The Centers for Disease Control has announced a multistate outbreak of E. coli O121 infections linked to supplier Grimmway Farms bagged recalled, organic carrots and baby carrots, which were sold under several brand names. One person has died and at least 38 people have become ill after the outbreak. The…
The United States Department of Agriculture has announced a recall of almost 10 million pounds of meat and poultry produced by BrucePac, which makes pre-cooked meat, due to concerns that it is contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. A routine test found evidence of the listeria on BrucePac’s product and, importantly, when…
During recycling, according to a recent study, toxic flame retardants used to prevent fires in electronics are getting into the black-colored plastic that’s commonly used in takeout containers, children’s toys, kitchen utensils and grocery meat and produce trays. The most dangerous flame retardants were the ones used in the electronic…
A new study has found that dark chocolate and other similar cocoa items are contaminated with cadmium and lead. These metals are neurotoxins and they’ve been linked to developmental issues in children, chronic diseases, and cancer. In a sense, because they are in the soil where crops are grown, these…
There have been three deaths and fifty illnesses requiring hospitalization nationwide in a listeria outbreak tied to Boar’s Head deli meats that started in May. In response to reports that health officials had tested Boar’s Head liverwurst samples and confirmed that the same strain of listeria existed in both, on…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that a listeria outbreak arising out of stone fruit—nectarines, peaches, and plums—made people in seven states sick. Up to 11 people reported they became sick due to the outbreak. Ten of those people who reported their sickness were hospitalized while one…
Earlier this year, the manufacture of the popular herbicide, Roundup, was found to be liable in a series of product liability lawsuits and ordered to pay a total of $2 billion in punitive damages. In addition to these cases, there are approximately 13,400 others who are waiting for their case…
There have been several food contamination and food safety-related items in the news lately, including the shocking story of two Florida individuals who found a dead bat in their pre-washed salad mix package. The company that produced the product, Fresh Express, initiated a recall of packaged salads that may also be…
Food safety is one of the most popular topics in the headlines these days. Whether it is major foodborne illness outbreaks at popular national chain restaurants or contaminated food products on store shelves, consumers face serious risks when food providers and manufacturers fail to take reasonable precautions and to use…
There are many benefits that our modern food system has to offer, including the ability to ship produce around the globe so that we can enjoy some of our favorite fare throughout the year. This same benefit, however, also exposes consumers to hidden dangers. It’s not always a guarantee that…