News

Taylor Farms, a Tracy, Calif. establishment is recalling approximately 52,191 pounds of chicken Caesar salad products because of misbranding and undeclared allergens. The products contain egg, an allergen, which is not noted on the label. The egg is an ingredient in the Caesar dressing packet in the salads.

The products subject to recall in packaging for consumers include:
-7-oz. packages of "Taylor Farms CAESAR PASTA LAYERED SALAD WITH CHICKEN" bearing "P-34013" inside the mark of inspection and a sell by date through Sept. 3, 2011.
-12-oz. plastic trays of "Signature Café GRILLED CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD" may or may not bear "P-34013" inside the mark of inspection and bears a sell by date through Sept. 3, 2011.

The products subject to recall in packaging for retailers include:
-6.25-lb. cases of "Signature Café GRILLED CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD KIT."

The Signature Café salad kits bear one of the following in the mark of inspection: "P-34013" with a case code of 218804 or 218815, "P-34733" with a case code of 2300103, "P-34522" with a case code of 22019666637, and "P-34703" with a case code of 59348. These salads were produced from Aug. 9, 2011 to Aug. 24, 2011. The Signature Café salad kits were distributed nationwide. The 12-oz. Signature Café salads were distributed in California. The Taylor Farms Caesar pasta layered salads with chicken were distributed in Oregon, California and Washington.

The problem was discovered when a consumer had a reaction after consuming the Caesar salad. The consumer had a known allergy to eggs and suspected that eggs were an ingredient in the Caesar salad dressing. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on FSIS' website at: www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Media with questions about the recall should the company's president, Garth Borman, at (209) 839-6300. Consumers with questions should contact the company's quality assurance manager, Rhonda Rallios, at (209)830-3186.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

Despite strong and widespread concerns from the business community, the National Labor Relations Board announced Aug. 25 that starting in mid-November it will require nearly all private-sector employers to post a new federal workplace notice detailing employees' rights under the National Labor Relations Act to organize unions.

The mandate to post the new 11" x 17" poster will take effect Nov. 14, 2011, the agency says. Failure to post the notice could constitute an "unfair labor practice" under the National Labor Relations Act. The NLRB says it will not initiate enforcement action on its own for an employer's failure to post a notice but could investigate cases based on complaints by employees or other parties.

The National Restaurant Association and more than 30 state restaurant associations filed comments with the NLRB in February objecting to the proposed poster mandate, noting that the mandate was another example of how an activist NLRB was taking steps to make it easier for unions to organize businesses. The proposed mandate would also create a new source of litigation for trial attorneys, the NRA noted in February.

The NLRB says it will make posters available starting Nov. 1, 2011. Employers will be able to download the poster from the NLRB site or order it from an NLRB office.

NLRB's rule (nearly 200 pages) and Q&A on the new mandate.

YoCream International, Inc. of Portland, OR is recalling Nonfat NY Cheesecake Frozen Yogurt Mix (Item 92147) because it contains undeclared eggs. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to eggs run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

Please note that the product is safe to consume by people who are not allergic to eggs. YoCream has been made aware of one allergic reaction by a consumer.

The affected Nonfat NY Cheesecake Frozen Yogurt Mix was distributed throughout the United States, including to one US-based export customer. The product is available to consumers primarily through frozen yogurt shops and other retail establishments that serve frozen yogurt. The product is not sold as a consumer retail packaged item.

The Nonfat NY Cheesecake Frozen Yogurt Mix is packaged in half-gallon cartons with the following lot codes, which can be found in ink jet printed on the side of the corrugated shipping box and on the topmost part of each individual carton:

UPC: 81995 92147
LOT CODES: 2990, 3200, 3470, 3520, 0391, 0461, 0591, 0731, 0871, 0961, 1131,
1171, 1231, 1291, 1541, 1661, 1811, 1921, 2061, 2131.

This mislabeling issue is limited to only one SKU of the YoCream product line.

As of August 20, 2011, and until individual pre-printed cartons have been modified, every shipment of the Nonfat New York Cheesecake Frozen Yogurt Mix SKU # 92147 leaving the YoCream warehouse has a corrective white label clearly stating “contains milk and egg” on the top of each ½ gallon carton as well as on both sides of every shipping case.

All product inventories must be handled as follows:

Distributors:
Contact YoCream to either:

1) obtain allergen declaration labels/stickers and instructions for applying labels (or print your own labels to match those shown on the instruction sheet); YoCream will compensate for the labor cost incurred after submittal of a completed claim form, or
2) coordinate with YoCream for product disposal and replacement.

Food Service Operators:
Contact YoCream to:

1) obtain allergen declaration labels and instructions for applying labels (or print your own labels to match those shown on the instruction sheet); Yocream will provide compensation for labor expense, upon submittal of the completed claim form, plus the cost of labels if self-supplied or
2) coordinate product disposal and replacement or reimbursement with YoCream.

YoCream can also provide dispenser flavor strips which include the appropriate allergen declaration.

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.

Customers with questions may contact the company between 8:00-5:00 pm PST at 1 800 YOCREAM (1 800 962 7326); Fax 503 254 9579, or email to: customeralert.august2011@yocream.com 

The Christie Cookie Company issues allergy alert on undeclared eggs, Soy Lecithin, wheat and milk on the labels of the following gift tins:

Item # 1035 DoubleTree 6 (13.5 oz) Cookie Gift Tin.
Item # 10352 DoubleTree Anniversary Special containing two 6 Cookie Gift Tins (27 oz.).
Item # 1037 DoubleTree 12 (27 oz.) Cookie Gift Tin.
Item # 1038 DoubleTree 15 (33.75 oz.) Cookie Gift Tin.
Item # 1039 DoubleTree 24 (54 oz.) Cookie Gift Tin.

The Christie Cookie Company of Nashville, TN is recalling the cookie gift tins listed above, because they contain eggs, soy lecithin, wheat and milk which are not declared on the label.

People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to eggs, soy lecithin, wheat or milk run the risk of serious or lifethreatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

“The Cookie by DoubleTree” gift tins were distributed throughout the United States via direct mail and sold directly to consumers at DoubleTree hotels.

The cookie gift tins were in a variety of metal containers containing 6-24 cookies under the product name ”The Cookie by DoubleTree.”

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing eggs, soy lecithin, wheat and milk was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of eggs, soy lecithin, wheat or milk on the outside of the cookie gift tin.

If you are allergic or think you might be allergic to eggs, milk wheat or soy, do not eat this product. For more information about this recall, please contact Bob Turner at (615) 242-3817 between the hours of 7:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. central time.

By Bob Carr, Chief Executive Officer, Heartland Payment Systems®

In our previous article, we established that PCI-DSS validation and ongoing compliance is the first step in protecting customer card data at your restaurant. However, it is no guarantee against suffering a data breach.

So then, what is?

Look at it this way: Thieves cannot take what you don’t have. By building security that protects your customers’ card data while it is in flight and at rest undefined throughout the entire payment lifecycle transaction undefined data won’t be exposed to the vulnerabilities that criminals actively seek out.

While you may have heard of various data security technologies, such as tokenization (which replaces cardholder data obtained during a transaction with a marker undefined or token), only encryption technologies employing both hardware and software protections will secure data in flight and data stored on subsystems.

This technology, called “end-to-end encryption,” protects credit and debit card data from the moment of card swipe and through the processor’s network undefined not just at certain points of the transaction flow undefined rendering it useless in the event of a compromise.

What’s more, end-to-end encryption reduces PCI DSS validation scope and therefore audit costs for merchants, and it addresses consumer concerns about credit card fraud as well.

In our next article, you’ll learn more about end-to-end encryption and specifically how Heartland’s E3 technology can benefit your business undefined without additional fees.

As the front line representatives of your restaurant, your employees are the most effective defense against a data compromise. Develop a security awareness program to teach personnel how to act and how to recognize when things are not being done properly.

Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (NYSE: HPY), the fifth largest payments processor in the United States, delivers credit/debit/prepaid card processing, gift marketing and loyalty programs, payroll, check management and related business solutions to more than 250,000 business locations nationwide. A FORTUNE 1000 company, Heartland is the founding supporter of The Merchant Bill of Rights, a public advocacy initiative that educates merchants about fair credit and debit card processing practices. The company is also a leader in the development of end-to-end encryption technology designed to protect cardholder data, rendering it useless to cybercriminals. For more information, please visit HeartlandPaymentSystems.com, MerchantBillOfRights.org, CostOfABurger.com and E3Secure.com.

This article represents the opinion of its author and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to and does not constitute legal advice and should not be viewed or acted on as such. Please retain your own legal counsel and seek your own legal advice on any legal questions, issues or concerns. The information contained herein does not represent the legal opinion of Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (“Heartland”), its officers, directors, employees or shareholders. Heartland does not represent or warrant that the information contained herein is accurate, all-inclusive or complete.

By: Atlanta Business Chronicle

National Beef Packing Co. LLC of Dodge City, Kan., has issued a recall on ground chuck sold in several states, including Georgia, due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7.

Publix Super Markets Inc. and Kroger Co. have both issued related recalls on dozens of ground beef products that use National Beef Packaging product.

Click here for the Publix list.

Click here for the Kroger list.

Consumption of products containing E. coli O157:H7 can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

Click here for the USDA recall.

Article

By Bob Carr, Chief Executive Officer, Heartland Payment Systems®

Let’s suppose 50 credit card numbers are stolen from your pizzeria. The experienced fraudster responsible will use tools and an encoder he bought on the internet for around $200, to encode fake plastic cards with your stolen account numbers. Then, he’ll go over to Walmart or the local convenience store and work out a “deal” with the cash-strapped night-shift cashier to sell him 25 gift cards. He’ll get the gift cards loaded with the maximum dollar amount permitted; if that’s $1,000, he’ll easily make $50,000 in profits from hitting your one pizzeria.

So you see, breaching the little restaurant down the lane suddenly becomes a highly profitable enterprise.

But why is it so hard for the restaurant industry to fight these crimes? Because it’s pretty complicated to become PCI compliant and it takes time most restaurateurs don’t think they have. Breaches happen because restaurants don’t have the motivation to do what’s needed to be PCI compliant. And, with often more than 200 individual requirements necessary to become compliant undefined at a cost of $4,500 a restaurant on average undefined quite honestly, it’s understandable.

But better security is necessary, especially with credit card fraud becoming the order of the day. In future installments of this series, I’ll explain the types of security available undefined and the types of companies you can obtain that protection from.

Actionable item:
Become familiar with what you need to do to make your business PCI compliant. Here are websites that provide this information:
https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/merchants/index.php
http://www.heartlandpaymentsystems.com/uploadedfiles/Resources/PCI_Compliance/HSCPCIComplianceAndYourBusiness_121610.pdf

Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (NYSE: HPY), the fi fth largest payments processor in the United States, delivers credit/debit/prepaid card processing, gift marketing and loyalty programs, payroll, check management and related business solutions to more than 250,000 business locations nationwide. A FORTUNE 1000 company, Heartland is the founding supporter of The Merchant Bill of Rights, a public advocacy initiative that educates merchants about fair credit and debit card processing practices. The company is also a leader in the development of end-to-end encryption technology designed to protect cardholder data, rendering it useless to cybercriminals. For more information, please visit HeartlandPaymentSystems.com, MerchantBillOfRights.org, CostOfABurger.com and E3Secure.com.

This article represents the opinion of its author and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to and does not constitute legal advice and should not be viewed or acted on as such. Please retain your own legal counsel and seek your own legal advice on any legal questions, issues or concerns. The information contained herein does not represent the legal opinion of Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (“Heartland”), its officers, directors, employees or shareholders. Heartland does not represent or warrant that the information contained herein is accurate, all-inclusive or complete.

Where: Ray and Joan Kroc Center
967 Dewey Street
Atlanta, GA 30310
 
Positions: Nutrition Educator
 
Curricula: Cooking Matters for Kids (ages 3-6)

Day/Time: Tuesdays from 6:00pm – 8:00pm August 16 – September 20, 2011
 
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Jamie Kirk at j.kirk@g-pan.org.