Even though we have had a mild flu season (so far anyway), there is no reason not to get your flu shot.

Article on MSN – Despite mild flu season, don’t skip shots, experts say

Giant Eagle Canned Pumpkin Media Statement

Consumer Contact:
Rob Borella
412.967.3637
Robert.Borella@gianteagle.com

Giant Eagle, Inc. performed a voluntary market withdrawal of all Valu Time brand canned pumpkin purchased on or after August 30, 2011, as well as all Food Club brand canned pumpkin purchased on or after October 28, 2011. These brands are produced by Topco Associates, LLC.

The market withdrawal was performed out of an abundance of caution as a result of the product not meeting quality standards. While Giant Eagle is not aware of any immediate health concern, the company is working with Topco to further investigate the situation and wil notify customers if any additional actions are warranted as a result of these efforts.

Customers should not consume these products in any way, or anything in which they were used as ingredients, and should dispose of the product.

Customers are invited to receive a full refund, complimentary pie, or replacement ingredients, from any area Giant Eagle, Inc. supermarket.

Link to the FDA webpage on the pumpkin recall.

The J.M. Smucker Company Announces a Limited Voluntary Recall on Two Specific Best-If-Used-By Dates of 16 oz. Smucker’s® Natural Peanut Butter Chunky Due to Possible Health Risk

Consumer Contact:888-550-9555

November 16, 2011 – The J.M. Smucker Company today announced a limited voluntary recall on two specific Best-If-Used-By dates of 16 oz. Smucker’s® Natural Peanut Butter Chunky because it may be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. For more information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at www.cdc.gov1.

This product was distributed in: Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
The affected product, which is packaged in 16 oz. jars, is as follows:

o UPC: 5150001701 (located on the side of the jar’s label below the bar code)
o Production Codes: 1307004 and 1308004
o Best-If-Used-By dates: August 3, 2012 and August 4, 2012
o Chunky product only (not creamy)
o Impacted product would have been purchased between November 8 – 17, 2011

No other products of The J.M. Smucker Company are affected by this recall.
No illnesses related to this issue have been reported and the product is being recalled out of an abundance of caution for consumer safety.

The recall was initiated as the result of a routine sampling program by the company, which revealed that these finished products may contain the bacteria.

Consumers who have purchased Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter Chunky with the above Production Code and Best-If-Used-By dates are urged to discard the product immediately and call the company at 1-888-550-9555 for a replacement coupon. The company may require proof of purchase.

Consumers with questions can contact the company to speak to a customer service representative at 1-888-550-9555 between Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Jasper Newton County Public Health District will be offering flu and pneumonia shots at the following locations and times.

Cost:
Flu Shot: $25.00
Pneumonia Shot: $50.00
Medicare and Medicaid Accepted.

Flu and Pneumona Vaccine Clinics are scheduled:

Friday, October 14, 2011:
7:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Jasper Office – 139 West Lamar Street – Jasper, Texas 75951
Telephone: 409-384-6829, Extension 222

Monday, October 17, 2011:
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Newton Office – 210 High Street – Newton, Texas 75966
Telephone: 409-379-5291

Tuesday, October 18, 2011:
7:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Kirbyville Office – 205-A East Lavielle – Kirbyville, Texas 75956
Telephone: 409-423-6133

Wednesday, October 19, 2011:
7:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Buna Office – Highway 96 & FM 1004 – Buna, Texas 77612
Telephone: 409-994-5921

Following these clinics, Flu and Pneumonia shots will be offered on a walk in basis.

Jasper Office:
Monday through Thursday
7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
1:00 p.m. – 4:30 pm..

Newton Office:
Monday
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Kirbyville Office:
Monday and Thursday
7:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Buna Office:
Wednesday
7:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Texas Department of State Health Services News Release

DSHS Encourages Seasonal Flu Shots Now
The Texas Department of State Health Services is urging everyone over 6 months old to get a dose of seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible.

“Even if you had a flu shot during the last flu season, it’s time to get vaccinated again,” said Dr. David Lakey, DSHS commissioner. “The protection provided by the vaccine decreases over time, so everyone needs to be immunized each year.”

DSHS has already seen an increase in flu-like illness in Texas over the last few weeks. Vaccination is encouraged now because it takes about two weeks for the vaccine to become effective.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone at least 6 months old be vaccinated against seasonal flu. The CDC also says that children ages 6 months to 8 years who did not get at least one dose of the 2010-2011 flu vaccine should get two doses of the vaccine this season.

A nasal spray vaccine is an option for healthy people ages 2 to 49 who are not pregnant. There is also a high-dose vaccine designed for people 65 and over and a new intradermal shot with a much shorter needle available for some adults.

The flu is caused by various influenza viruses. Symptoms include fever, coughing, sore throat, aches, chills and fatigue. Most healthy people recover without problems, but people 65 and over, pregnant women, young children and people with chronic health conditions are at higher risk for serious complications and even death. It is especially important for people in those high-risk groups to be vaccinated.

Flu vaccine is reformulated each year to match the influenza viruses expected to circulate. Experts anticipate continuing to see the same types of flu as last year, so the vaccine will again protect against the strains A/California/7/2009 (H1N1), A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2) and B/Brisbane/60/2008.

Getting an annual flu vaccine is the best way to prevent flu from spreading. Also, cover all coughs and sneezes, wash hands frequently with soap and water or hand sanitizer and stay home if sick.

People should contact their health care provider, local health department or 2-1-1 to find out where to get a flu shot. Flu information and tips for protecting against the flu are at texasflu.org.

·         CDC preparedness information

·         Emergency preparedness for individuals

·         Flu prevention information

·         CDC works with state and local health departments across the United States, as well as international partners around the world, to recognize disease patterns and improve the public health community’s ability to respond to health threats.

·         CDC and its partners play key roles in homeland security by maintaining the ability to detect and respond to outbreaks, as well as natural and man-made disasters, at home and abroad.

·         CDC is a key source of evidence for health action — monitoring health, informing clinical and policy decision-making, and providing individuals the information they need to take responsibility for their own health.

·         CDC supports state and local public health partners with training and guidance to ensure   nationwide lab capacity for detecting and responding to health threats, as well as the capacity to address key risk factors leading to premature death, injury, and disease.

·         CDC recognizes that state and local public health departments are the first responders when disease threats occur, and it is their initial investigations that help CDC quickly assist them.

·         Contagion official website — Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the movie stars Kate Winslet, Matt Damon, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Lawrence Fishburne

·         Contagion and CDC — A website created by the CDC Foundation to help separate fact from fiction and to highlight CDC’s role in preparedness and response

·         CDC 24/7 — A CDC website that includes information you may find useful on how public health protects Americans from outbreaks