This morning we received possibly the most bizarre FDA update we’ve ever seen:  “FDA warns of Salmonella risk from frozen rodents fed to reptiles.”

Biggers and Callaham LLC (dba MiceDirect), a reptile-feed delivery company, has voluntarily recalled several frozen food products (rodents and birds) that have been linked to outbreaks of Salmonella in 17 states across the country.  For a full list of recalled products, click here.   Biggers and Callaham LLC recommends placing any recall items  in a sealed bag in the garbage, and not attempting to cook the products or feed them to pets.

We covered a similar topic in our Kissing Frogs post back in March when we reported on the numbers of young girls who gave themselves Salmonella by kissing frogs after the release of the Disney film The Princess and the Frog. The bottom line is this:  animals, while cute and sometimes fun, are covered in germs.  Their immune systems do not require the same level of cleanliness as ours do and so foods and environments that are safe for animals can make humans very sick.  In fact, with this most recent recall announcement, the FDA has warned against allowing children under five (5) to handle snakes and other reptiles.  Animals such as reptiles and birds are common sources of Salmonella infection in young people because children often touch their eyes, noses, and mouths without washing their hands.  Older children and elderly persons should have limited contact with reptiles, birds, and frozen animal products such as those involved in the recall.

Read the entire FDA press release here.

–Emilee Follett

We are so excited about our BRAND NEW Food Safety Course that will be debuting soon!  We hope this course will make the food safety learning experience more educational, more interactive, and more FUN!  We’ll keep you posted with further updates about our new course.  Check back soon!

S.510 is the official name of the Food Safety Modernization Act, a bill that is expected to pass through the U.S. Congress soon, and without much difficulty.  Sometimes lawmakers across the aisle have a difficult time seeing eye-to-eye–but not when it comes to food safety.  The bill, sponsored by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), would potentially give the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services more regulatory control over inspections, recalls, and imported foods.

If your are interested in following the progress of this important piece of legislation, please click here.  We will try and keep you posted as we learn more.

–Emilee Follett

If you have been following our blog recently, you are already aware that there have been LOTS of food recalls this year.  In fact, there have been so many, we’ve had a hard time keeping up!  The US Department of Health & Human Services just create a create online resource that gives a comprehensive rundown of all the food items that have been recalled in the last month and a half.  Check it out and make sure all your salami, cookie, and dried fruit bases are covered.

Recall list for 2010

–Emilee Follett