The company said it was first alerted to the problem after receiving calls from consumers. (FDA)

A line of Hunt’s tomato paste is being pulled from shelves after the company received complaints from consumers about the presence of mold in the product. Conagra Brands, Inc., said damage to six-ounce cans of Hunt’s Tomato Paste No Salt Added after the canning process had occurred may have caused the presence of mold.

MAN DEVELOPS GRUESOME NASAL GROWTH AFTER SWIMMING IN LOCAL POND

As a result, the company issued a recall for the products which were distributed for sale nationwide. The product has a best by date of Oct. 16, 2020, and an item UPC of 00-0-27000-38807-5. According to the recall noticed posted on the FDA website, no other Hunt’s or Conagra Brands’ products are affected by the recall.

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Consumers are advised to throw away affected products, or return it to the store for a refund. The notice did not specify if there had been any adverse reactions related to the recall, but directed customers with further questions to call the consumer care team at 1-888-280-0301.

source https://www.foxnews.com/health/hunts-tomato-paste-recalled-over-possible-mold

Working at the Arizona Department of Economic Security nearly killed employee Coleen McGrain, a new lawsuit alleges.

Now, the Tucson woman is suing the agency and the state for damages, alleging that mold and gas problems in the DES building where she worked, plus a lack of lifesaving equipment on the premises, did lifelong, irreparable damage to her health.

Last June, McGrain collapsed and went into cardiac arrest at the DES satellite office where she worked at the time. There was no automated external defibrillator device, or AED, on the premises to jump-start her heart. Nor was anyone there trained in CPR, according to the lawsuit, which was filed on Monday in Maricopa County Superior Court.

EMTs saved McGrain’s life, but despite physical therapy and five months on medical leave, she eventually learned that she would never be able to work again, the lawsuit says. It did not go into more detail about her injuries or share the specific office where McGrain worked.

«Mold and gas-related problems» at that office triggered McGrain’s collapse, the suit goes on to say, and those same problems had forced employees to evacuate the building at least four times previously.

The lawsuit claimed that the Department of Economic Security was both negligent and liable, adding that the agency «had a duty to provide adequate medical equipment and to train personnel on the proper use of medical equipment.» The location where McGrain worked allegedly had neither, despite the fact that «at least three of its other office locations» had both AEDs and people trained in CPR.

The agency has about 120 locations across Arizona.

The lawsuit also alleged that DES failed in its duty to maintain a safe work environment, claiming that DES knew about the building’s mold and gas problems and failed to take care of them — nor did it warn employees. McGrain had a history of cardiac-related problems, the lawsuit claimed, and DES «did nothing to prevent her injuries.»

Rod Galarza, who is representing McGrain, said that while hers is currently the only such lawsuit against DES, «there’s a potential for others.» He declined to answer specific questions, saying he needed his client’s permission. He did not respond to a follow-up call by deadline.

McGrain is seeking damages for medical expenses, lost wages, future medical expenses and lost wages, and pain and suffering, in amounts to be determined at trial. She did not respond to a voice message seeking comment.

Brett Bezio, a DES spokesperson, said the agency did not comment on pending litigation. He confirmed that the amount of damages sought was to be determined at trial, per the notice of claim, though he was unable to release the claim by deadline.

The Department of Economic Security is not known for its hygiene. In 2017, employees at its 51st Avenue location in Phoenix reported working amid a mice and rat infestation for at least six months.

It is known, however, for its ex-director Tim Jeffries, who was fired by Governor Doug Ducey in November 2016 after reports in Phoenix New Times and the Arizona Republic about his purge of hundreds of employees he called «bullies,» his purchase of alcohol for workers at a Nogales satellite office. He was later found to have been storing an arsenal of 85,000 rounds of ammunition at DES’ main office in Phoenix, although an audit later exonerated Jeffries of improperly purchasing the ammo.

source https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/lawsuit-dept-of-economic-security-is-literally-a-toxic-workplace-11265133

ROCK ISLAND COUNTY, Ill. (KWQC) — Flooding has created several problems for Quad Citians, including, public health and environmental concerns. The Rock Island County Health Department says possible pollution of water wells, malfunction of private sewage disposal systems and indoor air quality problems arising from mold which can develop within flood-damaged homes.

Pollution of Water Wells can occur whenever a well is under floodwaters.

The RICO Health Department says it is important for people to test their water supply for coliform bacteria and now assume that the water is immediately safe to drink. Officials suggest that the water shouldn’t be tested until about two weeks after the flood when contaminants have hopefully been pumped out of the ground. In the meantime, officials say people should not use the water for drinking, cooking, or other ingestion purposes. Residents, where wells have been submerged, should be temporarily using bottled water until a satisfactory water test has been obtained.

After the flood has subsided, property owners should pump water from the well onto the ground surface to flush out the system until the water looks relatively clear, according to the Rock Island County Health Department. If the well was under water, shock chlorination needs to be done before the water can be tested, according to officials. This is usually done with household bleach or swimming pool chlorination granules. Before chlorinating the well, you should consult with the Rock Island County Health Department, or a qualified water well, or pump contractor regarding proper methods and safety considerations.

The Illinois Department of Public Health says they will offer free water sample analysis for residents with water wells located in flooded areas.

Property owners whose drilled wells were submerged by floodwaters are encouraged to bring their wells up to code by having licensed water well professional extend their well casing at least 2 feet about the maximum flood level. This will prevent floodwaters from directly entering the well in the future. Licensed water well and pump contractors are qualified to do this type of work.

Private Sewage Disposal Systems

These are used in most of the flooded areas and can either be septic systems or aerated treatment systems. Both types of systems may be failing, creating sewage back-ups or improperly discharging wastewater onto the ground or into bodies of water, according to officials. A septic system may only temporarily be out of service until flood waters are high groundwater levels have abated.

The Rock Island County Health Department says they recommend pumping the septic tank which may restore service. They also say with aerobic treatments, the servicing dealer needs to be contacted to assess damage and restore proper operation.

Air quality and Mold

As most people are aware, personal possessions and building materials are subject to contamination, damage, or destruction if in contact with floodwaters. It is essential that these materials are removed, cleaned, dried, or restored within a couple of days in most cases or mold can become a major concern.

The Rock Island County Health Department suggests people cleaning or removal of moldy or water damaged materials wear an N-95 or HEPA filter facemask to minimize exposure to mold spores, particulates, and inhalable debris, which can be purchased at local hardware stores.

The ability to salvage certain items depends on the type of material that was saturated. A number of restoration companies are available for hire. If immediate steps are not taken, items will not be salvageable and indoor air quality problems can occur from the production of mold.

You can learn more about these topics at the links below:
Illinois Department of Public Health Website

EPA Mold Guide

Centers for Disease Control on Dampness Facts

source https://www.kwqc.com/content/news/Public-health-concerns-during-floods-508178381.html

Parents say they weren’t informed and the kids were exposed for weeks after evidence of mold was found in a Columbus City school.

The district says it isn’t sure it was mold found in Fairwood Elementary because it wasn’t tested and they are now addressing the problems.

Columbus Public Health did an inspection on March 27 after a parent complained.

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The inspection found leaks in steam valves and heat exchanges in the basement; four classrooms with water damage to floors, walls and ceilings and evidence of mold in the cabinets of one classroom and the wall of another.

Some of the leaks had recently been repaired before the inspection. The school told the inspector the problems were recognized and the work was ordered in February. Columbus City Schools says the students in the four classrooms were moved elsewhere but that didn’t happen until after the March 27 inspection.

CCS also originally told 10TV there was no mold found, then clarified to say the areas with evidence of mold were never tested, so it’s unknown if it was mold. CCS did hire a professional company to do mold remediation.

“I think these kids should be removed from this building. They should be put in a safer building somewhere where nobody should have to deal with this,” said Fairwood mother Shalonda Banks.

CCS did not send a letter to parents until April 5.

A follow-up inspection this week showed only two leaks still need to be repaired. It also showed there is still moisture in the walls and the classes will remain vacant until those levels decrease.

«Maintenance crews with the district have been in those four classrooms each day this week to check for any concerns,» A CCS spokesperson said. «The main leaks have been addressed and we are working to take care of any smaller issues that might still remain.»

To see the letter sent to parents from CCS, click here.

source https://www.10tv.com/article/district-mold-found-columbus-city-school-wasnt-tested-2019-apr

Minot and Grand Forks Air Force bases are not among bases with construction projects to be postponed.

«We’ve had Hurricane Michael which impacted Tyndall Air Force Base and we also had the floods that happened at Offutt Air Force Base,» Wilson said during a March 29 interview at Minot Air Force Base. Tyndall AFB is in Florida and Offutt AFB is in Nebraska.

Wilson said the Air Force has been talking to Congress about the need for the supplemental funds to help with the recovery of those two bases hit by natural disasters.

«Otherwise we’re going to have to defer 61 construction projects in 18 states because right now we’re cash flowing that money to be able to support operations at both Tyndall and at Offutt,» he said.

On Wednesday, April 3, Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson, speaking to the Heritage Foundation, said, «We desperately need the supplemental funding to recover from the natural disasters that hammered Tyndall and Offutt. There are other decisions we’ll have to make if we don’t (have supplemental funding) by May or June. These are just the first decisions that we had to make yesterday … 61 projects in 18 states are not going to happen because we have not gotten a disaster supplemental for Tyndall.»

«The Air Force requires $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2019 and $3.7 billion in fiscal year 2020/fiscal year 2121 of supplemental funding to rebuild Tyndall AFB, and recover Offutt AFB,» said Ann Stefanek, chief of media operations for Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, in an email. «Without supplemental funding now, the Air Force must cut critical facility and readiness requirements, driving Air Force wide operational risks and negatively impacting the recovery of Tyndall and Offutt.»

«We’re working with Congress to be able to get that (supplemental funding) and we’re encouraging them to give us the money so we can then continue the work we need to do to keep the readiness of the force up as well as to modernize,» Gen. Stephen Wilson said.

A third of Offutt AFB was covered with floodwaters this spring.

During the March 29 interview he said the runway at Offutt AFB now is completely open but parts of the base are still under water. «We still haven’t fully assessed the damage but we estimate the damages at Offutt are going to exceed $350 million,» he said.

On Tuesday, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein, Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and Army leaders testified at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the fiscal 2020 budget request for the Army and Air Force.

Goldfein told the committee the Air Force has «a very near term readiness challenge and that is the impact of readiness if we don’t get a supplemental.»

Actions and impacts

Following are Air Force actions and impacts Air Force wide without supplemental funding to rebuild Tyndall AFB, Fla., and recover Offutt AFB, Neb.

• Stop facility repairs Air Force wide: Defers 61 required facility projects at bases in 18 states across the U.S., impacting airfields and critical base facilities.
• Stop Tyndall recovery: Stops all new work on Tyndall as of May 1; delays the return of full base operations, severely impairs flight operations and forces personnel to continue to work in degraded facilities.
• Cut aircraft repairs: Curtails aircraft repairs starting May 15, grounds five bomber aircraft as early as September 2019, and creates long-term backlog for the E-3 aircraft maintenance.
• Limit Offutt recover: Beginning July 1, defers all Offutt recovery efforts, with the exception of immediate health and safety needs; delays facilities assessment and mitigation efforts, increasing damage from mold and water.
• Cut flying operations: Cuts 18,000 training flying hours starting Sept. 1, slowing Air Force readiness recovery.

— Source: U.S. Air Force

source https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/nation/4595240-general-without-disaster-funding-congress-61-air-force-construction-projects

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source https://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/general-air-force-construction-projects-postponed/article_920b8959-1213-5c45-b7d6-01309feba1ad.html

source https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/navy-takes-action-on-complaints-of-mold-rats-in-military-housing

Q: I see a lot of articles in the paper about Fort Bragg housing and mold and respiratory problems. For employees who work in older buildings on Fort Bragg, will those buildings be checked for mold and asbestos and other things? I and other employees have migraines, respiratory issues, itchy skin, etc. We wonder if our buildings will be checked. — R.B

A: Thomas D. McCollum, a public affairs officer for the U.S. Army Garrison at Fort Bragg, responded this week with an email, saying:

“We take not only the health, welfare and safety of our service members and their families seriously but the same is true of our civilian workforce. Any unit or office on Fort Bragg can request an inspection if they believe there is an issue in their area.”

McCollum went on to say that the post is continually checking the condition of buildings.

He said civilian employees who think the building they work in has a mold problem can call 396-0321, email usarmy.bragg.imcom-atlantic.mbx.dpw-service-order-requests@mail.mil, or go to Building 251 on Boxcar Street to submit a demand maintenance order to have Fort Bragg’s Directorate of Public Works technicians assess the building to determine if there is mold, and then to fix the cause and do repairs.

Indoor air quality tests can be conducted by the Womack Industrial Hygiene office.

McCollum said, “Please, if you have HVAC problems, evidence your roof is leaking, evidence of a leaking pipe or any type of moisture, call in a DMO and report it to DPW.”

He points out that many of Fort Bragg’s buildings were built in an era when asbestos was widely used as a fire retardant and for insulation.

Asbestos is a group of  silicate minerals which have long thin fibrous crystals. The minerals have been mined for more than 4,000 years, but heavy usage began at the end of the 19th century.

Left alone, asbestos-containing material is not usually considered harmful. The danger comes when the asbestos fibers are released into the air from demolition or building or home maintenance, repair and remodeling. Damage from exposure to the fibers — lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis — can take years to show up.

“As for mold,” McCollum said, “it is common in our area and much of it is colored black but Stachybotrys chartarum, commonly known as ‘black mold,’ the type of mold that causes the most health issues, has not been found in any of our facilities in the past five years.” — Susan Turley

Live Wire seeks to answer questions of general interest and consumer topics. Initials are used to identify questioners when names are given. Contact Live Wire at livewire@fayobserver.com or at 486-3516.

source https://www.fayobserver.com/news/20190403/live-wire-fort-bragg-civilian-workers-can-call-to-request-mold-assessment

By GINNY BIXBY

Associate Editor

UMW has been given the prestigious honor of being declared a mold-free campus by the National Collegiate Association for Health and Safety. This award acknowledges the school’s recent strides to keep residence halls completely devoid of fungus. 

President Troy Paino accepted the honor along with representatives from the Office of Residence Life and Housing.

“I am proud of ResLife for their strides to decrease mold related complaints,” said Paino. “ResLife always works so hard to eradicate mold. They are so efficient and really do care about the health of students.”

All Resident Assistants were unavailable for comment due to fear of retribution from the Office of Residence Life.

As part of the award, the University received a one million dollar grant designated for the construction of residence halls, all of which will be required to be wheelchair inaccessible and not in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

Students agreed that UMW does not, nor has it ever, had a mold problem.
“UMW Residence Life …[redacted] does not …[redacted] have …[redacted] mold,” said sophomore political science and communication major Kate Seltzer.

Arrington Hall received a special seal of distinction for never having a single mold related work order filed in its 26 year existence. This is an honor rarely endowed by the organization.

“When I lived in Arrington, I …[redacted] was …[redacted] happy and healthy,” said junior English and communications major Meaghan McIntyre.

However, not all students were so thrilled about the honor, or the

University’s recent actions to eliminate mold from all buildings.

“I kind of liked the mold,” said Lucas Burkholder, junior political science major. “I will miss it. I liked the imminent threat of death and permanent lung damage.”

“Mold is embedded within the UMW culture and there should be mold set up in freshman dorms,” said junior history and education major Jack Hagn.

“Small amounts, but enough to bring the freshmen closer together in a shared community.” 

“Back where I’m from, we don’t even have internet. A little mold never killed anybody. Rub some dirt on it and keep on walking,” said Dinwiddie County native Grace Winfield, junior communication and digital studies major.

The University’s former nickname, the “University of Moldy Walls”, will now prove obsolete.

“I feel like UMW students are going to lose out on living on the edge now that the University is taking mold so seriously,” said Burkholder. “I feel bad for the students who are going to miss out on a key part of the Mary Wash experience.”

“Mold is as quintessentially UMW as Devil Goat Day,” said Hagn. “I hope the University will return to its pro-mold stance. They are just doing this for the money, as always, rather than the well-being of the students.”

This story is a part of our April Fool’s edition and is intended to be satirical in nature. All information or quotations are made up and not to be taken seriously.

source http://blueandgraypress.com/2019/04/04/umw-honored-as-mold-free-institution/

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Chico Junior High School to re-open on Thursday, no concerns about mold  KRCRTV.COM

Chico Junior High School was flooded on Tuesday night after a storm swept through Butte County. The storm caused 20 classrooms at Chico Junior High School …

source http://krcrtv.com/news/butte-county/chico-junior-high-school-to-re-open-on-thursday-no-concerns-about-mold