4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO  80246   303-692-2021


Contact:    Lori Maldonado
        Deputy Director, Office of Communications
        303-692-2028

For Immediate
Release                            Friday,
July 31, 2009

Frontera Produce Recalls Fresh Cilantro Sold at Southern Colorado
Wal-Mart Stores Due to Salmonella

DENVER - Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment officials
Friday announced Frontera Produce of Edinburg, Texas, is voluntarily
recalling one lot of cilantro for potential Salmonella contamination.
The company is working with the FDA to inform consumers of this recall.
No illnesses have been reported to date.

The company has confirmed distribution of the affected product to
Colorado Wal-Mart stores in Alamosa, Trinidad, La Junta, Cortez and
Durango areas.  Although the product may be no longer available in
stores, state health officials urge consumers who purchased the product
between July 20-27, 2009, at local Wal-Mart stores, to check their
refrigerators for any product and discard it or return it to the place
of purchase.

The recall involves only one lot of cilantro and does not involve any
other products. The lot in question, 118122, was distributed to two
retail store chains in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Louisiana and New
Mexico. The cilantro bunches have a white twist tie with pink lettering
spelling the word 'Cilantro' and the UPC number 033383801049.

This product originated in Mexico and was procured by Frontera Produce,
which then completed its routine testing for contaminants as part of its
internal food safety program.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal
infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with
weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with Salmonella often
experience fever, abdominal cramping, 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.

Most people infected with Salmonella develop the symptoms 12 to 72
hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days.
Most people recover without treatment. However, anyone experiencing
symptoms such as severe diarrhea should contact a physician. In some
individuals, diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be
hospitalized.

For more information about foodborne illnesses, contact Alicia
Cronquist, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment,
303-692-2629. Consumers with questions regarding the recall may contact
Frontera Produce at 1-877-381-5701, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Central
Standard Time, or by e-mail at fpltd.mail@fronteraproduce.com.
Salmonella information is available on CDC’s Web site, www.cdc.gov.

---30---

Ellen T. Cohen
Program  Assistant
Office of Communications
(303) 692-2021
Fax: (303) 782-0095

Posted: August 11, 2009, 08:39:30 AM

Saguache County Public Health H1N1 Update

June 18, 2009

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reports as of June 13, 2009, total H1N1 cases to be 114. 22 of these cases have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported. As of June18, there have been no cases reported in the San Luis Valley.

This continues to be a rapidly evolving situation and your county public health agency and SLV emergency preparedness staff will continue necessary vigilance in an effort to keep our citizens advised.

We continue to ask all individuals with mild flu like illness to stay home. This is regardless of travel history. Children and adolescents with fever should not go to day care or school. Adults with fever should not go to work until their symptoms resolve. Individuals with severe illness, such as difficulty breathing, should contact their health care provider.

The health department advises those who experience influenza symptoms need to stay home for seven days after onset of symptoms, or at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer.

Individuals are encouraged to take personal precautions to decrease chances of getting the flu

WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY COVER YOUR SNEEZES AND COUGHS AVOID OTHERS WITH RESPIRATORY ILLNESS

Additional information sources: CO HELP 1-877-462-2911, CDC.gov, HHS.gov,

www.cdphe.state.co.us/epr/h1n1.

 

This site provides links to information in 21 foreign languages. Local information, please call 719-655-2533

Posted: June 19, 2009, 08:07:05 AM