According to a new study from Stanford University, the influenza virus can remain infectious in raw milk stored at refrigeration temperatures for up to five days. The research, published Dec. 12 in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, underscores the potential health risks associated with consuming unpasteurized milk at a time... Continue Reading
Read the NewsSuspected or confirmed cases of Norovirus and Yersinia will soon have to be reported to government health officials by laboratories in England. The move is part of a decision to amend the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010. Subject to parliamentary approval, the updated legislation will come into force in April... Continue Reading
Read the News— OPINION — By Ron Erickson Recently, I visited the immense breakfast cereal aisle at my local supermarket. I was curious to learn from the labels of cereals marketed to children the daily value of the sugar in a single serving. Fifty years ago, as a young attorney and policy wonk,... Continue Reading
Read the News1. Yu Shang Food, Inc. Ready to Eat Meat Listeria Outbreak: As of December 5, 2024, 19 people from eight states have been infected with the outbreak strains of Listeria. Sick people’s samples were collected from October 24, 2021, to October 28, 2024. Of 19 people with information available, 17 (89%) have been... Continue Reading
Read the NewsHoliday leftovers are often just as cherished as the main meal itself, but they must be handled with care to avoid foodborne illness. The USDA recommends refrigerating leftovers within two hours of cooking to prevent bacterial growth. Follow these tips to safely store and reheat leftovers: Expert supportFor last-minute food... Continue Reading
Read the NewsI gave my staff the week off (you might have caught me answering phones) – it has been that kind of year. Here is wishing all of you peace and a food safety New Year. I have been making candles instead of watching the news – see above. Perhaps I... Continue Reading
Read the NewsRecent history has seen Listeria monocytogenes in cheeses, peaches, ice cream, raw milk cheese, leafy greens, ham, taco kits, salad kits, and more products; and the government recognizes the problem. As a result, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is soliciting nominations for membership to the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological... Continue Reading
Read the NewsA Salmonella outbreak that sickened more than 130 people in Chile may have been caused after food was contaminated with a strain used to monitor testing performance. The Salmonella Abony outbreak occurred from January to April 2024. Genomic evidence indicated that the outbreak strain was a clone of a reference... Continue Reading
Read the NewsIn the past three decades, cantaloupes have consistently been linked to some of the most severe foodborne illness outbreaks involving Salmonella. A recent study published in the Journal of Food Protection provides a detailed analysis of factors contributing to these outbreaks. It emphasizes the importance of addressing vulnerabilities along the... Continue Reading
Read the News— OPINION — Believe it or not, many food companies find it cheaper to pay millions of dollars to “resolve” foodborne illness outbreaks and product recalls after they occur than to overhaul their food safety systems to prevent them in the first place. And while this may seem like a... Continue Reading
Read the NewsAs part of its enforcement activities, the Food and Drug Administration sends warning letters to entities under its jurisdiction. Some letters are not posted for public view until weeks or months after they are sent. Business owners have 15 days to respond to FDA warning letters. Warning letters often are... Continue Reading
Read the NewsThe Food Standards Agency (FSA) has revealed some of the main food hygiene mistakes made by consumers. The Consumer Insights Tracker is a monthly survey conducted by YouGov with 2,000 adults in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. November’s edition shows 46 percent of people don’t always check use-by dates before... Continue Reading
Read the NewsAs Christmas approaches, families across the country are preparing festive meals with turkey, ham and other holiday favorites. However, food safety experts warn that improper thawing, cooking and food handling practices could make the celebrations a health hazard. By following a few simple guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture,... Continue Reading
Read the NewsSeveral years ago, when asked what food I shied away from, one of the six on my list was raw oysters and other raw shellfish. As I said: Marler says that raw shellfish—especially oysters—have been causing more foodborne illness lately. He links this to warming waters, which produce more microbial... Continue Reading
Read the NewsAuthorities in Hong Kong have issued a warning following reports of people falling sick after eating oysters from France. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has told the industry to suspend the import of raw oysters harvested in an area identified as 17.C.11... Continue Reading
Read the NewsThe Food and Drug Administration uses import alerts to enforce U.S. food safety regulations for food from foreign countries. The agency updates and modifies the alerts as needed. Recent modifications to FDA’s import alerts, as posted by the agency, are listed below. Use the chart below to view import alerts.... Continue Reading
Read the NewsAs holiday baking begins, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reminds consumers to avoid eating raw cookie dough, cake batter, and other uncooked flour-based products. While many know the dangers of raw eggs and Salmonella, fewer realize that raw flour can harbor pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella. Past... Continue Reading
Read the NewsThe government has pushed back the deadline for shops to register in South Africa as part of a drive to improve food safety. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the registration plan last month as one of the measures to address concerns regarding spaza and tuck shops, which have been linked to... Continue Reading
Read the NewsFinnish Customs (Tulli) has investigated two meat smuggling cases. The agency reported that from 2022 to 2024, more than 10,000 kilograms of meat were imported from Estonia and Latvia without sufficient documentation. Eight suspects are involved in the cases. Preliminary investigation work will now be forwarded to the Prosecution District... Continue Reading
Read the NewsThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced a final rule to update the definition of the nutrient content claim “healthy.” According to the FDA, there is an ever-growing crisis of preventable, diet-related chronic diseases in the U.S. that requires immediate action. The updated “healthy” claim marks an important step... Continue Reading
Read the NewsThe number of patients in an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections traced to cucumbers from Mexico has jumped from 68 to 100. The implicated cucumbers, distributed by importers SunFed Produce, Baloian Farms and Russ Davis Wholesale, have been recalled and should no longer be available for sale. A number of... Continue Reading
Read the NewsImpossible Foods Inc. or Redwood City, CA, is recalling Impossible Savory Ground Sausage Meat and Impossible Spicy Ground Sausage Meat because the products may contain pieces of metal. According to the details published online by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the recall was initiated on Nov. 15 and is... Continue Reading
Read the NewsTipp Distributors, Inc., doing business as Novamex, is recalling Jarritos Coconut Water 12-can cartons because the hermetic seal on the lid of the cans may be compromised. The compromised hermetic seal may affect can integrity and may cause the cans to leak, bloat or allow bacteria, such as Clostridium botulinum,... Continue Reading
Read the NewsCalling it a corporate dodge, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro has released a response that Boar’s Head provided to questions she sent the company in the wake of a deadly listeria outbreak. The outbreak killed at least 10 people and sickened dozens. It was traced to deli meat from the Boar’s... Continue Reading
Read the NewsThe CDC has declared that an outbreak of E. coli O121:H19 infections traced to carrots from Grimmway Farms has ended. A total of 48 people were confirmed as victims in the outbreak. Patients were spread across 19 states. Twenty people were hospitalized. One person died, and another developed hemolytic uremic... Continue Reading
Read the NewsCongress rolled out the $31 billion disaster package on Tuesday, which includes a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill through September 2025. Since the Farm Bill, with its numerous parts, including food stamps for the public and economic assistance for farmers and ranchers, has turned into a disaster during... Continue Reading
Read the NewsThe Food and Drug Administration is continuing to investigate multiple foodborne outbreaks. For an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak traced to a blend of iceberg and romaine chopped lettuce, the patient count has increased to 86, up from 75 a week ago. The sick people are spread across 12 states, and... Continue Reading
Read the NewsThe number of people infected in an E. coli O145 outbreak in Iceland has more than doubled to almost 50. Landlaeknir (The Directorate of Health) previously said that 23 pupils from the Mánagarði kindergarten in the Vesturbær district of Reykjavík had been sick. The update was reported in December’s edition... Continue Reading
Read the NewsThe system of controls in Canada for fish sent to Europe has the potential to work well but an assessment has revealed a low frequency of sampling and inspections reduces its effectiveness. An audit in May 2024 covered fishery products for export to the European Union. Four recommendations were made.... Continue Reading
Read the NewsS&M Shellfish Co. of San Francisco, CA, has issued a recall for certain oysters harvested from British Columbia, Canada, because of a norovirus outbreak. The oysters were sold as Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay and Royal Miyagi oysters that were harvested between Dec. 1 and Dec. 9 from British Columbia growing... Continue Reading
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