Tuesday, March 31, 2009

FDA says to avoid pistachios amid salmonella scare

http://www.fda.gov


By GARANCE BURKE, Associated Press Writer Garance Burke, Associated Press Writer

FRESNO, Calif. – In another food scare sure to rattle consumers who watched the national salmonella outbreak in peanuts unfold, federal food officials are now warning people not to eat any food containing pistachios, which could carry contamination from the same bacteria.

The Food and Drug Administration said central California-based Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc., the nation's second-largest pistachio processor, was voluntarily recalling more than 2 million pounds of its roasted nuts shipped since last fall.

"Our advice to consumers is that they avoid eating pistachio products, and that they hold onto those products," said Dr. David Acheson, assistant commissioner for food safety. "The number of products that are going to be recalled over the coming days will grow, simply because these pistachio nuts have then been repackaged into consumer-level containers."

Two people called the FDA complaining of gastrointestinal illness that could be associated with the nuts, but the link hasn't been confirmed, Acheson said. Still, the plant decided to shut down late last week, officials said.

The recalled nuts represent a small fraction of the 55 million pounds of pistachios that the company's plant processed last year and an even smaller portion of the 278 million pounds produced in the state in the 2008 season, according to the Fresno-based Administrative Committee for Pistachios.

California alone is the second-largest producer of pistachios in the world.

According to the company's Web site, Setton Pistachio is in the corporate family of Commack, N.Y.-based Setton International Foods Inc. The company sells nuts, dried fruit, edible seeds, chocolate and yogurt-coated candies.

The FDA learned about the problem last Tuesday, when Kraft Foods Inc. notified the agency that it had detected salmonella in roasted pistachios through routine product testing. Kraft and the Georgia Nut Co. recalled their Back to Nature Nantucket Blend trail mix the next day.

The FDA contacted Setton Pistachio and California health officials shortly afterward, in what Acheson called a "proactive move."

By Friday, grocery operator Kroger Co. recalled one of its lines of bagged pistachios because of possible salmonella contamination, saying the California plant also supplied its nuts. Those nuts were sold in 31 states.

Fabia D'Arienzo, a spokeswoman for Tulare County-based Setton Pistachio, said the company was only recalling certain bulk roasted in-shell and roasted shelled pistachios that were shipped on or after September 1.

Because Setton Pistachio shipped tote bags of nuts weighing up to 2,000 pounds to 36 wholesalers across the country, it will take weeks to figure out how many products could be affected, said Jeff Farrar, chief of the Food and Drug Branch of the California Department of Public Health.

"It will be safe to assume based on the volume that this will be an ingredient in a lot of different products, and that may possibly include things like ice cream and cake mixes," Farrar said. "The firm is already turning around trucks in transit to bring those back to the facility."

Salmonella, the most common cause of food-borne illness, is a bacteria that causes diarrhea, fever and cramping. Most people recover, but the infection can be life-threatening for children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

For nuts, roasting is supposed to kill the bacteria. But problems can occur if the roasting is not done correctly or if roasted nuts are re-contaminated. That can happen if mice, rats or birds get into the facility.

Last winter, a national salmonella outbreak was blamed on a Georgia company under federal investigation for flouting safety procedures and knowingly shipping contaminated peanuts.

The outbreak is still ongoing. More than 690 people in 46 states have gotten sick. Nearly 3,900 products made with peanut ingredients from Peanut Corp. of America have been recalled.

California public health authorities have taken hundreds of samples at Setton's processing facility, but lab results have not yet determined whether salmonella was found at the plant, Farrar said. The food companies' own tests of the contaminated products isolated four different types of salmonella, but none were the same strain as the one found in the peanuts, Acheson said.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

DTV CONVERTER BOX COUPONS - People with expired coupons may now apply again

https://www.dtv2009.gov/


The Coupon Program is now accepting applications from consumers whose coupons expired without being redeemed. The Coupon Program limits each U.S. household to a total of two redeemed coupons. Therefore, if you have redeemed one coupon toward the purchase of a TV converter box and the other has expired, you may request and be approved for one replacement coupon; if you have redeemed two coupons you will not be approved for additional coupons. Replacement coupons will only be issued to eligible households upon request.

DTV CONVERTER BOX COUPONS - People with expired coupons may now apply again

https://www.dtv2009.gov/


The Coupon Program is now accepting applications from consumers whose coupons expired without being redeemed. The Coupon Program limits each U.S. household to a total of two redeemed coupons. Therefore, if you have redeemed one coupon toward the purchase of a TV converter box and the other has expired, you may request and be approved for one replacement coupon; if you have redeemed two coupons you will not be approved for additional coupons. Replacement coupons will only be issued to eligible households upon request.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Hackers Steal 40 Million Credit Cards, Consumers Should Check Credit Reports

(ARA) - In what has been called the largest credit card fraud bust in American history, 11 people were recently indicted for stealing up to 40 million credit card numbers. Could yours have been one of the stolen numbers?

The 11 defendants from around the world allegedly hacked into the computer systems of 9 major American retailers, including book stores, office supply stores and clothing stores. These credit card profiles have been for sale on the black market, resulting in a massive amount of fraud and identity theft.

Because of the scale of the theft, it is very possible your credit, and possibly even your identity, has been compromised. The number one way to detect identity theft is to check for errors on your credit report. If someone has been fraudulently using your identity, making charges and opening accounts in your name, it will show up on your credit report.

The Federal Trade Commission recommends you deter identity thieves by monitoring your financial accounts routinely and reporting ID theft as soon as you notice a problem. Checking your own credit report does not hurt your score.

Find out if you've been the victim of the latest wave of credit card thefts that have affected millions of Americans. Check your updated credit report and score now at GoFreeCredit.com and sign up for a free trial of their credit monitoring service to protect your identity. You'll be notified immediately if there are any fraud attempts on your credit file.

Copyright ©, ARAnet, Inc.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Codes for Big Stores HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

http://shopping.aol.com/coupons/?ncid=AOLCOMMshopDYNLsec0001

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Upload coupons to your Favorite Store Savings Card

http://shortcuts.com

Attach coupons electronically to your participating grocery store savings card!

Register for FREE


Find a participating store here:
http://shortcuts.com/stores

Friday, March 13, 2009

Scam Alert

Scam Alert!!

Be aware that there are individuals using Corporate Research Internationals good name to perpetrate a scam on unsuspecting consumers.

Consumers are receiving fraudulent letters offering, among other things, a mystery shopping assignment to evaluate a money transfer service (click here to see an example of the letter).

These letters use Corporate Research Internationals name and website address to establish credibility with the recipients and are accompanied by a cashiers check for several thousand dollars. In the letter, shoppers are instructed to cash the check at a local bank and then wire the cash to a designated location while keeping several hundred dollars for themselves as payment for the shop.

This is a scam! The cashiers check ultimately bounces and the shopper is held liable for the funds.

If you or anyone you know has received a similar letter, please contact local law enforcement or the nearest FBI regional field office to report the scam attempt. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

We also ask that you inform those friends or family whom you know to engage in mystery shopping to be on the lookout for this type of fraudulent offer.

Anne Harris
Scheduling Supervisor
Corporate Research International
http://www.corpri.com

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Refrigerator Recall

1.6 Million Refrigerators Recalled (FIRE POTENTIAL!!) Maytag, Admiral, JennAir, Magic Chef and more http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200903...tag_recall


They were sold from January 2001 through January 2004 at department and appliance stores and by homebuilders.



Consumers were advised to contact Maytag to find out if their refrigerator is included in the recall and to set up a free in-home repair. Its toll-free number is 866-533-9817.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Walgreens code $5 off $25

Save $5 when you spend $25: Enter coupon code: FLEX5

also FREE shipping for $50 +

Friday, March 6, 2009

Free Resume Printing Day!!!

Tuesday March 10th 1,600+ FedEx Office Print and Ship Centers will print up to 25 resume copies for free. The timely promo, called Free Resume Printing Day.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

FREE Movie Rentals

It's March Movie Madness for redbox, so get in the game… on WEDNESDAYS! Visit redblog (http://e.redbox.com/a/hBJrGwJBtmrYQB7gGIZ$OCDMrme/redblog-1) every Wednesday in March for your Free Movie Wednesday code. Then visit your local redbox kiosk for your FREE 1 NIGHT's RENTAL.


GET A FREE NIGHT'S RENTAL EVERY MONDAY… Sign up for Free Movie Mondays! Join the redbox Free Movie Monday SMS program and get a promo code sent to your phone every Monday! (http://e.redbox.com/a/hBJrGwJBtmrYQB7gGIZ$OCDMrme/getstarted-1)

Monday, March 2, 2009

March is FROZEN MEAL month

How to receive your $1.00 off Savings Coupons:

1) Purchase five (5) participating frozen products (Hungry-Man®, Mrs. Paul’s®, Van de Kamp’s®, Duncan Hines® Oven Ready, Aunt Jemima® or Lender’s® Bagels) between 3/1/09 and 3/31/09; 2) Download this order form and hand print your complete name, mailing address and e-mail address; and 3) Mail your completed order form and the original cash register/purchase receipt(s) dated between 3/1/09 and 3/31/09 with the participating products circled, in an envelope.

http://www.therealmealdeal.com/