Tomatoes sold in Georgia could be deadly, FDA says
Tomatoes sold under the Williams Farms Repak and the H&C Farms labels were recalled because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The FDA has now upgraded that recall to a Class I, the federal agency's highest classification.
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The tomatoes were distributed between April 23 and April 28 and then packaged and sold to wholesalers and distributors in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, the FDA said.
'The old adage of when in doubt, throw it out, certainly would apply in this situation. Don't risk your health for a few dollars of tomatoes,' Craig Nielsen with the Georgia Department of Agriculture told Channel 2's Michael Doudna.
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No illnesses have been reported, but symptoms of a Salmonella infection can include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In some rare cases, the organism can get into the bloodstream and cause arterial infections, endocarditis, and arthritis.
'Food poisoning does not alter the color, look, or taste of food so it's hard to identify until it is too late,' Dr. Danny Branstetter with WellStar Health System said.
The tomatoes came in various packing configurations, including:
5x6, 25lb (lot code R4467)
6x6, 25lb (lot code R4467, R4470)
Combo, 25lb (lot code R4467)
4x4, 2-layer (lot code R4467)
4x5, 2-layer (lot code R4467)
60-count, 2-layer (lot code R4467)
60-count, 18lb loose (lot code R4467, R4470)
XL 18lb loose (lot code R4467)
3ct trays (lot code R4467)
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The peptides gym bros take to get chiseled muscles One darling peptide of gym bros and longevity fiends alike is a substance called BPC-157. It's known as the "Wolverine" shot for its perceived ability to heal you up and regenerate your body real fast like the Marvel character, Logan, after a big fight. B-P-C stands for "body protection compound." BPC-157 was first derived from stomach juices. It's being investigated to treat inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn's and ulcerative colitis. But the reason that athletes like it is because it's thought to reduce inflammation and improve blood flow — and perhaps do even more. There are a few other super popular peptides: Tesamorelin, an injectable peptide, is prescribed to HIV patients to reduce excess belly fat. Sermorelin is supposed to help with sleep and recovery. CJC-1295 binds to growth hormone receptors in the body, and people often take it alongside impamorelin, which stimulates the hypothalamus. The two in tandem are said to deliver better muscle gains. On Reddit and YouTube people share how they "stack" different peptides like this, taking multiple different kinds with the goal of boosting the effects of each. Peptide fans get their shots at clinics and med spas — or, for less money, online. Increasingly, people are ordering peptides that are labeled "for research only," meaning they are supposed to be used by lab workers for experimentation, and were never meant to be put into human bodies. That's partly because the FDA crackdown on peptides has intensified in recent years, just as pharmaceutical compounding (a sort of acceptable way to get knock off medications) has surged in popularity, with people seeking cheaper versions of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro. At the beginning of 2022, the FDA had a list of four peptides that they said "may present significant safety risks" and should not be compounded. By the end of 2023, there were 26. Comite thinks the FDA crackdown is a shame. She is finding it harder and harder to source compounded liquid BPC-157. She often uses a patch form of BPC-157 on herself, placing it over sore areas or injuries. Recently, she tore a calf muscle, so she's been using it there, but she also just likes how taking a little bit of it keeps her active and moving. "I use it almost every day," she said. "It's amazing for joints and everything — at a very tiny dose." Zalzala, who doesn't usually prescribe peptides, ordered some topical BPC-157 recently when his wife had a knee injury. "My wife says it works," he said, though he cautioned that it's hard to really know if that's true without more proper research. Bracken Darrell, the CEO of VF Corporation and one of Comite's patients, is also a BPC-157 convert. A self-proclaimed "basketball nut," he's on the court about three days a week. On the days when he doesn't pick up a ball, he's out cross-training on a bike or lifting weights. So when he tore his meniscus about four months ago, he was worried. Under Comite's supervision, he started taking liquid BPC-157 about three to four times a week. He told BI it was "weird" at first, learning to inject the needle into an area of skin near his knee. But, pretty soon, it was just part of his routine. "I believe it helped a lot, but it's hard to know for sure," he said. "There are people with a severely torn meniscus who don't ever play basketball again, and I'm back — I certainly wouldn't conclude that's because I'm taking BPC-157, but at a minimum it didn't hurt. And it sure seems like it helps." Proceed with caution, doctors say Even longevity doctors who prescribe and use peptides regularly agree that some folks are overdoing it, and that could be dangerous. "Proceed with caution, because you have to know the source and you have to know it's active," Comite said. "It's not like Lowe's or Home Depot where you can get stuff and you can fix the plumbing." In reality, the evidence for peptides is still murky. There are no big, randomized clinical trials like what we have for prescription drugs or vaccines. The current hype is based on anecdotal evidence, a few small human studies from decades ago, and rodent studies. "People wanna take the peptides because they're not from big pharma, they're not mainstream medicine, they gotta be better than those cockamamie doctors," Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist and longevity expert, said recently on the Dax Shepard podcast. "Where's the data?" For people who are using peptides, experts shared two pieces of advice: Comite urges patients to start slow. A common mistake people who are dosing themselves make is thinking that "if a little bit is good, then a lot must be better," she said. That's not the case. "Taking mega doses of tesmorelin along with testosterone causes your organs to overgrow," Comite said. Sometimes she'll see a toned gymgoer with a potbelly, and wonder whether that's due to an enlarged liver or spleen. Darrell recommends testing your peptides with an independent lab so you know what you're getting is both real and uncontaminated. Zalzala says his company started thinking about offering peptides a few years back, due to consumer demand, but they haven't yet. There are just so many peptides out there, and it's hard to tell which might be the very best. Some of the most research-backed ways to have an impact on your longevity and fitness are still the simplest anyway: eat decent amounts of fiber and protein regularly, work out — at least a couple sessions with weights each week, and cut back (or ideally, eliminate) liquid sugar in your diet like juice and soda.