Author: Alicia Maroney

Preventing Foodborne Illness When Growing Your Own Produce Growing fruits and vegetables at home has long been associated with self-sufficiency, sustainability, and improved nutrition. The rise of backyard gardens, raised-bed cultivation, and urban container farming has made fresh produce more accessible to households across income levels. However, the perception that produce grown at home is naturally safer than store-bought produce often overlooks a critical reality: pathogens do not distinguish between commercial and domestic growing environments. Foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter can contaminate produce through irrigation water, soil amendments, animal intrusion, and human…

How to Report a Foodborne Illness: Understanding Your Rights in a Changing Food Safety Landscape Foodborne illness remains a persistent and evolving public health challenge in the United States, despite decades of regulatory reform and technological advancement. Foodborne illness occupies a unique intersection of public health, regulatory governance, and consumer rights. Each reported case represents both an individual harm and a potential signal of systemic failure within the food supply chain. Federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) collectively rely on consumer-reported data…

The Impact of Organic vs. Conventional Farming on Food Safety The debate over organic versus conventional farming has gained significant attention in recent years, especially concerning food safety. With growing consumer awareness about health and environmental issues, many individuals are opting for organic produce, believing it to be safer than its conventionally grown counterparts. Defining Organic and Conventional Farming Organic Farming is a method of farming that avoids synthetic chemicals, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and artificial fertilizers. It emphasizes biodiversity, sustainability, and ecological balance. Conventional Farming is a method that often utilizes synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and GMOs to maximize yield…

Springtime Risks: Unmasking Foodborne Illnesses as Temperatures Rise As spring arrives, the warming weather heralds outdoor activities, barbecues, and an increased consumption of fresh produce. However, this seasonal shift also correlates with a rise in foodborne illnesses, which can have significant public health implications. Foodborne illnesses are a major public health concern, affecting millions of individuals globally each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 48 million Americans experience foodborne illnesses annually, leading to 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. Common Foodborne Illnesses in Spring Salmonella Salmonella is one of the most frequently reported foodborne pathogens…

Emerging Foodborne Pathogens Public Health Officials Are Monitoring Foodborne illness remains a pervasive public health challenge worldwide, affecting millions of people annually and imposing significant health, social, and economic burdens. Traditional foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Listeria, and Campylobacter are well-known targets of surveillance and control efforts by public health agencies such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, beyond these familiar agents, health officials are increasingly concerned about emerging and re-emerging foodborne pathogens, microorganisms that are newly identified, exhibiting new modes of transmission, expanding their geographic…

How Seriously You Should Take Food Recalls? Every day there are recalls for potential salmonella, listeria, E. coli, and recalls for foreign objects, failure to inspect, etc…. Food recalls are a routine part of the modern food safety landscape, yet many consumers underestimate their importance or misunderstand what recalls mean for public health. When a manufacturer removes a product from the market because it may pose a danger to consumers, this action is not simply bureaucratic red tape. Instead, food recalls signal a breakdown in food safety systems that could result in illness, injury, or even death if ignored. What…

The Dangers of Drinking Unpasteurized Milk: Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, Brucella, Campylobacter Milk is among the most widely consumed food products globally, valued for its nutritional content, including protein, calcium, and vitamins. However, not all milk is created equal in terms of safety. Unpasteurized milk, also called raw milk, is milk that has not undergone heat treatment to kill harmful pathogens. While pasteurization is standard practice in most commercial dairy production, raw milk remains legally available in some regions and continues to attract a dedicated, if minority, consumer base. Public health agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration…

Common Mistakes That Delay Outbreak Detection Timely outbreak detection is a cornerstone of effective public health response. Whether the outbreak involves foodborne disease, respiratory viruses, or emerging zoonotic pathogens, the ability to rapidly identify and characterize clusters of illness determines the speed and effectiveness of interventions. However, numerous common mistakes and systemic limitations delay outbreak detection, undermining efforts to contain disease spread and protect public health. These factors range from clinical reporting delays and laboratory turnaround times to surveillance system constraints and resource gaps within public health infrastructure. The Outbreak Detection Timeline: A Multistep Process Outbreak detection is not a…

Mechanisms of Produce Contamination: A Comprehensive Review Fresh produce contamination represents a significant public health challenge due to the frequent consumption of raw fruits and vegetables and the absence of a cooking step to eliminate pathogens. Despite public perceptions of produce as inherently healthy food, produce has been implicated in numerous foodborne illness outbreaks worldwide. This article reviews scientific understanding of the routes through which produce becomes contaminated, drawing upon research from agricultural sciences, food microbiology, and food safety regulatory guidance. The mechanisms assessed include preharvest agricultural practices, environmental sources, postharvest handling, processing infrastructure, distribution systems, and consumer-level factors. Identification…

State Fair Was Source of Arizona E. coli Outbreak In late 2025, families across Arizona were shaken by a state-level Escherichia coli outbreak linked to one of the most beloved fall traditions: the Arizona State Fair. By November, health officials were investigating dozens of E. coli infections, many involving children who had visited the fair’s petting zoo and animal exhibits. The outbreak not only sickened attendees, it highlighted critical gaps in fair safety protocols, public awareness, and infection prevention at large public events. What Happened: An Outbreak Linked to the Arizona State Fair The Arizona State Fair, held from September…