The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday that 73 cases of Salmonella Saintpaul have been reported across 18 states, believe to be linked to exposure to infected cucumbers. The cucumbers were supplied by Daniel Cardenas Izabal and Miracle Greenhouse of Culiacán, Mexico and distributed by Tricar Sales, Inc. of Rio Rico, Arizona.

27% of reported cases required hospitalization and no deaths have been reported. The youngest person sickened was under one year of age.
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The Food and Drug Administration is collaborating with the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate an outbreak of 16 E. coli infections believed to be tied to a blend of organic spinach and spring mix sold at the Wegmans chain of supermarket.
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Food recalls are coming in fast and furious and it's often hard to keep track. This is the first in a series of recall round-ups in which we'll share the most up-to-date information on the foods you should be scrutinizing right now.

Peanut butter

Sunland, Inc., the manufacturer of Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter which was recalled last week due to possible salmonella contamination, has expanded the recall to include all of its Almond Butter and Peanut Butter products manufactured between May 1, 2012 and September 24, 2012.
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The Kroger chain of grocery stores announced Tuesday that it has issued a voluntary recall of bagged spinach on fears of listeria contamination.
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Dole Fresh Vegetables announced Monday that the company is voluntarily issuing a precautionary recall of 1,077 cases of bagged salads due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported in association with the product.

According to a press release from the company, the recall was prompted when a sample tested by the State of North Carolina yielded a positive result for Listeria.
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In cooking, the process of clarification entails straining out extraneous muck from liquids so that they might be pure, clear and ideal for consumption. With this series on food terminology and issues we're attempting to do the same.

Another day, another Food and Drug Administration warning - and for what seems to be the millionth time in the past few months (okay - at least the fourth this year), the culprit is sprouts.

In a press release issued on Monday, the agency advised consumers not to eat Evergreen Produce brand alfalfa sprouts and spicy sprouts. The release states that these sprouts are possibly linked to 20 reported cases, including one hospitalization, of Salmonella Enteritidis in Idaho, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota and Washington State.

While the pathogen associated with this outbreak is different from the pathogen associated with the outbreak in Europe, the FDA says it is imperative that elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems not consume the sprouts, as they are are more likely to have a severe illness from Salmonella infection.
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The origin of a bacterial outbreak that has killed at least 27 people in Europe has been traced to bean sprouts in Germany, a leading health official in the nation said Friday.

But even as investigators identified the source of an E. coli outbreak, officials warned the threat was not over as authorities cannot definitively say how or where the sprouts were infected.

Investigators determined bean sprouts were the cause of the outbreak after 17 people became ill after eating at the same restaurant, Reinhard Burger, President of the Robert Koch Institute, told reporters.

Authorities questioned people about what they ate and asked the cooks where the ingredients came from, Burger said.
The common denominator, he said, was only those who ate food containing the sprouts became ill.

Read - Official: E. coli outbreak traced to bean sprouts

Thinking of nixing lettuce from your diet after reading about the deadly E. coli outbreak in Germany and domestic lettuce recalls?

Not only can at-home growers skip this risk - you'll also save money, enjoy a nearly endless variety of organic and heirloom options and have fresh salads at their fingertips all year around - even without an outdoor garden.
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Taylor Farms Pacific, Inc., a California-based food supplier for six retail chain stores, has announced the recall of grape tomatoes produced by a grower who said the vegetables might be contaminated with salmonella.

The recall applies to 29 brand-packaged salads sold at Albertson's, Raley's, Sam's Club, Savemart, Signature Cafe and Wal-Mart, the company said in a statement Monday. The affected products have expiration dates ranging from April 27 to May 9, according to the news release.

Get more details at Calif. company announces grape tomato recall and keep track of recall news on Eatocracy

A North Carolina produce company has issued a recall for cucumbers because they could be contaminated with salmonella.

Raleigh-based L&M Companies, Inc. said it distributed 1,590 bulk cartons of the cucumbers in question between March 30 and April 7 to New York, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Nebraska. Texas and Wyoming.

The recalled cartons are marked Nature's Delight and contain the Lot # PL-RID-002990 on the side of the carton. Only this one lot is being recalled.

Read - Salmonella potential prompts cucumber recall