Food Poisoning Always a Concern Over the Holidays

Rockville, MDTwo huge food poisoning stories appear to have been finally put to bed as the year draws to a close: chicken pot pies linked to salmonella food poisoning in the US, and deli meats infected with lysteria up in Canada. As 2009 is about to emerge, a food supplements story is emerging along with it: a dietary supplement that has been recalled due to the presence of a dangerous diuretic.

The latter is of concern for users of Starcaps, a dietary supplement sold over the counter that has been found to contain Bumetanide, a diuretic normally available only by prescription. It has also been reported that Bumetanide is not listed anywhere on the product label.

Levels of Bumetanide in the supplement have been detected at 0.8mg for each capsule.

Bumetanide is a diuretic indicated for the treatment of edema associated with congestive heart failure, hepatic and renal disease, and nephritic syndrome.

The problem, is what happens to people who shouldn't be taking Bumetanide—and wouldn't otherwise—ingesting it unknowingly by ingesting the affected Starcaps. It has been reported that potential risks include serious and significant fluid and electrolyte loss and an elevation in uric acid concentrations. Consumers should not take Bumetanide if they are allergic to sulfonamides. Significant drug interactions with digoxin and lithium, may lead to an increased risk of toxicity.

Meanwhile, a food poisoning story that broke in 2007 has been finally put to bed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. Federal investigators have concluded that 401 persons were sickened from salmonella found in Banquet pot pies manufactured by ConAgra Foods Inc.

Thankfully, there were no deaths. However, those who succumbed to illness were sufficiently sick that one-third required hospitalization. The illnesses were reported across 41 states.

However, the story doesn't end there. That's because the CDC has estimated that for every report of salmonella illness associated with the recalled Banquet pot pies, 38 cases of illness were probably not reported at all.

Thus, the actual number of people sickened could easily number into the thousands.

In Canada, meanwhile, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Maple Leaf Foods Inc. was busy shepherding members of the media through the company's Montreal manufacturing facility on December 12th, in an effort to showcase the company's new food safety protocols.

This, after a lysteria outbreak at its Toronto meat packing plant this past August that sickened dozens of people and killed 4. For healthy people, ingesting meat tainted with lysteria can lead to high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. However in rare cases—much like with e coli—people can die from it. At greatest risk are people who are very young, the elderly, or those with health problems and suppressed immune systems.

Following a recall of Maple Leaf meats thought to be affected, the Toronto facility was shut down, thoroughly inspected and overhauled. It has recently re-opened, and the company took the step of putting into place various safety and quality assurance protocols to ensure such an outbreak is not repeated.

The company CEO, Michael McCain, is appearing on television in a marketing campaign, in an attempt to speak to the issue and reassure consumers.

Meanwhile the dietary supplement recall is still at play. Last month Balanced Health Products Inc. was reported to have recalled 1,974 consumer-sized bottles of Starcaps inherent with Lot 12/2011-84810. Other lots are being tested to determine whether, or not they are affected by the presence of the rogue ingredient.

There was no explanation given as to how the Bumetanide managed to get into the product. The recall is being conducted in tandem with the US Food and Drug Administration.

Food poisoning is always an added worry this time of year, with heightened instances of meal preparation for large groups. Sometimes good preparation practice falls through the cracks, and salmonella food poisoning results. But as the foregoing demonstrates, fans of food supplements are not immune to concern.