#the feelings are still raw; fresh. if/when part 3 is announced & it's confirmed it's about ellie then maybe i'll be able to replay | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

willsherjohnkhan · 3 years

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Angel of Death

, Chapter 3: A Chance of Redemption

***

USS VENGEANCE – 237,000 KM FROM EARTH

“Don’t get me wrong,” Molly continued, nodding towards the still frozen Alexander Marcus. “He’s getting what he deserves. You’ll get no argument from me on that point. But the consequences of your actions for the others you’ve killed before, and the lives you are still to take will come at great cost to you in an unpleasant and permanent way.”

As she spoke, Khan had moved cautiously around the bridge, his eyes remained firmly fixed on the young woman that had made such an unexpected appearance at the most crucial point in his plans for revenge.

With his inspection complete, Khan was satisfied that there were no additional surprises awaiting him, and he made his way back to where the young woman sat.

“You can’t possibly know that,” he responded.

“I can actually,” she replied, almost cheerfully.

Khan’s patience snapped. “Who are you?” he demanded, standing over her like the avenging angel he was.

With lightening speed Molly was on her feet, and before Khan could react she had pressed her sickle against his chest and shoved him forcibly back.

When he looked at her, he saw her as those who were headed for the Bowels of Hell would see her, a ghoulishly hideous figure, with harsh, cruel eyeless sockets, and a skeletal frame covered only by her hooded robes.

“I am the Angel of Death,” she intoned. “And I am here to take you, Khan Noonien Singh to the place of your reckoning where you will spend eternity in endless torment.”

In the blink of an eye she had reverted back to how she had looked when she had lived.

Khan, for possibly the first time in his life was lost for words. The thought that this petite, sweet-faced woman was the embodiment of such a frighteningly powerful force left him completely stunned.

Eventually, he managed to get his still befuddled brain to form a dazed question.

“So why are you here now?”

It was not a decision she took lightly.

In all the years she had tirelessly performed the tasks assigned to her, she had never once intervened in the outcome.

What was it about this man that made it necessary that she now take such a step?

The answer was simple – her heart. From the moment she first laid eyes on him, her heart that she believed long dead with the rest of her corporal body miraculously began to beat once more. Its cause, a love she had not allowed herself to feel in a very long time.

Rightly or wrongly she didn’t want to strike Khan down.

So she decided to take matters into her own hands. Not as Death, but as Molly Hooper.

USS VENGEANCE – 237,000 KM FROM EARTH

“I have a proposition for you?” she explained.

“And that would be what...?” Khan frowned, uncertain how to refer to her.

“Molly Hooper,” Molly suppled as she offered him her right hand.

Khan shook her hand firmly. “And what exactly is it that you propose, Molly Hooper?”

Molly’s reaction was a shiver of delight. Due in part in hearing someone refer to her by her true name. But also that it be said in that deep, rumbling rich tone that made her toes curl.

Taking a deep breath, Molly tilted her head up so that she was looking straight into his intensely beautiful blue-green eyes.

“There is no stopping the fate that will befall you. In the next couple of hours you will die, the trajectory is fixed and set in that direction,” Molly paused, and in a measured tone she advised him. “However, rather than escorting you’re damned soul to Hell, I can offer you an alternative – you could work with me. The choice is yours.”

Khan carefully considered her words, and her offer.

“Why would you do this?” he asked softly.

With complete honesty she replied. “Because this job requires some very difficult decisions, and I think the load would be more easier to bare with another’s assistance.” Then as tears began to well in her eyes, she continued, her voice becoming raw with emotion. “And because I’m lonely. And because I...”

Khan gently took her face in his hands. He could feel her loneliness, and her pain. As he gazed down into her big brown eyes, he found himself willingly drowning in their depths. It would have been so easy for him to exploit the unconditional love she clearly felt for him. But there was something about her that called to a gentler side of his nature that he didn’t know existed until that moment. So rather than fighting these new feelings, he chose to embrace them heart and soul. If his fate was to remain at her side for eternity, than he would regard himself a very fortunate man.

Holding her gaze, he lowered his head, and just before their lips met he whispered, “Because you love me.”

Molly was in pure bliss. The kiss was sweet and full of promise that her love would be returned. But it was brief, as events still needed to play out first.

Khan made his way back over to Admiral Marcus. But a curious thought had him turning back to Molly. “Two Angel’s of Death, is that even possible?”

“There’s nothing in the Rule Book that says that there can’t be – I checked,” Molly answered with a grin.

Khan responded to her grin with a wink. “See you on the other side Molly Hooper.”

*** Khan’s suicidal act of guiding the crippled ship to its end began with...

***

USS VENGEANCE – TWO HOURS LATER

The once great warship tumbled, burning internally, weaponless, without shields – but not entirely without control. Dragging himself to the forward console, a wounded but still functional Khan fought to make his orders heard above the crackle and thunder of instruments exploding and structural elements failing all around him.

“New destination!” he roared. “Starfleet Headquarters!”

“Engines compromised,” announced the voice of the ship’s computer, “Cannot guarantee we will reach intended destination, specified destination off-limits. Do you confirm order/?”

Khan’s one word response emerged as a snarl, “Confirmed.”

The USS Vengeance was in bad shape, trailing fresh flames as it struck atmosphere as it plunged towards the surface below, large chunks of torn and twisted metal, fiery internal components, and disintegrating pieces of its interior formed a wild trail of destruction. It fell rather than flew, almost completely out of control.

Almost...

Screaming past the Enterprise, the gargantuan metallic corpse that was to have been the late Admiral Marcus’s flagship to his envisioned dream of a militarized Starfleet hurled recklessly towards Earth...

As the ship ploughed down towards its destination, smoke began pouring from its crippled engine nacelles.

Though the consequences of his doomed ship’s arrival would be devastating enough, it did not strike precisely where Khan had hoped. As if by a giant hand, the ancient monument that was the prison on the island of Alcatraz was scraped clean from its rocky promontory. The collision was just enough to critically slow the vessel’s descent and alter its intended trajectory. Instead of smashing into and through Starfleet Headquarters, it plunged into the bay.

Its momentum, however, was sufficient to send it through the water and slashing into the city bay-front. Tower after tower succumbed to the sickening impact, crumbling before the crushing mass, until the wreck of what had not long ago been the most powerful vessel in Starfleet’s arsenal finally came to a grinding, groaning halt.

The concomitant wave that rose out of the harbour swept across the low-lying harbour front, inundating facilities, smashing apart landscaping, and tossing vehicles about like toys.

***

THE GOLDEN-GATE BRIDGE – A SHORT TIME LATER

There were numerous injuries and unavoidable deaths, but the greater carnage Khan had hoped to inflict did not occur. The slightest of maladjustments that had affected the intended course of the warship’s death dive meant that many more survived who would otherwise have perished.

Molly looked down on the scenes of devastation below her, noting with satisfaction the countless number of untold acts of heroism, bravery and sacrifice taking place in its wake.

“You’re doing I take it?”

There was no malice in his tone.

Of course he’d noted the change in direction of the Vengeance’s descent, an act of God, or in this case, a benevolent intervention from the Angel of Death.

She turned and grinned as she noted just how delicious Khan looked in his new apparel.

“Call it my little gift to humanity.”

Khan began fidgeting with his robes, attempting to stretch them out so that they would fit a little less snugly than they did currently.

“Do they really need to be so tight,” he grumbled.

Molly’s gaze wandered over his broad and powerful frame, her admiration more than clear. “Yes,” she playful responded.

Khan shook his head in resignation.

“Come on,” Molly said, suddenly all business. “There is work to do.” She paused briefly, before adding. “With one in particular I’m certain you’ll enjoy dealing with.”

“Lead on,” Khan said with a smile, feeling genuinely invigorated and eager to begin this new unexpected stage in his existence.

***

#Khanolly #Molly is the Angel of Death #Final chapter

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missbrightsky · 4 years

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Velaris National Park

Fics Masterlist

Previous Chapter

Chapter 3

Rhys left to check on the other campers in the park to make sure everyone was okay and there was no damage. The downpour continued but if he was right, it shouldn’t last too long.

I watched him ride off into the park and simply enjoyed the sounds of the rain for a few minutes.

I turned and pushed my way into the office, the small bell letting off a ring, announcing my entrance. It seemed like other people had the idea of seeking shelter with Mor. The was a handful of others milling around, chatting with each other in quiet tones or looking at the gift shop. Ray was there, deep in conversation with a short woman that had her straight, black hair cut in a severe bob, probably discussing new ways to improve the park. Mor was behind the counter in conversation with what looked to be the mom of a family.

I wandered over and gave her a smile in hello, not wanting to interrupt them, in which Mor returned.

I pulled out my sketchpad to check if there really was no damage. The water that had splattered on the pack hadn’t seeped through and my book and pencil case were completely dry. A small smile crossed my face, my mind mulling over the events of the last half hour.

Flipping to the drawing of Rhys on top of Mona, I deepened the color of his eyes and added more shadows to the background, sharply contrasting the images. I absently continued working on the sketch, thinking back on how close we were.

Even though it was a warm day, I could feel the heat radiating off of him when he joined me on the rocks. He was so easy to be around, I felt no pressure to hide my work like I did when I was dating Tamlin when I was an undergrad. He would get so possessive and jealous if I did a character study of someone other than him. My work (and my mental health) suffered from it and eventually, it became too much to bear. Breaking it off with him was the most gratifying experience.

But with Rhys…. He had nothing to offer but praise, even if he had seen only a small sample of what I can do. His praise felt genuine, like there were no strings attached. As if he would have said the same thing if it was hanging in a gallery.

And then there was the ride to the office. The surge of adrenaline wasn’t just from racing through the forest at breakneck speeds. There was no inch of space between our bodies. Even with the wind whipping around us, I could still smell him, like citrus and jasmine and something wilder. Like his time outdoors had become a part of him.

He was so solid. Yes, because I was holding onto him, I could feel the steel bands of muscles shifting in time with the beat of the horse, but his presence was steady, secure. The world could have faded away around us and I wouldn’t have noticed.

“That looks like my cousin.”

The words broke my internal monologue, causing me to jump slightly and ears to redden with the embarrassment of being caught.

I looked up to see Mor had finished her conversation with the mom and decided to see what I was so enraptured with.

“I… uh..,” I cursed myself inwardly for not being able to respond, my head still too wrapped up with thoughts of him instead.

Mor had a dangerous glint in her eyes, like she knew exactly what I had been thinking about. She started with a feline grin at my flustered state which soon morphed into full-blown laughter that caught the attention of everyone in the room.

My ear burned even more with everyone’s attention on us. “Mor,” I hissed through my teeth.

She clamped her lips closed, her chest still shaking with contained giggles. Thankfully, the attention melted away as everyone went back to talking or browsing.

Even though I had only one conversation with her, I shot her a glare that I couldn’t hold before a small smile played on my lips and I looked back down to my drawing.

I let out a sigh, “Yes, that’s your cousin. I saw him after we left the office yesterday.”

“So you saw him only yesterday?” she smirked with a raised eyebrow.

“And last night and just now,” I muttered, defeated.

“Mhm,” she hummed with a nod, triumphant at my admittance. “Every girl that has come to this park has noticed my cousin.”

“Great, add me onto the adoring fans.”

“Honestly, I don’t know what they see in him, he’s a giant dork.”

I laughed at that, the color starting to fade from my ears and cheeks, it was nice to know that I wasn’t the first, and probably not the last, to gawk at him.

“Yeah, well he’s a dork who saved me from the rain. My backpack isn’t waterproof, and I was worried that I wouldn’t make it back in time to save my sketchbook.”

“Oh really. Well, that sounds like my stupidly, chivalrous cousin,” she confirmed.

“Fucking phenomenal,” my embarrassment morphing to anger. Mor saw my change in emotion and knit her eyebrows together in question. I glanced at her and then away to bore my eyes into my sketch. Of course it was too good to be true, his quiet and helpful attitude was just a front to get me alone and probably try to get into my pants. Stupid, stupid, stupid agreeing to go somewhere in a big park with a guy I barely know at night.

“Your ‘stupidly, chivalrous cousin’ said that I could say ‘thank you’” putting air quotes around the words, “by going stargazing with him tonight, which was probably just codeword for blowjob,” I finished, gritting my teeth to stop myself from yelling the words.

He probably does this with any girl that comes into the park, performs a good deed for her and then tries to get payment in kind.

“What? Feyre, no, no, no,” Mor hastily said, trying to calm me down from my inner and outer rant. “He is stupidly chivalrous, but he has literally never asked any girl to go stargazing with him, or anywhere else.” She blew out a breath and muttered a prayer to the Caldron under her breath.

“Ok, I’m only going to tell you this because I think you’re a good person who would be good for Rhys and my cousin is a little dumb sometimes so here it goes.

“In college, Rhys was this sweet, kind, naïve boy who thought the best in everyone. A TA in one of his classes saw that and took advantage of it. She knew our family had money and influence and thought she could use it to further her academic career. A lot of ugly shit went down but he was forced to mature too fast and he hasn’t dated anyone since. It’s a little hard since he’s out here a lot but if someone had come along, he would have figured out a way to date her. But he hasn’t. With anyone,” she emphasized that last word, willing me to understand.

I released a slow breath, cooling down from my jump to conclusions. I met Mor’s golden brown gaze and almost flinched with the raw honesty I saw there. She was telling the truth. This wasn’t some dumb, masculine play to get some action. This was a risk he was taking with me.

“Ok,” I said with a nod, “I shouldn’t have assumed so fast.”

“It’s ok, you didn’t know. Hell, if a guy had done that to me, I would’ve kicked him in the balls right on the spot. I’m glad you didn’t though,” she finished with a laugh. It was so infectious I couldn’t help but join in.

I turned my eyes back to the drawing, I had been so angry I was ready to rip it out of the book and tear it to pieces but that would have been a big fucking mistake.

At that moment, the rain started to slow and then die off. Just as quickly as it had come, it was over and the sun was starting to peak out again.

Other campers saw the change and began to file out, back to their tents or to resume the hike they were on. I hope Elain and Kevin were ok and didn’t get too wet.

“Thank you, Mor,” I turned back to her, “I’m going to go make sure we didn’t lose anything at the campsite.”

“Of course, Feyre. Have fun tonight,” she said with a devilish wink and smile. I shook my head at her and exited the building.

By the time I was back at the campsite, the sun was out in full force, scaring away the offending clouds. Rhys was right, it was looking to be a clear night.

Our tent had survived the downpour, just covered with a few scattered leaves from the wind, all of our stuff was still dry inside.

It was getting to be late afternoon at this point, the others should be returning soon. I had forgotten all about my sandwich and chips I had packed for lunch and it was too close to dinner time to eat them.

I ducked into the tent and sorted through the clothes I had packed for the trip. It was just shorts and t-shirts, not much of a choice and definitely no makeup. Rhys had already seen me sweaty and still thought I was attractive so confidence would be my best outfit. I changed into a fresh shirt with fewer paint stains and tied my hoodie around my waist. Hopefully, it won’t be too cool tonight.

From the car, I grabbed tonight’s dinner of ground beef stew with prechopped veggies, fresh fruit salad and French bread that could be wrapped in foil and left to heat on the stove. Ray had appeared when I was in the tent and already started up his grill.

I dumped my stuff on our slowly drying table and turned to start up my grill.

“Hey Ray, hell of a thunderstorm, huh?”

“Yup, just glad I was in the office already when it came through. I got to talk to Mor and Amren about that swimming hole. They weren’t too excited at first, but I assured them that I know some good people who would be willing to invest, and I would love to design it pro bono. Amren is scary so I didn’t dare lie to her about anything, she could sniff out blood a mile away if she wanted to,” he chuckled.

“Oh, was that the short woman with the black hair you were talking to?”

“Yep, she and Rhys are the main people who keep the park running. Even though it’s national land, they mostly take care of it. Rhys keeps all the campers, hikers and environment safe while Amren handles the logistics of it all.” I nodded along, listening to his plans and what he wants to put whereas I got the stew mixed and warming in the pot and wrapped up the bread. It would be at least an hour until everything was ready, so I got to draw more while Ray went on.

“And how was your day?” he asked.

“Good! Really good, Elain and Kevin led the way to the Starfalls, they were truly beautiful. I stayed behind to draw the valley while they went on. I hope they’ll be back soon, I feel bad leaving them behind when the storm came through,” I flipped to the page to show Ray the rendering of the valley I had yet to finish. He murmured his appreciation and studied it.

“Truly amazing, Feyre. I hope you get a gallery all to yourself someday.”

I blushed at his praise, I hoped so too.

“And what do you mean left them behind?”

“Oh, umm,” I had made a mistake. “Rhys was with me when the storm had come up. He may have given me a ride back to the office.”

“Uh-huh,” Ray hummed with a humorous glint.

“And he may have asked me to go stargazing with him tonight.”

“UH HUH,” he said, his lips bursting into a full-blown smile. “I thought I saw something between the two of you last night. So tell me more…” his grill now forgotten about.

“Nope, nope, no, I don’t need this from you right now, I’m already nervous enough,” I backpedaled, there was no way I was going to pick over every detail with Ray.

“Awww come on, I never get any good gossip around my coworkers, they’re all a bunch of nerds with no life!” Ray pleaded, giving me big, brown, puppy dog eyes.

I almost gave in, there was no way I was going to spill every detail with my sisters, they would just tease me too much or tell me not to go with a guy I just met.

“No, I can’t,” he looked so disappointed I nearly gave in again, “Maybe tomorrow morning at breakfast, how about that? I want it to go well first.”

“Ok, fine, I’ll have to accept that,” he pouted, sulking surprisingly well for a full-grown man.

I laughed at his disappointment, some of the nerves disappearing at his display.

We chatted more about our days until Nesta, Elain and Kevin finally showed up.

Azriel had checked on Elain and Kevin, they were fine, just a bit wet but thankfully the trees and a well-placed awning on the trail kept them dry. Nesta was a bit luckier and an outcropping of rocks kept her out of the rainstorm.

More conversation flowed as the night set in and dinner was eaten. I kept shooting glances at the entrance of our campsite and listening to the familiar pounding of hooves. Thankfully, only Ray noticed my distraction and gave me conspirator winks.

Too soon or maybe not soon enough gravel crunched, indicating the arrival of Rhys and Mona. He appeared into our circle of light. Rhys had changed out of his ranger uniform to dark pants and boots, with a navy three-quarter sleeve shirt that was cut to show off the underlying muscles that I had felt earlier. His hair was casually mussed up, making him look younger than when he is in his uniform. Mona had a pack strapped to her saddle.

Rhys grinned when he saw me, I returned the smile, ignoring the questioning looks from my sisters and Kevin. Ray looked like he was just about ready to burst out of his skin with giddiness.

“Ready?” he asked me.

“Yep. Can y’all handle clean up tonight?” I asked my sisters. The mutely nodded yes, still unable to find words to respond to Rhys’s sudden appearance.

I turned back to him and took his offered hand. It felt so natural to slip mine into his, like it was an everyday occurrence. He led the way back down the path and to the trailhead. The very last of the light was fading fast and more and more stars broke through. I thought that the sky at the end of the day looked just like his eyes, endless blue and perfect.

The moon was full and provided light to show the ghostly path, but I could see a massive flashlight strapped to the front of the saddle in easy reach.

“I’ll hop up first and then pull you up, similar to what we did earlier today.”

“Sounds good.”

He swung up into the saddle, the motion easy and fluid. Mona stood still at perfect attention. I firmly gripped his hand and put my foot into the open stirrup. A good hop off the ground and his arm had me situated behind him in no time, the strapped-on pack acting as an extra seat. I hooked my legs around his like I did earlier, and we set off down the path.

The night was a bit cooler than I expected from the rain, but he and Mona radiated heat. I told him about the others and how they avoided the rain today, and he told me how flustered Az was when he was asked to check on Elain. We laughed at the two’s painful shyness and secretly plotted in own our heads on how to get the two to talk more. He told me of how Cas was actually the one to point Nesta to the rocks that kept her dry and I made a mental note to question her about it on the way home tomorrow.

The trail sloped gently upwards, smooth and well-kept; no doubt part of what Rhys did to keep the park beautiful. I caught glimpses of the stars between the trees and soon we climbed high enough to where we broke out of the tree.

I gasped as the whole valley laid out in front of my, framed by the wide, night sky sparkling with millions of stars. We were so far from any light pollution that I could even see the faintest beginnings of galaxy dust weaving through the stars.

“You like it?” he asked, his voice husky and barely above a whisper.

“I can’t even begin to look at it all. I could spend years just taking in every constellation,” I whispered back.

He gave a low chuckle at my amazement. “Trust me, I’ve tried and I’m still finding new shapes up there.”

We continued to climb, the moon even brighter up here that Mona had no trouble sticking to the path. I thought that I would be more scared to trust my life to an animal, but she was steady and sure in every step.

Rhys stopped her at the top of the hill, “Here we are.”

He slipped down first and turned to help me. I balanced on the pack and swung my leg forward, careful not to hit Mona on the head. Before I was ready to dismount, I started to lean too much to my left.

Rhys saw that I was about to eat shit off his horse and reached to catch me. His right arm ended up around my shoulders and his left supported my knees.

To my eternal gratefulness and embarrassment, he only let out a small “oof” and barely even stumbled, like he caught girls falling off his horse every other day.

“Well, well, well, falling for me already, darling?” his voice brushed across my ear. I couldn’t suppress the small shiver that ran down my spine.

“Maybe,” I shot back, doing nothing to squirm out of his embrace.

He hummed his amusement and gently lowered my legs to the ground, making sure I was steady. His arm around my shoulders was slow to leave and I missed his warmth as soon as he removed it.

He moved to undo the pack from the saddle while I took in our surroundings. We were on top of one of the highest points in the park, the mountains flowing away into the distance to our right. The river and meadow from earlier were laid out in the distance, the Starfall flowers glowing white in the dim light.

There were so many of them, it looked like the whole meadow was made of moon rock, perfectly white and smooth with shadows acting as the craters. I couldn’t bring myself to look away, even when Rhys’s heat appeared at my back.

His head hooked over my shoulder, his temple resting against mine. “The Starfalls are gorgeous in the daytime, but they’re really meant to be seen at night. Not a lot of people know that.”

I had no answer for him, the beauty of the night had taken away any speech.

Then, a bit quietly, “This is my favorite spot in the park, I like to come up here alone when it’s been a long day or a particularly frustrating one. The stars always seem to know how to relax me.”

I leaned back into his frame, simply enjoying him and his warmth and the world around us. We stayed like that for a few minutes, breathing in the night air.

“This way,” he entwined our hands again, taking me to the far edge of the hill. Mona gave us the side-eye and decided to continue grazing where she was.

There was a flat expanse of rock that dropped maybe 20 feet below to where the hill flowed down into the valley. It was still warm with the days’ heat, even the rain wasn’t able to wash it away.

Rhys unfurled the pack and laid out a thick blanket, a camping pillow expanding back into its normal size.

“There’s no alcohol allowed in the park, but I did bring M&Ms and water,” he said a bit sheepishly.

I joined him on the blanket and popped some of the chocolate into my mouth, “I love M&Ms,” crunching down on them.

I could see his smile glow in the dark, almost tempting me forward. He followed suit and started to munch on the sweets with me. We sat crisscross, his shoulder pressed into mine, already becoming familiar and easy.

It was just so easy to sit there in the quiet and listen to the sounds of animals settling in for the night and the nocturnals come out.

“So, what’s your favorite constellation?” I asked him.

“Oh man, I’m going to sound really basic but it’s Orion.”

I hummed to encourage him to continue.

“When I lived in the city, you can’t really see any stars there,” a glance at me, “you know, of course.” I nodded.

“I was really obsessed with space when I was little but unable to see many constellations but Orion’s belt is super bright, so yeah, I was always able to look up and pick it out of the sky and then find Betelgeuse…” he trailed off, lost in the memories of old.

“It’s one of my favorites too,” I said softly, leaning into him more.

“What’s your absolute favorite then?”

“The swan, Cygnus. As a child, I was absolutely obsessed with Barbie Swan Lake. When I got older and listened to more classical music when I studied, Tchaikovsky was my go-to. All of his works are beautiful, but Swan Lake broke my heart every time.”

“If not for the Barbie part, you would have beat me with deepness,” he teased.

“Shut up!” I shoved his shoulder away with mine.

His laughter rang out across the valley, filling every crevasse with light and happiness even in the dark. I laughed right along with him, our shoulders shaking with renewed fits.

Eventually, we died down, occasional giggles escaping our chests. His eyes glinted in the moonlight, the silver flecks shining, making it seem like the universe was trapped in his irises. He captured my gaze, they dipped down to my lips that were still wrapped around a chuckle. I noticed his attention and the giddiness died down.

We were so close now, our warm breath tinged with chocolate mingling in the cool night air. I shivered, goosebumps raising on my exposed legs.

His violet eyes took in my every move, flitting around my face like he was trying to memorize every detail. As he watched me, I watched him. Taking in the exact shape of his slightly parted mouth and how the moonlight played along the edge of his high cheekbones.

I angled my head towards his, my eyelids dropping in a silent request. A small puff of a laugh greeted my lips before he closed the last amount of space between us.

Electricity shot down my body, urging me to bury my hands into his soft hair, the air suddenly trapped in my chest. To return the favor, he encircled one arm around my waist, his other hand grasping the back of my neck.

He swallowed my gasp, his lips bruising into mine. Not to be outdone, I leaned back and pulled him onto me. He followed me down, pressing me into the blanket and rock below, trying to close every single gap between us. His lips moved to my neck, nipping a trail up and down.

I groaned, arching into him, begging him to not stop. I could feel his grin against my neck, enjoying my request.

He found his way back to my mouth, taking in every sound I emitted. If I was cold before, there was no way I am now with him covering my body. His heat unraveled every thought in my head, his lips banished any rational thinking.

All sensation pinpointed to him and him only. The stars were forgotten as we forged a new universe between us. I nipped at his lip, my tongue traced the sweetened edge of his mouth until he yielded permission.

Deeper, harder, I asked for more and he gave all he could. The sky could have crashed down and we wouldn’t have noticed.

I came up for air, out of breath. I had messed up his hair fair beyond repair, his lips were swollen from my attentions. I’m sure I looked the same, mirror images of each other.

He brushed his mouth against my cheek, tender, sweet, after the wild nature of our kiss.

I released a small laugh, gazing up at him.

He smiled in response, “What?”

“Nothing,” I replied breathlessly, “I’m just happy that it rained today.”

His smile widened.

“Me too.”

#acotar #acomaf #acowar #acofas #sjm #sjmaas #sjm books #sjmaas books #feyre #feyre x rhysand #rhysand

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thesportssoundoff · 7 years

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So About That Tuesday Night Contenders Series

Joey

June 26th

Watch any UFC event recently and you'll notice the constant pushing and dare I say shilling of Dana White's Tuesday Night Contenders Series. The UFC's attempt to push its own content on its own digital platform (a novel concept!) is slowly creeping towards its air date on July 11th. The concept is a simple enough one even if some aspects of it seem to be ever so slightly and ever so gingerly getting modified before the start. Five fights every week with the winners and losers competing for the opportunity to get into the UFC. It'll be held in front of Dana White and what I'm assuming are an audience of his friends and peers given how there is no live attendance. While the original concept suggested UFC fighters would get the opportunity to rebuild their careers, it seems like the UFC has walked that back somewhat given how not a single current UFC fighter is assigned to a spot on the show.

The concept is a fresh enough approach, essentially taking out Dana White's LFAF antics and bringing us what fight fans really want to see; less of Dana hanging with the BOOOOOOYZ and more of the prospects and overlooked guys with potential getting the opportunity to get a UFC gig. As of this point, much of the format is hidden although the general onus seems to be similar to Looking For A Fight's "Win impressively and depending on how the wind is blowing and the whims of one man are at that time, you might get a deal!" That's all fine and good I guess although leaving the future of athletes up to such a vague concept as an impressive win is always going to lead to some problems. At the very least, a lot of good regional talents are going to get the opportunity they all dream of chasing when they sign up for this wacky gig. The chance to fight in front of Dana White and his friends in Vegas for more than you've ever made up until that point with the allure of a potential UFC gig is all good for the sport I'd argue. Unfortunately quite a few questions remain on how this is all going to work out BUT before we get into that, I just want to poke around a bit on some numbers I've scrounged up.

30.5- The average age of the HWs confirmed for Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender's Series.

The age at light heavyweight and heavyweight will always be a somewhat touchy subject. As has probably been discussed time and time again, MMA's ability to chase elite athletes above 205 lbs is never going to be up there with the bigger sports even though it could/would stand to do a better job at attempting to recruit them. Outside of Stipe Miocic, the UFC's HW division in its current form is a collection of aging but well known guys from the Pride/2008 to 2011 era of the UFC and a small group of guys who rose from the ashes of a broken HW division to carve out niches for themselves. Now to their credit, the UFC HAS been aggressively signing new HWs but the division still lacks depth, prospects and the ability to let guys go on winning streaks before you violently feed them up to somebody at the top. The decision to focus on the HW division is a refreshing approaching and of the six HWs they've roped in thus far, they combine for an average age of about 31 years old (30.5 to be exact). That number is heavily skewed by the 35 year old Greg Rabello. Just for a comparison point, the top 6 in the division (Stipe plus the five contenders under him) come out at about a solid 34.5 years old. So here's my opinion on this one; sign all of them even if they lose. Turn the HW division into the undercard gamblers division and load up FP prelims with big doughy guys. You might luck into one!

10-20- Record for fights either in the UFC or against fighters who have been in the UFC

Yeah, this number isn't too pretty I suppose. Now granted there are guys like Daniel Spohn, Justin Jones and Daniel Jolly who really tip the scales here but as is often the case with TUF seasons, the prospects here haven't faired all too well when they've faced UFC quality competition. People CAN improve of course but going on pure raw data, it's looking rough to start.

0- Women's MMA fights confirmed thus far

This is a concerning number. It's not that I think the UFC is deliberately ignoring the women of mixed martial arts, I just don't know if they're out there to be had. Part of the problem with having an Invicta is that the WMMA community is so small that just about everybody winds up there at some point; most before they're ready. Tuesday Night Contenders becoming ANOTHER Invicta where ladies like Rachel Ostovich are fed to elite talents over and over is probably not good for anybody. What's more with TUF 25 being flyweights, you're not going to send them to Tuesday Night Contenders because you pretty much NEED all of them for that. And of course it's like flyweight or bantamweight TUFs, chances are if you're a good one they're just going to sign you so why bother? The UFC can't keep pilfering talents from Invicta without waiting for the stock to replenish and while a guy like TheAnticool would clearly know more as it pertains to whether it IS being replenished, there needs to be concern about how long it's taking. Ronda's ascension to the top of the MMA landscape was expected to jolt WMMA and in many ways it did---but it's 2017 and we're still waiting to see the fruits of that labor.

7- flyweights

Be it petty posturing or a genuine warning, Dana White coming out and admitting that the last three years have featured them considering the removal of flyweight has to be concerning for all MMA fans. The UFC removing flyweights from the equation would ultimately be a bad thing for MMA (a hell of a boon to 135 tho!) and would further blur the lines between sport of business and the business of sport. Even if you acknowledge that fighters can always make their money overseas, all of the US orgs (since Bellator has shown no interest in flyweights and I'm not even sure the new chain at WSOF know what flyweights are) abandoning the division would do serious damage to the growth of MMA. As such, it's refreshing to see Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series has thus far cornered the market on flyweights not in the organization.

4- Fighters coming off a loss

The idea of DWTCS was the best prospects vs the best prospects and old UFC guys trying to regroup and rebound after a series of losses. When names started getting announced and people started to complete the picture, there was some rankling about signing guys to compete who were coming off losses. That, at least so far, is overstated. Just four of the guys on the show are coming off of a loss.

So those are just some things I wanted to dig through and look over. Despite this, questions STILL remain. Such as....

1- How are they going to make money off of this?

Seriously. There's no TV rights deal (here or abroad) and there's no gate because the show is attended by Dana's friends and fam. One would assume that the UFC is paying for crapola even if the UFC owns the venue and etc etc. Right off the bat, you're talking about 50K going out (5K for 10 guys plus 25K on top for the winners). So how ya paying for this? Fight Pass subs?

2- Is it possible to LOSE and get into the UFC?

We see it all of the time. The "win and get in" style of UFC TUF Finale is bent slightly so that guys who put on an amazing fight and lose can still get a chance. Will the UFC keep with that mentality here? Given that so much of this is the whim of one man, is it win and get in only?

3- What will the outfits look like?

It'd be...awkward if Dana White's side league project featured fighters wearing sponsored swag. Is it going to be like 2013 where dudes had big sponsorship lapses and so they had guys wearing UFC trunks? I know that they're treating Dana White's Tuesday Night Contenders where it's like an alternate organization BUT if I'm a fighter and I make it into the UFC off the show, I want this fight to count for my UFC record.

4- Production? Any ideas?

Again with no real way to make money, what will the production look like? I hate to make the comp here but I don't think this product is going to succeed if it feels like a dark match/house show with no video packages, no commentary and no sizzle with their graphics. I'd really like to see what they do with the commentary spot. One thing I'd really like to see is different guys being given the opportunity to try their hand at live commentary. If they're bad, it's not going to be the end of the world and if they're good, as guys like Cruz proved to be, then you can start grooming your next crop of rotating commentators. I bet the UFC would LOVE a day where they can just sandblast the sports world with a show from Asia that starts at 8 on ESPN/FS1, a show from England that starts at 12 on ESPN 2/FS2 and then a big show at 8 PM that goes back onto the main network. To pull that shit off, you need developed competent commentators and MAYBE this can be an attempt to pull that off.

5- Where are the international guys at?

The current crop are 95% Americans with 5% delegated to some Europeans who live and operate within the US. I'd LOVE to see them move in some guys from Asia to get a chance. There's a lot of PXC guys who aren't good enough in theory for the UFC but could benefit from the opportunity to at least compete there.

6- Ringer Fights

Obviously any REALLY REALLY great prospects are getting UFC calls and not wasting their time on this. But let's say you do so decide to go to the UFC through Tuesday Night Contenders. Let's use Jose "Shorty" Torres for a sec, k? Would you take a Jose Torres and give him an obvious squash match set up so he looks super impressive to get the hype going? If so, can they handle the backlash if we see through it?

In the end, this is somewhere between a regional organization and a UFC lite. It's Dana White attempting to create a Looking For A Fight without having to look for it. It's a chance for prospects, veterans who live under the radar and potential organizational filler to get fights. For fighters on the regional circuit, it represents a substantial jump up in pay. There are just too many questions and concerns for this project to get out of the "cautiously optimistic" stage.

#MMA #UFC #Dana White #Contenders #DWTNCS

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number06fan · 4 years

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British Columbia Red Onions Salmonella Outbreak

An ongoing Salmonella outbreak linked to red onions has sickened 55 more people in Canada pushing the total number of cases to 114. The Western provinces in the country are majorly reporting the cases. A total of 43 people in British Columbia and 55 in Alberta have been affected. 13 people in Manitoba, 2 in Ontario and 1 in Prince Edward Island are also exposed. This British Columbia red onions Salmonella outbreak has hit hard.

The case from PE Island traveled to Alberta. Another province, Saskatchewan, recently started investigating some new Salmonella Newport infections, but they haven’t been confirmed yet.

Based on the investigations till now, onions imported from the US are the likely source of the outbreak. Many of the individuals sickened as part of the outbreak said they ate red onions before experiencing symptoms.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) along with the US Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) and local health institutes like the BC Centre for Disease Control is investigating the outbreak in the country. British Columbia is one of the worst-hit provinces. More cases can be reported from the region, says BC CDC.

“Retailers and restaurants in these locations are also advised not to use, sell or serve red onions imported from the US,” says British Columbia CDC. They also added that red onions in Canada aren’t the source of the outbreak. “Most people with Salmonella will recover without treatment. Children under 5 years of age and adults over 65 years of age, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe illness,” the BC CDC says.

Out of all the individuals being hit by the outbreak, the data for 102 is available. 16 people have been hospitalized. Thankfully, no deaths have been reported. 56% of those sickened are females.

US is Reporting Cases, Too

On July 24, CDC reported a mystery Salmonella infection in the country with 212 cases in 23 states and 31 hospitalisations. Unlike PHAC, CDC hadn’t recommended consumers to stop consuming any specific food item or retailers/ restaurants to avoid selling any product.

Until today. The CDC announced red onions are the culprit in the US, too.

As of July 29, 2020, a total of 396 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Newport have been reported from 34 states. A list of the states and the number of cases in each can be found on the Map of Reported Cases page.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from June 19, 2020, to July 12, 2020. Ill people range in age from less than 1 to 102 years, with a median age of 39. Fifty-two percent of ill people are female. Of 236 ill people with information available, 59 hospitalizations have been reported. No deaths have been reported.

Illnesses might not yet be reported due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. This takes an average of 2 to 4 weeks. Please see the Timeline for Reporting Cases of Salmonella Infection for more details.

The investigation is still ongoing.

CDC Recommendations

CDC has urged anyone with Salmonella symptoms to contact their healthcare provider immediately and note down the things they had a week before the onset of symptoms. Cooperate with the public health officials if they contact you and answer all the questions. This simple step can help identify the likely source of the outbreak and prevent others from getting sick.

‘The outbreak is rapidly growing in size,’ CDC reports.

States with Cases: AK (6), AZ (14), CA (49), CO (10), FL (3), ID (5), IL (10), IN (2), IA (15), KS (1), KY (1), ME (4), MD (1), MI (23), MN (10), MO (6), MT (33), NE (5), NV (5), NY (4), NC (3), ND (5), OH (7), OR (71), PA (2), SC (1), SD (11), TN (5), TX (1), UT (61), VA (4), WA (2), WI (5), WY (11)

‘The US CDC is also investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Newport illness that has a similar genetic fingerprint to the illnesses reported in the outbreak’, as stated in the Public Health Notice by PHAC. The two agencies are collaborating to find out more likely sources of the outbreak and cause of contamination in red onions, adds PHAC.

Recalls

On July 31, 2020, Sysco recalled red onions imported from the USA due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recall was done in Western Canada through the following Sysco areas: Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna, Regina, Victoria, Vancouver and Winnipeg. Everyone from manufacturers, retailers, distributors and food service establishments should refrain from using or selling the recalled products.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is continuing with the investigation and additional recall may happen in the days that follow. The CFIA updates the public about food recall warnings through Public Health Notices on the Canadian Government’s website and their Twitter account, which you can follow right here: @InspectionCan.

Recalled Products:

BrandProductSizeProduct CodeOther Info.Imperial FreshPurple Onions

(Jumbo)

10 lb8399925All products imported since May 24,2020Imperial FreshPurple Onions

(Jumbo)

25 lb8313967All products imported since May 24,2020

(Sysco is an American MNC. It’s the world’s largest broadline food distributor. The company is based in Houston, Texas and services to over 90 countries worldwide.)

In the US, FDA’s traceback investigation is ongoing but has identified Thomson International, Inc. of Bakersfield, CA as a likely source of potentially contaminated red onions. Although the investigation has determined that red onions are the likely source of this outbreak, Thomson International, Inc. has notified FDA that it will be recalling all varieties of onions that could have come in contact with potentially contaminated red onions, due to the risk of cross-contamination. This recall would include red, white, yellow, and sweet onions from Thomson International, Inc. Recall information will be made public as soon as it is available from Thomson International, Inc.

What Should I Do?

If you have consumed the recalled product, consult your doctor immediately. If you are in possession of any of the products mentioned above, throw them out and clean the area where it was kept. In case you aren’t sure of the origin of the red onions in your house, contact your place of purchase. Please note that some products may still be present in the market, so check the product name and code when you shop for red onions.

Additionally, any food item contaminated with Salmonella might look normal but can infect you nonetheless. So just because the onions don’t show any signs of being tainted, please don’t eat them. Always check for the recalled product ID and discard the ones that match or the ones you can’t find the source of.

About Salmonella

Salmonella is a common diarrheal infection, especially among children. It is a bacterial disease that affects your intestinal tract. The most common sources are raw or undercooked poultry, meat, eggs and other forms of dairy. In recent times, even fruits and vegetables have been the culprit behind nasty Salmonella outbreaks.

The incubation period of the illness is 2-7 days. This is the time period within which you start showing symptoms for the disease. The most common ones are diarrhea (often explosive), nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. Medical attention is recommended for anyone who believes they have Salmonella.

How Does Salmonella Gets Into Our Food?

The important question is how does this bacteria sneak into our food. Well, it lives in the intestines of humans and animals – like birds and poultry. They shed it into their feces. So, it’s present in the environment around these animals, which then gets passed onto the raw poultry.

Salmonella gets into fresh fruits and vegetables through a number of ways. It can infect them on the field through water that’s contaminated with feces or a worker who manages fresh produce doesn’t wash his hands properly and can taint the whole batch. At times, the person who cooks your food at a restaurant doesn’t maintain proper hygiene and can infect your food.

This is how you’re exposed to the bacteria, and it enters your body. Not all individuals who ingest Salmonella will become sick, but they certainly become carriers of the bacteria. And they pass it on to other people. That’s how the chain continues.

What to do if you feel sick with Salmonella?

If you feel sick and have consumed red onions, we suggest you contact your health care provider immediately, and report your illness to your local health department.

How The Lange Law Firm Can Help

Our mission is to help families who have been harmed by contaminated food or water. When corporations cause Salmonella food poisoning outbreaks, we use the law to hold them accountable. The Lange Law Firm is the only law firm in the nation solely focused on helping families in food poisoning lawsuits and contaminated water lawsuits.

As a US law firm, The Lange Law Firm is well positioned to pursue those responsible in the United States for growing, producing, and selling Salmonella contaminated red onions.

If you got Salmonella food poisoning in the Red Onions Salmonella Outbreak and are interested in making a legal claim for compensation, we can help. Our Salmonella lawyer can help you pursue compensation for your Salmonella food poisoning. Call us for a free no obligation legal consultation at (833) 330-3663 or send us an e-mail here.

By: Pooja Sharma

The post British Columbia Red Onions Salmonella Outbreak appeared first on The Lange Law Firm.

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alamante · 6 years

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There are also a number of food recalls due to potential illness, although no known illnesses have been reported, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.

Here’s what to stay away from.

As a precaution, McDonald’s has stopped selling salads in 3,000 locations in 14 states to try to contain an outbreak of cyclospora illness.

The states no longer selling these salads are Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana, North Dakota, Kentucky, West Virginia and Missouri.

To date, 395 cases have been confirmed in 15 states since May 1, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The cyclospora parasite causes intestinal illness as a result of consuming contaminated food or water. Symptoms can begin a week or more after consuming the parasite. They include diarrhea and frequent, sometimes explosive bowel movements, according to the CDC. Those who are infected might also experience loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps or pain, nausea, gas and fatigue. Vomiting, headache, fever, body aches and flu-like symptoms can also occur.

The illness can last from a few days to a few months, and patients might feel better but then get worse again. Patients can be treated with antibiotics.

The outbreak investigation found the parasite in a sample of Fresh Express salad mix of romaine lettuce and carrots that had been distributed by the restaurant chain.

Salads and wraps

The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service warned consumers not to buy more than two dozen salads and wraps sold at major grocery chains due to cyclospora.

This is because of lettuce from the same Fresh Express lot implicated in the McDonald’s salad outbreak.

The recalled items include certain beef, pork and poultry salads and wraps that were sold at Kroger, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens and other stores. They were distributed by Caito Foods LLC of Indianapolis.

“Fresh Express also reported that no romaine lettuce from the lot that was positive for cyclospora was packaged for direct retail sale to consumers,” the CDC said.

Vegetable trays

Before you grab something off that vegetable tray, make sure it hasn’t been recalled.

The FDA is investigating at least 237 cases of cyclospora illnesses linked to recalled Del Monte Fresh vegetable trays. The trays contained broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and dill dip, and they were sold in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.

“FDA has not identified which of the ingredients is the vehicle for this outbreak; each component of these vegetable trays is under consideration,” the agency said.

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite that contaminates food or water and, when ingested, causes an intestinal illness. Symptoms include diarrhea, with sometimes explosive bowel movements, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea and fatigue.

Federal health officials said this is not related to the Fresh Express recall and outbreak.

Pasta salad

Hy-Vee, a Midwestern grocery store chain, has recalled a pasta salad linked to at least 79 cases of salmonella illness. Hy-Vee, based in Iowa, sold the 1-pound and 3-pound plastic containers of Spring Pasta Salad in eight states.

The states are Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. All of those states except Wisconsin have reported illnesses. In addition, people have reported being sick from this salad in Tennessee and North Dakota.

“The Spring Pasta Salad includes shell pasta, carrots, celery, cucumbers, green pepper, onion, and mayonnaise,” according to the CDC. It salad was produced between June 1 and July 13. The packages have expiration dates between June 22 and August 3.

Symptoms of salmonella begin 12 to 72 hours after a person is infected and include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramping. This can last about four to seven days, and most individuals recover without treatment. However, those who develop severe diarrhea may need to be hospitalized. Those who are very young, who are very old or who have compromised immune systems are most at risk for complications and severe cases of illness.

Raw turkey

Salmonella is the culprit in 90 illnesses linked to raw turkey products, according to the CDC and the USDA.

The illnesses have been reported in 26 states since November. But health officials have not identified a brand, product or supplier as the source of the outbreak. Therefore, no recall has been issued.

Patients who have been interviewed reported eating “different types and brands of turkey products purchased from many different locations. Two ill people lived in a household where raw turkey pet food was fed to pets,” the CDC said.

In addition, samples of raw turkey pet food, raw turkey products and live turkeys have tested positive for the outbreak strain of salmonella, which could mean the outbreak is “widespread in the turkey industry,” the CDC said.

The advice for consumers is to cook turkey thoroughly, wash hands before and after handling turkey, and be careful when touching and handling turkey to prevent spreading contamination.

Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal

Federal health officials want you to toss out all boxes of Kellogg’s Honey Smacks. The warning is due to an outbreak of salmonella that has left 100 people sick in 33 states.

The cereal was recalled June 14, but one month later, another warning not to eat the cereal was issued after the FDA said it was aware that the product was still available.

“Retailers cannot legally offer the cereal for sale and consumers should not purchase Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal,” the agency said.

Swiss rolls

Flowers Foods announced a recall of Swiss rolls because they may be contaminated with salmonella. The ingredient whey powder was recalled for possible contamination. There have been no reports of illness from Swiss rolls, according to the company.

Swiss rolls sold nationwide under the brand names Mrs. Freshley’s, Food Lion, H-E-B, Baker’s Treat, Market Square and Great Value have been recalled. Captain John Derst’s Old Fashioned Bread distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina has also been recalled, the company said.

Ritz Cracker Sandwiches

Mondelēz Global LLC announced a recall of certain Ritz Cracker Sandwiches and other Ritz Bits products because they contain whey powder that has been recalled for possible salmonella contamination. The products are available nationwide.

The recalled product list includes Ritz Bits cheese cracker sandwiches and mixed cookie and cracker variety packs.

The recall is a precaution, as no complaints of illness have been reported, the company said.

Goldfish crackers

Pepperidge Farm issued a recall of four varieties of Goldfish crackers distributed nationwide: Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar, Flavor Blasted Sour Cream & Onion, Goldfish Baked with Whole Grain Xtra Cheddar and Goldfish Mix Xtra Cheddar + Pretzel.

Whey powder is also an ingredient in a seasoning “applied to” these items, according to the company.

No illnesses have been reported.

Hungry Man Chipotle BBQ Sauced Boneless Chicken Wyngz meals

Pinnacle Foods Inc. recalled 15.25-ounce Hungry Man Chipotle BBQ Sauced Boneless Chicken Wyngz meals with a best by date of September 6, 2019. The recalled frozen microwavable dinners have the establishment number “EST. P138” or “P-138” on the package. They were shipped to retailers in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The recall is due to whey powder used in ranch dressing that is a seasoning in the mashed potatoes and with the boneless chicken that are part of the meals.

Turkey and Swiss sandwiches

Listeria has prompted a recall of one type of sub sandwiches by Lipari Foods LLC. The recall is for Premo Brand and Fresh Grab brand turkey and Swiss submarine sandwiches that were produced July 17. They were sold at retailers in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

The subs in question were packaged by JLM, a Lipari sister company, according to the recall notice.

Listeria is primarily a problem for pregnant women because it can lead to miscarriage. The illness also affects newborns, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. It can cause sepsis if it gets into the bloodstream or encephalitis, an infection in the brain, according to the CDC.

Symptoms include diarrhea and fever, but those who are infected may not be diagnosed.

People become sick by eating contaminated food. The company said no illnesses have been reported.

Imported crab meat

Avoid eating fresh crab meat from Venezuela. That’s the advice from the FDA due to an outbreak of Vibrio parahaemolyticus that started in April. In all, 12 illnesses have been reported in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and the District of Columbia.

“This product is commonly found in plastic tubs and may be labeled as ‘pre-cooked,’ ” the FDA said in its outbreak announcement.

Symptoms usually begin 24 hours after consuming the bacteria. They include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, fever and abdominal pain. Twelve people have become sick.

CNN’s Ashley Strickland, Kevin Flower, Susan Scutti, Faith Karimi, Emily Smith and Joe Sutton contributed to this report.

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number06fan · 4 years

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Another Ground Beef Salmonella Outbreak

It’s official. There is another Ground Beef Salmonella Outbreak plaguing the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced just last night that 10 people are sick and one has died linked to the outbreak. It appears that is particular outbreak of Salmonella illnesses is more severe than usual. According to the CDC, “Illnesses in this outbreak are more severe than expected for Salmonella.”

Here’s what we know:

There are 10 people that have been lab-confirmed with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Dublin in six states. Thus far, 8 of those who are ill were hospitalized, including one death reported from California.

According to the CDC:

“Illnesses started on dates ranging from August 8, 2019, to September 22, 2019. Ill people range in age from 48 to 74 years, with a median age of 68. Eighty percent of ill people are male. Of nine ill people with information available, eight (89%) were hospitalized, which is much higher than we would expect for Salmonella infections. The hospitalization rate is usually about 20%. One death has been reported in California. In five (50%) ill people, Salmonella was found in samples of blood, which indicates their illnesses may have been more severe.”

FAQs About the Ground Beef Salmonella Outbreak

Can salmonella be cooked out of meat?

The simple answer is yes. Salmonella bacteria can be killed through the cooking process.

It is important that you follow proper food safety steps to handle and prepare any ground beef products, like:

Do not consume raw or undercooked beef.

Cook ground beef hamburgers or any other mixtures properly to a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Always use a food thermometer to measure the internal temperature of any meat product. It’s not possible to know that the meat is cooked safely just by looking at it.

Don’t hesitate to ask questions about your food at a restaurant. Do enquire if you feel that the hamburgers or any other meat mixtures don’t look properly cooked.

Follow the four-step simple food safety at home – clean, separate, cook and chill.

Always separate raw meat products from fresh produce or cooked meals. This will help in preventing cross-contamination.

Wash the surfaces and items in the kitchen that come in contact with ground beef properly.

Why is this outbreak more severe?

In the past, Salmonella Dublin illnesses have been more severe as they can cause bloodstream infections (bacteremia), which are serious and require hospitalization.

What brand of ground beef is being recalled?

Although the laboratory evidence shows that ground beef is the likely source of this outbreak, no ground beef has been recalled at this time. The authorities are are still conducting traceback investigations. According to the CDC, “a single, common supplier of ground beef has not been identified.”

Interviews with those who are ill people report eating different types and brands of ground beef purchased from many different locations.

In better news, testing identified the outbreak strain of Salmonella Dublin in repackaged leftover ground beef collected from an ill person’s home in California.

Also, the outbreak strain of Salmonella Dublin has been found in six samples of raw beef products from several slaughter and processing establishments. The samples from these establishments were collected as part of the USDA FSIS’s routine testing according to the Salmonella performance standards. Whole Genome Sequencing showed that the Salmonella strain from these samples was closely related genetically to the Salmonella found in the confirmed ill cases. The CDC says that “these results provide more evidence that people in this outbreak got sick from eating ground beef.”

This investigation into the culprit is ongoing. The CDC will update the public as more information becomes available.

Is ground beef safe to eat again?

The CDC is not telling you to stop eating ground beef. Their exact warning is:

“CDC is not advising that consumers stop eating thoroughly cooked ground beef, or that retailers stop selling ground beef.”

But they are recommending that you practice good food safety methods (as always) when preparing ground beef.

What states are affected by salmonella outbreak?

There are several, 6 to be exact.

Here’s a breakdown of the number of illnesses by state:

StateIll PeopleCalifornia2Colorado3Iowa1Kansas2Oklahoma1Texas1Total10

How do I know if I have Salmonella?

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated product. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment. In some persons, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Older adults, infants, and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact their health care provider.

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the above symptoms or signs after recently consuming ground beef products, be sure to visit your healthcare provider in order to get your illness properly treated and any foodborne infection reported. It is diligent reports like these that help investigators identify and subsequently eliminate the source of a foodborne illness outbreak.

How The Lange Law Firm Can Help

Our mission is to help families who have been harmed by contaminated food or water. When corporations cause Salmonella food poisoning outbreaks, we use the law to hold them accountable. The Lange Law Firm is one of the only law firms in the nation focused on representing families in food poisoning lawsuits.

If you got sick in this latest Ground Beef Salmonella Outbreak and are interested in making a legal claim for compensation, we can help. Our Salmonella lawyer can help you pursue compensation for your Salmonella food poisoning. Call us for a free no obligation legal consultation at (833) 330-3663 or send us an e-mail here.

By: Candess Zona-Mendola, Editor (Non-Lawyer)

The post Another Ground Beef Salmonella Outbreak appeared first on The Lange Law Firm.

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