Food safety

Jim McCants took green tea capsules in a drive to get healthy in middle age. His doctors now say they left him needing an urgent liver transplant, writes the BBC's Tristan Quinn.It should have been one of the happiest days of his life. But Jim McCants looks back on his youngest son's high school graduation with mixed emotions. As he sat down next to his wife Cathleen in the university auditorium, just outside Dallas, Texas, she turned to look at him. "She said 'Do you feel OK?'" Jim recalls. "I said, 'Yeah I feel fine, why?' 'Your face is yellow, your eyes are yellow, you look terrible.' When I looked in the mirror it was shocking." It was shocking partly because Jim, then 50, had been working on improving his lifestyle and losing weight, focusing on eating more healthily and taking regular exercise."My dad had a heart attack at aged 59 and he did not make it," says Jim. "There's a lot that he missed out on with us and I was determined to do what I can to take care of myself as best I … [Read more...] about ‘The food supplement that ruined my liver’

Yoghurts sold in five supermarkets have been recalled over fears that they contain pieces of rubber. Manufacturer Yeo Valley has told Asda, Co-operative, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose to remove a selection of yoghurts from their shelves. The Food Standards Agency said they posed a “possible risk to health”. Customers who have bought any of the yoghurts are advised not to eat them. They can get a refund from the supermarket where they were bought. The yoghurts include supermarket-own brands and some from the Collective Dairy brand. The products affected are: Asda Asda extra special Scottish raspberry West Country yoghurt (150g); Asda fat-free red cherry yoghurt (450g); Asda fat-free red cherry yoghurt (four pack); Asda low-fat coconut yoghurt (450g); Asda low-fat lemon yoghurt (four pack); Asda low fat lemon yoghurt (450g); Asda low-fat mango and passion fruit yoghurt (450g); Collective Dairy wild blueberry yoghurt (150g); Collective Dairy wild blueberry yoghurt … [Read more...] about Yoghurts recalled over rubber contamination fears

The Co-op is recalling chocolate Santas after batteries were found inside two of them. The retailer said there were two “alleged tampering incidents” involving the hollow milk chocolate figures, which sell for £1. It has informed the police and Food Standards Agency and started a national product recall. There was no indication of any blackmail demand or threat, a spokesman said. The Co-op has sold 165,000 of the German-made Santas, which are available from other retailers, and has advised people not to eat them. The Santas with batteries were found in two separate locations, some distance apart. A Co-op spokesman said: “The health and safety of our customers is our top priority. We are concerned about two separate instances of alleged product tampering involving our hollow milk chocolate Santa foil figures, which have been found to contain a small battery inside. “As a result we have begun a UK-wide product recall. The police and Food Standards Agency are … [Read more...] about Co-op recalls chocolate Santas after batteries found in two of them

A criminal investigation has been launched into suspected product tampering after the discovery of a battery inside a hollow milk chocolate Easter bunny sold at the Co-op. The retailer has withdrawn the bunnies, which retail for £1 each, from sale in all 2,800 Co-op stores and has asked customers who bought any of the 3,000 already sold to return them. The German-manufactured confectionery are not Co-op branded. The National Crime Agency, which deals with food tampering, and police forces, including Nottinghamshire police, are helping with the investigation into “alleged product tampering” in Nottingham, according to Co-op. It is the second alleged “tampering” incident involving Co-op chocolate products in six weeks. There was a national recall of chocolate Santas just before Christmas after batteries were found inside two of them. “The health and safety of our customers is uppermost in our minds,” said a spokesperson for the retailer. … [Read more...] about Criminal inquiry begins after battery is found in Co-op chocolate bunny

Two North Pole explorers - whose delayed journey left them dangerously close to running out of food - made it to safety with just one day's worth of rations left. Norwegian Boerge Ousland and South African Mike Horn journeyed 1,120 miles across floating ice but delays meant their food supplies were due to run out by Friday. The duo, who declined a helicopter rescue, were saved by Norwegians Bengt Rotmo and Aleksander Gamme who carried food for the struggling team after setting off on Tuesday. Norwegian Boerge Ousland (left) and South African Mike Horn (right) journeyed 1,120 miles but delays meant their food supplies were due to run out by Friday. Pictured: The pair after arriving at the Lance icebreaker boat The pair (pictured) would have run out of food entirely if they had gotten stuck due to the wind that was gradually getting stronger, the BBC reports The pair would have run out of food entirely if they had gotten stuck due to the wind that was gradually getting … [Read more...] about Explorers are rescued from the ice with just ONE DAY of food left after taking weeks longer than planned to reach the North Pole