CRESTVIEW — The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Crestview will have a kickoff for its new fundraising season.

It starts 6:15 p.m. Jan. 29 in the Crestview High School cafeteria, 1250 N. Ferdon Blvd.

The community is invited to come out and learn more about the Relay For Life movement and how they can help the American Cancer Society attack cancer from every angle.

People will have the opportunity to register a team for the Crestview Relay for Life, which is 6 p.m. to 2 p.m. April 20-21 at CHS.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is the world’s largest peer-to-peer fundraising event to save lives from cancer. At Relay events, participants celebrate people who have been touched by cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action for lifesaving change.

Funds raised help the American Cancer Society attack cancer in dozens of ways, each of them critical to achieving a world without cancer — from developing breakthrough therapies to building supportive communities, from providing empowering resources to deploying activists to raise awareness.

Visit RelayForLife.org or www.relayforlife.org/crestviewfl for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Relay For Life sets kickoff

WASHINGTON — Rich Products Corporation, a Vineland, N.J. establishment, is recalling approximately 3,420 pounds of beef meatball products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service stated in a media release Jan. 24.

The ready-to-eat (RTE) frozen beef meatball items were produced Dec. 17, 2017. The following products are subject to recall:

•36-pound cases containing six 6-pound bags of "Member’s Mark Casa Di Bertacchi Italian Style Beef Meatballs" with a "Best if Used By 17 DEC 2018" label and a lot code of 15507351 on the packaging.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number "EST. 5336" inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distributors in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract.

In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems.

Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers' freezers.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers may contact Rich Products Customer Care, 1-800-356-7094, with questions regarding the recall.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: RECALLED: Listeria found in Rich Products beef meatballs

WASHINGTON — Perdue Foods LLC, a Monterey, Tenn. establishment, is recalling approximately 530 pounds of chicken products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) stated Jan. 23 in a media release.

The product contains eggs, a known allergen which is not declared on the product label.

The ready-to-cook chicken breast tenderloin fritters were inadvertently labeled with the Homestyle Chicken Tender Fritter label. The chicken breast tenderloin fritters contain egg whites and the Homestyle Chicken Tender Fritters do not.

The ready-to-cook chicken tenderloin fritter items were produced Dec. 6. The following products are subject to recall:

•10-pound boxes containing two 5-pound plastic bags with the box labeled "Chef Redi Homestyle Chicken Tender Fritter, Rtc – Large" with the case code of 7374.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number "P-11507" inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to food service locations in Florida, Maryland and Washington D.C.

The problem was discovered by the firm while performing routine label verification activities.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider. 

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers may contact Perdue Consumer Relations, 1-877-727-3447, with questions about the recall.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: RECALLED: Undeclared allergens found in misbranded Perdue chicken products

CRESTVIEW — Select Starbucks are sponsoring blood drives to "perk up" the community’s blood supply. Donors can share their power to save lives by giving blood and enjoy a free $10 Starbucks gift card.

The drive at the local Starbucks is 2-6 p.m. Feb. 3 at 2520 Ferdon Blvd. S, Crestview.

Another is 1-6 p.m. Feb. 3 at 340 Mary Esther Blvd., Mary Esther.

Walk-ins are welcome. Donors may also visit oneblood.org/starbucks or call 1-888-936-6283 to make an appointment.

All donors receive a wellness checkup of blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count and a cholesterol screening.

Generally healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. Photo ID is required.

Visit oneblood.org to learn more about the importance of blood donation and how donors can target the power of their blood type.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Starbucks blood drive scheduled

CRESTVIEW — In Florida and throughout the U.S., flu activity is on the rise. Okaloosa is currently seeing widespread flu activity.

"On Friday, Jan. 12, the [Centers] for Disease Control stated that flu has reached epidemic levels and the nation has experienced 20 pediatric deaths," Dr. Karen Chapman, Department of Health-Okaloosa director, said. "We have ordered additional flu vaccine for children for the Crestview and Fort Walton Beach clinics."

The health department urges getting the flu vaccine now if you have not already. If any local pediatricians have children 18 or under that need an influenza vaccine, they can also send them to DOH-Okaloosa. There are still weeks of flu activity to come. It is not too late to get your flu vaccine.

"The flu vaccine is safe, and recommended for everyone six months and older, including pregnant women," a health department media release states.

Flu vaccines can vary in effectiveness from season to season, but they continue to be the best way to prevent influenza infection and serious influenza complications.

People who become ill with flu-like symptoms should contact their health care provider as soon as possible so doctors can prescribe antiviral treatment if appropriate.

Treatment is most effective when started within 48 hours, so calling immediately after becoming ill is important, especially for those at higher risk for complications: that includes children younger than 5, adults over the age of 65, pregnant women, and those with underlying medical conditions.

People with the flu should stay home from work and keep children home from school or daycare when sick to help prevent spreading the flu to others. Practice good hygiene by properly and frequently washing hands; regularly clean and disinfect commonly used surfaces in the home, school or office; and cough or sneeze into your elbow and avoid touching for face.

Contact your health care provider or use the Florida Department of Health’s flu shot locator, www.flhealth.gov/findaflushot, for locations administering the vaccination.

Call 833-9246 to make an appointment at the Department of Health-Okaloosa.

Visit FluFreeFlorida.com and www.floridahealth.gov/floridaflu to learn more about influenza and influenza-like illness in Florida.

WANT THE SHOT?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa Health Department: Get vaccinated now

Northwest Florida Walmart stores will host the first Walmart Wellness Day event of the year on Saturday, Jan. 20. 

This free health screening allows residents to learn their:

• Blood glucose
• Blood pressure
• Body mass index
• Low-cost immunizations
• And, in select locations, customers can take advantage of free vision screenings 

New this year, Walmart is introducing a virtual reality experience in select stores to assist with smoking cessation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 15.5 percent of adults in Florida regularly smoke cigarettes. This free resource is intended to be a step toward quitting tobacco.

Walmart Wellness Day comes on the heels of the company announcing that it will be the first national pharmacy chain to offer free opioid disposal at all pharmacy locations.

According to National Public Radio, Florida is among six states that declared opioid abuse a public health emergency in 2017.

"Reducing the availability of unwanted prescription opioids is an important component of stopping addiction before it begins, and I want to personally thank Walmart for this innovative approach to eliminating excess prescriptions — to reduce the supply of opioids and save lives," Attorney General Pam Bondi said.

"We need more corporate leaders to step up to help combat the national opioid crisis."

WHAT:  Free health screenings

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20

WHERE: Northwest Florida Walmart stores

WANT TO GO?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Walmart stores set free health screenings

JACKSONVILLE — Southeastern Grocers has issued a voluntary recall due to possible prescense of listeria monocytogenes.

SEG, the parent company of BI-LO, Fresco y Más, Harveys and Winn-Dixie stores, is issuing a voluntary recall of multiple Winn-Dixie and Southern Home (SH) branded ice cream products.

All the recalled products below were 12-count packages.

Southern Home brands

The Southern Home branded products and corresponding UPC codes below are for all BI-LO and Harveys stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina:

•Southern Home Orange Cream Bar – 6078801142

•Southern Home Arctic Ice Cream Bar – 60788001147

Winn-Dixie brands

The Winn-Dixie branded products and corresponding UPC codes below are for all Winn-Dixie and Fresco y Más stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi:

•Winn-Dixie Ice Cream Bars – 2114021745

The products, regardless of the “best by” date, should be thrown away or returned to any BI-LO, Harveys, Fresco y Más or Winn-Dixie store for a full refund.

Customers may Contact SEG's Customer Call Center toll free at 866-946-6349 if they have questions. The center's hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Eastern time.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: RECALLED: Listeria found in Winn-Dixie, Southern Home products