CDPH in the News, July 2014

Salmonella warning issued for products from Novato company

From San Jose Mercury News.

The California Department of Public Health is warning the public not to eat three products from a Novato-based company that may be contaminated with salmonella. The warning includes Navitas Naturals products including Navitas Naturals Organic Sprouted Chia Powder, Navitas Naturals Omega Blend Sprouted Smoothie Mix and Williams-Sonoma Omega 3 Smoothie Mixer. As of Tuesday, 12 patients infected with the same strain of salmonella have been reported in the U.S., according to the CDPH.

Chromium 6 limit finalized for California

From Glendale News Press.

The California Department of Public Health’s new cap on water contaminant chromium 6 of 10 parts per billion is set to take effect July 1 after the limit received final approval from an administrative arm of the department last week. The Office of Administrative Law’s approval follows more than three years of work by the health department to reduce the maximum contaminant level for the cancer-causing element featured in the 2000 film "Erin Brokovich." Public health officials used more than a decade of research done by the city of Glendale to craft the new cap.

Healthcare Watchdog, Our SALUD, Takes on State’s Chief Public Health Officer

From the Digital Journals.

Our SALUD is taking on the head of the California Department of Public Health for allegedly not doing his job to protect the health and well-being of all Californians, especially the most vulnerable. Community activists Elba Romo and Bell corruption scandal whistleblower Nestor Valencia are leading the grass roots organization that seeks equal access to health in disadvantaged areas.
Plaintiffs Our SALUD representing low-income minority communities filed a lawsuit today demanding Ron Chapman, Director of the California Department of Public Health, take immediate actions to enforce the state’s patient protection regulations against Prime Healthcare, one of the state’s largest healthcare systems, that operates more than 18 hospitals in California. The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by Our SALUD.

Botulism scare prompts recall of Healdsburg pickled products

From Press Democrat.

The Healdsburg Pickling Company is voluntarily recalling three of its pickled food products after the California Department of Public Health warned consumers that they may have been improperly produced. The products affected by the recall are green beans, carrots and pickles, which are packaged in quart and pint jars with screw-on metal lids. They have the label "Healdsburg Pickling Company" but do not have any coding or "use by" dates on the labels, officials said.

West Nile virus detected in Central Valley

From Central Valley Business Times.

The California Department of Public Health’s new cap on water contaminant chromium 6 of 10 parts per billion is set to take effect July 1 after the limit received final approval from an administrative arm of the department last week. The Office of Administrative Law’s approval follows more than three years of work by the health department to reduce the maximum contaminant level for the cancer-causing element featured in the 2000 film "Erin Brokovich." Public health officials used more than a decade of research done by the city of Glendale to craft the new cap.