Florida Insurance Blog

While there is no word on the cancellation of Halloween in Florida, it will definitely look different. “No one can really cancel Halloween, but authorities can eliminate certain activities,” says Ellsworth Buck, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance, Florida’s leading independent homeowners insurance agency.

Many Florida HOA’s are considering cancelling trick-or-treating, with no official decisions yet. Some area theme parks have already moved to abandon their Halloween events. Disney World and Universal will not hold their annual celebrations, however Sea World’s Halloween Spooktacular is already underway.

According to a Harris Poll survey, 63 percent of adults plan to find creative, fun and safe ways to celebrate the Halloween season. Three out of four people surveyed said they had no plans to take their kids door-to-door for candy. Only 27 percent of the 1,790 adults polled said they anticipate seeing kids trick-or-treat on October 31.

“When it comes to trick-or-treating, you may be wondering, ‘is it worth the risk?’” says Ellsworth Buck, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance, Florida’s top independent homeowners insurance agency.

Members of Congress were curious about fall festivities as well and asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to come out with their recommendations on the safest way to celebrate Halloween.

The CDC guidelines split activities into risk levels for guidance.

Low Risk

• Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household
• Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
• Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
• Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children walk outdoors admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
• Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
• Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
• Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home

Moderate Risk

• Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)
• Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart
• Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
• Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest, if screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.

• Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)
• Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart
• Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
• Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest, if screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.

Higher risk

• Participating in traditional door-to-door, trick-or-treating
• Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
• Attending crowded costume parties held indoors
• Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
• Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household
• Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors
• Traveling to a fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19

The CDC makes it clear these are supplemental not to take the place of any state or local health and safety laws, rules and regulations for Halloween celebrations.

However you decide to spend your Halloween, stay safe.

GreatFlorida Insurance is committed to protecting you and your belongings from spooky incidents this Halloween. Contact us for all your homeowner insurance needs.

“There are several product recalls this summer from food-borne illnesses, “says Ellsworth Buck, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance, Florida’s largest independent homeowners insurance agency.

Recalls include a large nation-wide recall due to a major salmonella contamination in the produce department. Read on for further details to keep you and your household safe.

Onions

The U. S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is analyzing samples collected at Thomson International which has recalled all red, white, yellow and sweet yellow onions shipped to all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The onions are being linked to a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 510 people.

The Mayo Clinic reports Salmonella symptoms include, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever, chills, headache and blood in the stool.  Most healthy people recover within a few days without specific treatment. In some cases, dehydration can prompt immediate medical attention.

The onions are sold under the following brand names, Thomson Premium, TLC Thomson International, Tender Loving Care, El Competitor, Hartley’s Best, Onions 52, Majestic, Imperial Fresh, Kroger, Utah Onions and Food Lion.

 Peaches

A multi-state outbreak of salmonella infections is being linked to peaches. The peaches are packed or supplied by Prima Wawona or Wawona Packing Company. They are sold bagged, in bulk and loose. The peaches are distributed nationwide and sold at Walmart, Target, Aldi and elsewhere.

Also, discard peach salsa labeled as “Perfectly Peach Salsa.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends, “If you cannot tell where your peaches are from, don’t eat them. Throw them out.”

Soup

“Thankfully, some food recalls are not as life threatening as others, says Ellsworth Buck, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance, Florida’s top independent homeowners insurance agency.

Case in point, thousands of cans of Progresso’s Organic Chicken Noodle Soup, produced by Faribault Food Inc. are being recalled for a misbranding. Instead of chicken noodle, customers found a meatball and pasta product. The products were also reported to have undeclared allergens.

Affected cans have a best by date of “BestByMAY262022” printed on the bottom of the can and a best by date of “09JUN2022,” printed on the product case.

Frozen Shrimp

Kader Exports, is recalling various sizes of frozen cooked, peeled and deveined shrimp due to possible salmonella contamination. The product has been distributed nationwide.

Frozen cooked deveined shrimp sold under the brand names Aqua Star Reserve, Censea, Fresh Market, Kirkland Signature (Costco), Tops, Unistar, and Wellsley Farms (BJ’s Wholesale Club). For details on the specific products being recalled, check out the FDA website.

Pet Food

Three brands of dog food are being recalled. The pet food manufacturer Sunshine Mills has issued a voluntary recall of dog food products due to potentially high levels of aflatoxin, a byproduct of mold. 

The FDA reports, “Pets that have consumed any of the recalled products and exhibit symptoms of illness including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian.”

The dog food in question is sold under the brand names Family Pet, Heartland Farms and Paws Happy Life.

The dog food was sold at retailers nationwide. The list of potentially hazardous products includes “Family Pet Meaty Cuts Beef Chicken & Cheese Flavors Premium Dog Food,” “Heartland Farms Grilled Favorites Beef Chicken & Cheese Flavor,” as well as “Paws Happy Life Butcher’s Choice Dog Food.”

Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products should discontinue use of the products and may return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For dependable homewoners insurance contact GreatFlorida Insurance today.

“Keeping your hands clean has never been so crucial as it is now,” says Ellsworth Buck, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance, Florida’s top independent homeowners insurance agency.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most effective way to clean your hands is to wash them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you are unable to wash them, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent ethanol or ethyl alcohol is good.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for hand sanitizer has soared. During March it became difficult to find it stocked on store shelves. Even now, stock is constantly fluctuating.

The demand has unconventional companies making hand sanitizer. Beauty brands and even ExxonMobil is making hand sanitizer. Distilleries are also using their supply of high proof alcohol to produce hand sanitizer. Local Florida distilleries making hand sanitizer include, St. Augustine Distillery and Copper Bottom Craft Distillery.

“Even though many companies are getting into hand sanitizer making, leave it to the professionals,” says Ellsworth Buck, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance, Florida’s largest independent homeowners insurance agency.

Officials at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have tested hand sanitizers and found many are not safe. Numerous hand sanitizers have tested positive for methanol or wood alcohol. Methanol can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested. The FDA explains, substantial methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.”

The FDA found, products containing methanol do not have it listed among the ingredients in the product. So far, 87 hand sanitizers have been added to the growing recall list. Newly added products include those made by Scent Theory, Herbacil, Jaloma and Leiper’s Fork Distillery.

The recalled products are manufactured in Mexico and one in Tennessee. Some are sold at popular retailers such as Target, Costco, BJs Wholesale Club and Walmart. The FDA’s investigation into methanol contamination is ongoing. The agency recommends not only throwing out the contaminated sanitizers but avoiding hand sanitizers from the companies on their list.

The full list can be found at this FDA link.

GreatFlorida Insurance can provide peace of mind covering your valuables and protecting your dwelling with homeowners insurance. Contact us today.