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Popular Frozen Meat Pizza Product Recalled Due To Misbranding, Undeclared Allergens Popular Frozen Meat Pizza Product Recalled Due To Misbranding, Undeclared Allergens
Popular Frozen Meat Pizza Product Recalled Due To Misbranding, Undeclared Allergens A popular frozen pizza product sold in the Northeast has been recalled due to misbranding and undeclared allergens. 802 VT Frozen, a Newport, Vermont, establishment, said the recall involves approximately 8,220 pounds of its frozen meat pizza. The product contains soy, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Friday, April 26. The produced was made from April 25, 2023, through April 25, 2024.  The following product is subject to recall: 17.8-oz. cardboard box containi…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Recall Issued For Prosciutto Made In Germany, Distributed In US Recall Issued For Prosciutto Made In Germany, Distributed In US
Recall Issued For Prosciutto Made In Germany, Distributed In US A recall has been issued for a brand of deli meat that authorities say was uninspected. The US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that ConSup North America Inc., based in Lincoln Park, New Park, is recalling approximately 85,984 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) sliced prosciutto ham produced in Germany without the benefit of equivalent inspection. The RTE sliced prosciutto ham item was produced on various dates from Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, through Wednesday, March 6, 2024.  FSIS said it is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ or re…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Nationwide Public Health Alert Issued For Ground Beef Products Due To Possible Contamination Nationwide Public Health Alert Issued For Ground Beef Products Due To Possible Contamination
Nationwide Public Health Alert Issued For Ground Beef Products Due To Possible Contamination Ground beef products distributed nationwide may be contaminated with E. coli and should not be consumed, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced. FSIS has issued a Public Health Alert on Saturday afternoon, April 20.warning consumers about the issue. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase. FSIS said it is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ and food service institutions’ freezers.  The raw ground beef products were produced on Thursday, March 28 and have a “Use/Freeze By” date o…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
'Rage Bait'? Mass Influencer's Rant Over Whole Foods Apple Prices Leaves Sour Taste Online 'Rage Bait'? Mass Influencer's Rant Over Whole Foods Apple Prices Leaves Sour Taste Online
'Rage Bait'? Mass Influencer's Rant Over Whole Foods Apple Prices Leaves Sour Taste Online Her attempt at garnering online sympathy by and large turned up fruitless. A Massachusetts social media influencer was outraged after claiming she spent an eye-popping amount of money on a single apple during a recent trip to Whole Foods Market. In a now-deleted, expletive-filled rant on TikTok, Boston-based Via Li claimed the grocery giant charged her $7 for one organic Sugarbee apple. “Guess how much this is. This is an apple, it's called a Sugarbee (expletive) apple apparently and look at it,” she says in the clip. “The size of my palm. I thought it was like probably two to three dolla…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
Trader Joe's Recalling Basil Sold In Mass Because Of Salmonella Outbreak Trader Joe's Recalling Basil Sold In Mass Because Of Salmonella Outbreak
Trader Joe's Recalling Basil Sold In Mass Because Of Salmonella Outbreak Trader Joe's is recalling Infinite Herbs-brand organic basil that was sold across the country in 2.5-ounce clamshell packaging due to concerns of Salmonella contamination. This week, the supermarket giant issued an alert cautioning shoppers in 29 states, as well as Washington, DC, not to consume the product as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigates a reported outbreak of Salmonella. Trader Joes is recalling Infinite Herbs Organic Basil FDA According to the FDA, "Trader Joe’s has already voluntarily removed all Infinite Herbs-brand organic basil packed in 2.5-oz clamshell pa…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Lead Found In Lunchables: Consumer Reports Urges USDA To Remove Product From School Programs Lead Found In Lunchables: Consumer Reports Urges USDA To Remove Product From School Programs
Lead Found In Lunchables: Consumer Reports Urges USDA To Remove Product From School Programs Tests performed by the nonprofit Consumer Reports allegedly found high levels of lead and phthalates in the popular snack boxes by Lunchables, leading the organization to call on the government to remove the lunches from the National School Lunch Program. Consumer Reports (CR) issued the call to the US Department of Agriculture to remove Lunchable meals from the national program following a report released on Tuesday, April 9. As part of the report, the organization tested store-bought Lunchable food kits and compared the nutritional profiles of these meals to the two school-only Lunchab…

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by Sophie Grieser
Business
Rite Aid Announces Massachusetts Store Closure After Declaring Bankruptcy Rite Aid Announces Massachusetts Store Closure After Declaring Bankruptcy
Rite Aid Announces Massachusetts Store Closure After Declaring Bankruptcy Rite Aid has announced new store closures after the struggling pharmacy chain filed for bankruptcy in the fourth quarter of 2023. Shortly after declaring bankruptcy, Rite Aid announced 154 store closures. In a filing on Tuesday, April 9, the company said 17 more stores, including one in Massachusetts, in Fall River, at 10 Stafford Road, Rite Aid currently has 2,000 stores and about 44,000 employees. Rite Aid is one of a number of drugstore chains facing litigation related to the deadly abuse of opioids and more than a thousand lawsuits have been filed claiming Rite Aid illegally…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
'An Incredible Run': Western Mass Restaurant Closing After Nearly 50 Years 'An Incredible Run': Western Mass Restaurant Closing After Nearly 50 Years
'An Incredible Run': Western Mass Restaurant Closing After Nearly 50 Years A popular restaurant in Western Massachusetts will hold its final dinner service after nearly 50 years in business. Berkshire County staple The Old Mill, located in Egremont at 53 Main Street, will permanently close in early June 2024, owner Terry Moore announced on its website. “In early June, after 46 glorious years, the Old Mill will close its doors. We have had an incredible run and I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the extremely dedicated staff that has worked alongside me all these years,” he said. Moore went on to thank the “countless wonderful guests” who have supported the restau…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
'New Era At Panera' Sees Dozens Of Items Chopped From Menu 'New Era At Panera' Sees Dozens Of Items Chopped From Menu
'New Era At Panera' Sees Dozens Of Items Chopped From Menu Did your favorite make the cut? Dozens of menu items have gotten the chop as Panera enters its “new era” complete with the largest menu overhaul in company history. The popular bakery-café chain officially launched its revamped menu at locations across the country on Thursday, April 4, with nine new offerings and 12 “enhanced” classics featuring more chicken and steak. Company officials said the move is aimed at “refocusing” on core Panera products that customers love the most: soups, salads, sandwiches, and macaroni and cheese. It will also streamline and simplify operations for employees…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
Procter & Gamble Recalls Laundry Detergent Packets Due To Serious Injury Risk Procter & Gamble Recalls Laundry Detergent Packets Due To Serious Injury Risk
Procter & Gamble Recalls Laundry Detergent Packets Due To Serious Injury Risk Procter & Gamble is recalling some of its laundry detergent brands due to the risk of serious injury. The voluntary recall, announced on Friday, April 5, involves certain lot codes of Tide Pods, Gain Flings, Ace Pods, and Ariel Pods liquid packets packaged in flexible film bags manufactured between September 2023 and February 2024.  Recalled products range from bags with 12 to 39 packets and were sold at Big Lots, CVS, Family Dollar, Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Target, Walmart, and other major stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com and other websites from September 2023 up until th…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Popular Discount Bakery Chain Shutters All Mass Stores Popular Discount Bakery Chain Shutters All Mass Stores
Popular Discount Bakery Chain Shutters All Mass Stores It’s the end of an era for bakery bargain shoppers as longtime staple Freihofer’s Bakery Outlet has permanently closed. The discount bakery chain has shuttered dozens of stores across the Northeast, including all of its New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts locations. “After careful analysis and consideration, we made the difficult decision to permanently close 28 of our outlet stores…” a representative for Bimbo Bakeries, Freihofer's parent company, told Daily Voice. Any leftover products were expected to be donated to local food banks. “We appreciate all of our associates who worked …

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
Whole Foods To Open New, Small-Format Stores: Look Inside Whole Foods To Open New, Small-Format Stores: Look Inside
Whole Foods To Open New, Small-Format Stores: Look Inside Whole Foods says it will be launching new small-format stores aimed at providing customers with a quick, convenient shopping experience. The company says the stores, targeting urban areas, will provide "easier access to the fresh, high-quality offerings." The new stores will be called Whole Foods Market Daily Shop. The first location to open will be in the Upper East Side in Manhattan with additional locations in New York City to follow.  The first store, located at 1175 Third Ave., is expected to open later this year.  Following the New York City launch, Whole Foods Market pla…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
McDonald's, Krispy Kreme Announce Nationwide Partnership: Here's How, When It Will Work McDonald's, Krispy Kreme Announce Nationwide Partnership: Here's How, When It Will Work
McDonald's, Krispy Kreme Announce Nationwide Partnership: Here's How, When It Will Work It could be the sweetest of partnerships. McDonald's and Krispy Kreme are teaming up for a national expansion. Customers will begin spotting Krispy Kreme doughnuts in their local McDonald's restaurants later this year as part of a phased market rollout across the US.  Nationwide availability at participating restaurants is expected by the end of 2026, McDonald's announced on Tuesday, March 26. Three of Krispy Kreme’s most popular doughnuts will be delivered fresh to McDonald’s restaurants daily. They’ll be available individually, or in boxes of six, starting at breakfast and las…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Shell To Close 1,000 Gas Stations: Here's Why, Company Says Shell To Close 1,000 Gas Stations: Here's Why, Company Says
Shell To Close 1,000 Gas Stations: Here's Why, Company Says One of the nation's major oil companies says it will close 1,000 gas stations. Shell made the announcement in its 2024 Energy Transition Strategy report, saying the measure is “in response to customer needs” and aimed at reallocating those resources towards EV charging stations. Shell said it will close 500 stations in 2024 and the other 500 in 2025. "We believe growth in oil demand is set to slow in the second half of this decade and could start falling in the 2030s because of increasing vehicle efficiency and growth in electric vehicles," the company stated in the report. "Toda…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Closing Worcester Deli Blames Labor Shortage, Rising Prices: 'Can No Longer Properly Serve You' Closing Worcester Deli Blames Labor Shortage, Rising Prices: 'Can No Longer Properly Serve You'
Closing Worcester Deli Blames Labor Shortage, Rising Prices: 'Can No Longer Properly Serve You' Owners of a Worcester deli say they are being forced to close because the cost of doing business has become untenable, and it's preventing them from providing the level of service their customers deserve.  Helfand's Deli, at 143 Highland St., will shutter on Saturday, March 16, according to a note the owners posted on the restaurant's Facebook page Friday. The owners thanked their customers for their support for the past 18 months. They blamed the labor shortage and rising cost of supplies for the closure.  Posted by Helfand's Deli on Friday, March 15, 2024 Cust…

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by Josh Lanier
Business
187K Air Fryers, Ovens Sold At Best Buy Nationwide Recalled For Fire, Burn Hazards 187K Air Fryers, Ovens Sold At Best Buy Nationwide Recalled For Fire, Burn Hazards
187K Air Fryers, Ovens Sold At Best Buy Nationwide Recalled For Fire, Burn Hazards Nearly 200,000 more Insignia air fryer and air fryer ovens sold nationwide at Best Buy are being recalled due to potential fire risks and burn hazards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall of approximately 187,400 Insignia products following dozens of complaints of ovens catching fire, burning, or melting. According to CPSC, the recall includes these models of Insignia Air Fryers and Insignia Air Fryer Ovens:  NS-AF34D2; NS-AF5DSS2; NS-AF5MSS2; NS-AF8DBD2; NS-AF10DBK2; NS-AF10DSS2. Product rating label on the underside of the unit showing INSIGNIA…

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by Zak Failla
Business
'With Deep Regret' Popular Restaurant In Western Mass Closing After 50 Years In Business 'With Deep Regret' Popular Restaurant In Western Mass Closing After 50 Years In Business
'With Deep Regret' Popular Restaurant In Western Mass Closing After 50 Years In Business A popular Western Massachusetts restaurant serving Chinese/Polynesian fusion is set to close after more than 50 years in business. Berkshire County eatery Luau Hale Restaurant – located in Lenox at 365 Pittsfield Road – will serve its last customer on Saturday, March 30. “It is with deep regret that I have to announce the closing of the Luau. It has been our honor and privilege to be a part of this community for decades,” the owners said on Facebook. “Watching generations of Berkshire locals sharing food, drink, laughs and life with us. From holidays and weddings to birthdays and funera…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
Family Dollar, Dollar Tree To Close 1,000 Stores Family Dollar, Dollar Tree To Close 1,000 Stores
Family Dollar, Dollar Tree To Close 1,000 Stores Discount chain Family Dollar and parent company Dollar Tree will close a combined 1,000 stores. Family Dollar will shut down 600 stores in 2024 and 370 stores over the next several years as store leases expire.  Dollar Tree will close 30 locations as leases expire.  The company made the announcement Wednesday morning, March 13. Family Dollar has around 8,000 US locations and Dollar Tree has  The company said it initiated a review of its stores in the fourth quarter of 2023.  It involved "identifying stores for closure, relocation, or re-bannering based on an evaluati…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Johnsonville Sausage Products Subject To Recall Due To Possible Presence Of Rubber Johnsonville Sausage Products Subject To Recall Due To Possible Presence Of Rubber
Johnsonville Sausage Products Subject To Recall Due To Possible Presence Of Rubber Popular kielbasa sausage products that were sold nationwide are subject to a massive recall due to concerns of potential contamination - specifically small pieces of rubber. Wisconsin-based Salm Partners announced this week that an estimated 35,430 pounds of Johnsonville turkey kielbasa sausage are subject to the recall, according to the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The items subject to the recall were produced between Oct. 30 and Oct. 31 last year and come in 12-ounce vacuum-packed packages that contain a single piece of "Johnsonville POLISH KIE…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Pair Of Leading Restaurant Chains Could Combine, Report Says Pair Of Leading Restaurant Chains Could Combine, Report Says
Pair Of Leading Restaurant Chains Could Combine, Report Says Two of the nation's leading restaurant chains may soon combine, according to a brand-new report. Under the plan, IHOP and Applebee's would share dining space, the Nation's Restaurant News says., Both eateries are owned by California-based Dine Brands. The company has already launched eight prototype combined IHOP/Applebee's locations -- all in international markets outside the US, the report said. The prototypes feature “discrete entrances,” while inside guests can be seated in both spaces when necessary and possible, Dine Brands CEO John Peyton told the outlet. This would allow overflo…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Popular Western Mass Pizzeria To Close After 50 Years Popular Western Mass Pizzeria To Close After 50 Years
Popular Western Mass Pizzeria To Close After 50 Years A beloved pizzeria in Hampden County announced it will close its doors for good on Tuesday, March 5.  Elm Pizzeria, at 38 N. Elm St. in Westfield, has been in business for 50 years, but the owners — brothers Nick and Steve Theodorakis — decided to sell the property to Westfield Electroplating Company, according to WWLP.  The brothers intended to close on Wednesday, March 6, but overwhelming customer support has deleted their supplies, the restaurant said on its Facebook page.  We will be open tomorrow at 11am. We had originally planned to be open until Wednesd…

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by Josh Lanier
Business
Popular Chick-fil-A Sauce Recalled Popular Chick-fil-A Sauce Recalled
Popular Chick-fil-A Sauce Recalled Fast-food chain Chick-fil-A announced it is recalling one of its most popular dipping sauce cups and advising customers to toss them in the trash due to the possible presence of undeclared allergens.  According to a notification posted on the eatery's website, anyone who took home Polynesian Sauce cups between Wednesday, Feb. 14 and Tuesday, Feb. 27 should discard them because they may, in fact, contain a different product that contains wheat and soy. The eatery did not disclose whether there have been any reports of adverse reactions from customers consuming the mixed-up product. Any…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Poisoning Hazard Leads To Recall Of 102,000 Bottles Of Hydrogen Peroxide Mouthwash Poisoning Hazard Leads To Recall Of 102,000 Bottles Of Hydrogen Peroxide Mouthwash
Poisoning Hazard Leads To Recall Of 102,000 Bottles Of Hydrogen Peroxide Mouthwash More than 100,000 bottles of hydrogen peroxide mouthwash are being recalled due to a poisoning hazard. Heritage Store issued the recall for two of its products sold at health food stores and online from October 2010 to December 2023  The recalled mouthwash contains ethanol in a concentration that must be in child-resistant packaging, as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA), according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The packaging of the products is not child-resistant, posing a risk of poisoning if the contents are swallowed by young children, t…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Recall Issued For Multiple Eye Ointment Brands Due To Possible Risk Of Infection Recall Issued For Multiple Eye Ointment Brands Due To Possible Risk Of Infection
Recall Issued For Multiple Eye Ointment Brands Due To Possible Risk Of Infection A recall has been issued for multiple brands of eye ointment products due to the "lack of sterility assurance at the facility" of the manufacturer during an inspection conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "For those patients who use these products, there is a potential risk of eye infections or related harm," the FDA said. "These products are intended to be sterile. Ophthalmic drug products pose a potentially heightened risk of harm to users because drugs applied to the eyes bypass some of the body’s natural defenses."  Brassica Pharma Pvt. Ltd. is voluntarily recalling…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Macy's To Close 150 Stores, Prioritize Luxury Brands Macy's To Close 150 Stores, Prioritize Luxury Brands
Macy's To Close 150 Stores, Prioritize Luxury Brands Macy's plans to close about 30 percent of its remaining stores over the next three years. The 150 closures will be at underperforming locations, with 50 planned for this year, the retailer announced on Tuesday, Feb. 27, unveiling what it is calling "A Bold New Chapter" strategy designed to return Macy’s profitability.  "It challenges the status quo to create a more modern Macy’s, Inc.," Tony Spring, chief executive officer of the company said in a statement. "We are making the necessary moves to reinvigorate relationships with our customers through improved shopping experiences, releva…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
‘Beyond Excited’: Longtime Employees Taking Reins At Popular Farm In Western Mass ‘Beyond Excited’: Longtime Employees Taking Reins At Popular Farm In Western Mass
‘Beyond Excited’: Longtime Employees Taking Reins At Popular Farm In Western Mass These longtime farmhands are sprouting into farm owners. After a combined 18 years of helping to keep things running at Franklin County’s popular Kitchen Garden Farm in Sunderland, employees Max Traunstein and Lilly Israel are set to purchase the business. If all goes to plan, Traunstein and Israel, both 31, will take over operations from owners Caroline Pam and Tim Wilcox in the spring, the farm announced Monday, Feb. 26. “Both are graduates of agriculture programs at the University of Massachusetts and have worked alongside Tim and Caroline to make the farm into a successful business,” t…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
Mass 'Survivor' Celeb's Whiskey Will Launch Next Month Across State Mass 'Survivor' Celeb's Whiskey Will Launch Next Month Across State
Mass 'Survivor' Celeb's Whiskey Will Launch Next Month Across State Watertown Whiskey, the brainchild of Mikey Bortone of "Survivor" fame, is set to release in Massachusetts on March 1.  Bortone told the Daily Voice that getting his coconut-flavored whiskey into Massachusetts was a milestone he was excited to make.  Related: Watertown Native, 'Survivor' Alum Launches Whiskey Label “It has always been one of our top priorities to have Watertown Whiskey for sale in Watertown,” says Mikey Bortone, CEO and co-founder of Watertown Whiskey, in a news release. “We’re thrilled to start our national expansion in Massachusetts as well as in Rhode Island an…

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by Josh Lanier
Business
Western Mass Restaurant To Temporarily Close; Owners Plan Revamp, Work On New Eatery Western Mass Restaurant To Temporarily Close; Owners Plan Revamp, Work On New Eatery
Western Mass Restaurant To Temporarily Close; Owners Plan Revamp, Work On New Eatery The owners of The Federal in Hampden County said they would close one of their locations beginning later this month as they update the restaurant and prepare to launch another eatery. Michael Presnal, executive chef and co-owner of The Federal, said in a news release that the 135 Cooper Street restaurant would close on Feb. 24 for an undisclosed period of time.  "We have made small updates to the restaurant since opening 22 years ago, but we are at a point where we’d like to reimagine the physical and operational aspects of The Federal Restaurant," he said in a news …

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by Josh Lanier
Business
Nationwide Recall Issued For Meat Products Due To Possible Contamination Nationwide Recall Issued For Meat Products Due To Possible Contamination
Nationwide Recall Issued For Meat Products Due To Possible Contamination A  nationwide recall has been issued for a brand of meat products. Fratelli Beretta USA, Inc., based in Mount Olive, NJ, says the undetermined amount of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat charcuterie products containing Coppa may be under-processed, which may have resulted in possible contamination with foodborne pathogens. The recall was announced by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The Coppa products have various best-by-dates.  Coppa, a dry-cured capicola, is a boneless pork shoulder product that is dry-cured. Click here to view product…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Dole Recalls Salads Sold In 25 States, Including MA, Due To Possible Listeria Contamination Dole Recalls Salads Sold In 25 States, Including MA, Due To Possible Listeria Contamination
Dole Recalls Salads Sold In 25 States, Including MA, Due To Possible Listeria Contamination A recall has been issued for several Dole Fresh Vegetables salad kits due to possible Listeria contamination. Dole says the kits were processed on the same line as cheeses produced by Rizo-López Foods, which recalled a line of its dairy products, including cheeses. Related story - Deadly Cheeses Prompt Massive Recall Nationwide: CDC, FDA, USDA "This recall notification is being issued due to the potential for cross-contamination of cheese contained in certain master packs by cheese potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes from our packaged cheese supplier," Dole sai…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Honda Recalling 750K+ Vehicles Nationwide Due To Faulty Air Bag Concerns Honda Recalling 750K+ Vehicles Nationwide Due To Faulty Air Bag Concerns
Honda Recalling 750K+ Vehicles Nationwide Due To Faulty Air Bag Concerns More than three-quarters of a million Honda and Acura vehicles are being recalled due to potentially faulty air bags that could cause them to deploy unexpectedly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that the motor vehicle giant is recalling upwards of 750,000 cars, SUVs, minivans, and pick-up trucks due to the malfunctioning air bags, which could pose a safety hazard, the agency says. Recalled models include Honda Civic, Accord, CR-V, Fit, HR-V, Insight, Odyssey, Pilot, Passport, Ridgeline vehicles, as well as the Acura MDX, RDX and TLX that were produc…

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by Zak Failla