Product Recall & Watching Out for Rabies

Product Recall & Watching Out for Rabies plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

Dominguez Foods Washington Inc. of Zillah, Washington is recalling "SU COCINA" PAN MOLIDO (Plain Bread Crumbs) because it may contain undeclared wheat, whey (milk), and soy. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat, milk, or soy run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

"SU COCINA" PAN MOLIDO was distributed to two retail stores in OREGON and two retail stores in WASHINGTON. No illnesses have been reported to date.

Enjoying wildlife is wonderful. Getting a little too up close and personal can be downright dangerous. I recently had a close encounter with a skunk at a local park and was relieved to have gotten away without even a whiff of stink let alone something like a bite that could cause rabies. Jordona Kirby, USDA Wildlife Services explains.

KIRBY: A great message to provide to the public is to avoid wildlife, to enjoy them from afar but if they do happen to see a sick or strange acting animal, it is certainly a possibility to consider rabies. The most important thing that people can do is to keep their pets vaccinated

Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray.

There have been several stories in the news this year of animal cruelty by farm workers caught on "undercover" video by animal rights groups. Some were bogus, sadly some were not. One of the largest stories of animal cruelty was exposed about a British Columbia dairy farm where 8 workers on the night shift were caught on tape abusing the animals in their care. The farm owners, (seven brothers), were all shocked and sickened by the discovery, calling the the video "horrific". Do I believe these seven brothers did not know about the abuse that was going on? I do. Do I feel they should be excused from responsibility or punishment? I do not. As owners and operators of a livestock production facility they needed to know what was happening at all times within their operation. No, producers cannot be everywhere at once, but if a "spy" can infiltrate and produce an undercover video of the goings on on your farm why can't you? If you care about animal welfare, take the steps necessary to ensure the safety of the animals in your care. Carefully check all employee backgrounds, have detailed animal handling training, and if necessary install your own video surveillance of your operation. That way there will be no unknowns, no abuse and no surprise "undercover" videos.

Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.