5/pkg; Lot 31763185020; Use by 24/07/2023) due to E. coli O26:H11 contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): LE CAFE DU MARCHE recalls LE CAFE DU MARCHE brand CAFE EN GRAIN / Whole bean coffee and CAFE MOULU / Ground coffee (250g; Lot PB0038; Best before dates between 30/05/2024 and 30/07/2024) due to ochratoxin contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): TRADITION & TERROIR DU SUD OUEST recalls TRADITION & TERROIR brand PIEDS DE PORC CUITS EN VINAIGRETTE / Cooked pigs feet in vinaigrette (Lots 231879002, 231849005, 231840001; Use by 26/07/2023 & 23/07/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): BRIENT recalls Rôti de porc cuit aux Herbes / Roast pork with herbs (3.2 kg; Lot 000011132461; Use by 19/08/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Germany): Fleischwaren-Wulff GmbH & Co. KG recalls Zwiebelmettwurst / Onion Mettwurst sausage (150g; Lot 327301; Best before 31.07.2023, 01.08.2023, 02.08.2023, 03.08.2023, 04.08.2023) due to shiga toxin-producing E. coli contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Fadie Food BV recalls AI Kharouf brand Halva (400g & 800g; Batch code NW800 I76; Best before dates from beginning of February 2023 to the end of February 2025) due to Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Norway): Sotra Fiskeindustri AS recalls Sotra Sjømat brand Røkt laks / Smoked salmon (Lot 16039 & 16029; Best before 17.08.2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (UK): Potts Partnership Ltd recalls Potts’ Truffle Mayonnaise (230g; Batch code 18823; Best before July 2024) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Australia and New Zealand
Allergy Alert (Australia): Y&J Connect Pty Ltd / Koz Worldwide Pty Ltd recalls LOTTE PEPERO Almond (128g; Expiry 03.04.24) due to undeclared sesame and LOTTE PEPERO White cookie (128g; Expiry 03.02.24) due to undeclared sesame, almond and peanut.
“Reads like a true crime novel” – Food Safety News
Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?
Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.
A June 2023 FDA inspection of ReConserve of Maryland, Inc. found multiple food safety and sanitation issues at the facility.
The inspection outcome was classified as “Official Action Indicated,” and a summary of the observations was posted on the FDA’s searchable inspections dashboard.
The actual actions taken by the agency will depend, at least in part, on the willingness of the company to correct each of the issues identified during the inspection in a timely manner.
ReConserve Inc. is a recycler of edible food waste, with multiple locations across the United States.
According to its website, the company recycles bakery, cereal grain, snack foods, and related food by-products into ground meal that can be incorporated into feed for poultry, swine, dairy cattle, and beef cattle.
During the course of the inspection, the FDA noted the following infractions:
You did not keep the grounds around your animal food plant in a condition that would protect against the contamination of animal food.
You did not effectively protect the animal food stored outdoors in bulk from contamination.
You did not inspect, segregate, or otherwise handle raw materials and ingredients used in manufacturing under conditions that will protect the animal food against contamination and minimize deterioration.
You did not identify and evaluate each known or reasonably foreseeable hazard for each type of animal food you manufacture, process, pack or hold in your facility.
You did not identify and implement preventive controls to ensure that any hazards requiring a preventive control are significantly minimized or prevented.
You did not conduct a reanalysis of your food safety plan as appropriate.
Why this matters
ReConserve describes its finished product as a “high-energy, nutrient dense, highly palatable” substitute for “more expensive feed grains and fat,” which can be incorporated into animal food rations at levels as high as 25% for poultry and 30% for swine.
Improper storage and handling of bakery and other cereal grain by-products can easily lead to mold growth in the material, with the potential for development of aflatoxins and other mycotoxins.
Improper or inadequate controls during and after processing could result in contamination with harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella, as a result of cross-contamination or exposure to rodent or bird infestation.
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