5 Things for Oct. 15: Starbucks Product Recalled For Possible Salmonella, Teen Driver Safety Week and More

Editor's note: Five Things You Need To Know Today is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. If you know of something happening in town that did not make our list, please add it in the comment section!

1. Chance of Showers Expected in Foxborough Monday

Today’s weather in Foxborough, according to the National Weather Service based in Taunton, calls for a chance of showers, mainly after 11 a.m. Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Southwest wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Monday night: Showers likely, mainly before midnight. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

2. Starbucks Protein Bistro Boxes Recalled for Possible Salmonella Contamination

Flying Food Group is voluntarily recalling Starbucks brand Protein Bistro Box with Enjoy By dates 8/10/12 to 10/6/12, which includes Justin’s Nut Butter 0.5-ounce single-serve Honey Peanut Butter squeeze packs.

According to the FDA:

The recalled peanut butter squeeze packs contained in the Protein Bistro Boxes have the following Best By dates: 7/14/13, 7/26/13, 7/27/13, 7/28/13, 7/29/13, 8/9/23, 8/10/13, 8/13/13, 8/14/13, 8/15/13, 8/26/13, 8/27/13, 8/28/13, 8/29/13, or 8/30/13.

Peanuts associated with the Sunland, Inc. recall were used in the production of certain lots of Justin's Honey Peanut Butter squeeze pack product and have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Flying Food Group is issuing this voluntary recall linked to the supplier's recall to minimize any risk to public health.

The recalled product was distributed solely to Starbucks retail stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and California from 8/8/12 to 10/4/12. All impacted product has been confirmed as removed from stores.

The Protein Bistro Box product is in a clear plastic container, with a white code date sticker on the bottom of the container, stating "Enjoy by" followed by the date in the following format: M (Month) DD (Date), for example, 08 08 standing for August 8th. The recalled Justin's single-serve Honey Peanut Butter pouches are included inside the Protein Bistro Boxes and are fully labeled with the Justin's brand and sealed. The individual pouches are dated stamped at the bottom of the pouch.

Anyone who has the recalled product or the associated individual Peanut Butter pouches in their possession should not consume it and should destroy or discard the product. Consumers with questions may contact the Flying Food Group at (773) 387-8078, Monday- Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time).

Here are the recalled items:

Recalled Protein Bistro Box Products and Enjoy By Dates:

 Brand

Product

Pack Size

UPC

Code Date Range

Included States

Starbucks

Protein Bistro Box

6.80 oz

762111881502

Enjoy By 
8/1012 - 10/6/12

CT, MA, NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, DC, VA, GA, FL, IL, WI, MN, IN, TX, AZ, NV, CA

Recalled Justin's Peanut Butter Pouch, contained inside the Protein Bistro Box Products:

 Brand

Product

Pack Size

UPC

Code Date Range

Included States

Justin's

Honey Peanut Butter

0.5 oz

894455000391

7/26/13,
7/27/13,
7/28/13,
7/29/13,
8/09/13,
8/10/13,
8/13/13,
8/14/13,
8/15/13,
8/26/13,
8/27/13,
8/28/13,
8/29/13,
8/30/13

CT, MA, NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, DC, VA, GA, FL, IL, WI, MN, IN, TX, AZ, NV, CA

3. State Kicks Off National Teen Driver Safety Week

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Registrar of Motor Vehicles has kicked off National Teen Driver Safety Week.  The nationally observed week focuses on parental involvement in driver’s education, junior operator programs, increasing seat belt use and reducing teen access to alcohol. The week runs from Oct. 14-20. 

“We are seeing positive changes in teen driver behavior since the implementation of the Junior Operation Law of 2007 and the Safe Driving Law in 2010,” said Mass DOT RMV Registrar Rachel Kaprielian. “Beyond our laws, we need parents and other adults to talk with our teens and show our teens what it means to be a responsible driver.”

In 2007, teens (16, 17, and 18 year olds) were operating vehicles involved in 53 fatal crashes and in 5,100 crashes resulting in injury. By 2010, records indicate drivers in that same age group were behind the wheel at 29 fatal crashes and 3,200 were involved in crashes resulting in injury.

“Parents are the key to assuring the safety of teen drivers,” said Jeff Larson, President of Safe Roads Alliance. “Massachusetts has been out front, leading the nation in taking an active effort to focus on the safety of teen drivers.”

One tool helping parents is The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program, which focuses on the importance of parents’ involvement in the teen driver education process and is available through the Registry.

"Teen crash rates have a huge affect on Massachusetts families. Programs like The Parent's Supervised Driving Program are an important part of ending this epidemic of crashes,” said George Murphy, Vice President of Marketing at Safety Insurance, the lead sponsor of the Program.

As an added incentive to encourage parents and teens to utilize The Parent’s Supervised Driving Program, sponsor LoJack Corporation announced the launch of a contest for a Grand Prize LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System valued at $695.00.

4. Warriors Game Day:

The following Foxborough High School teams will be in action Monday:

• Girls’ volleyball hosts Oliver Ames at 4:45 p.m.
• Field hockey hosts Bellingham at 3:30 p.m.

For results and expanded schedules, check out Patch's Warriors Scoreboard here.

5. Patriot Place Events:

• 11 a.m. - Fall Fun Event - Creation Station: Join Patriot Place for hands-on art activities that explore a wide range of art media and tools. Today you can make magic leaves and pumpkins.