Author: Alicia Maroney

Food Safety for Elderly and Immunocompromised Populations During the Holidays Holidays bring family, warmth, familiar recipes, and sometimes a crowded kitchen. Those same joys can quietly raise the risk of dangerous foodborne infections for older adults and people with weakened immune systems. According to the national food poisoning lawyer, Ron Simon, “Age, chronic illness, medications, and treatments such as chemotherapy change how the body handles germs.” A small lapse in temperature control, an undercooked casserole, or a shared utensil can mean a trip to the hospital instead of a cozy after-dinner conversation. Why Holidays Are a Higher Risk For Vulnerable…

Face Rock Creamery Recalls Vampire Slayer Garlic Cheddar Over Possible Listeria Contamination Face Rock Creamery LLC of Bandon, Oregon announced a voluntary recall on November 14, 2025 of 16 units of its 6-ounce Vampire Slayer Garlic Cheddar blocks after environmental testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration detected Listeria monocytogenes in the processing area where the cheese was packaged. The recall is precautionary: finished product samples have not tested positive, but the presence of Listeria in the packaging environment prompted the company and regulators to remove the small number of sold units from circulation and alert consumers. The FDA…

Multistate Outbreak of Infant Botulism Under Investigation: 13 Infants from 10 States Linked to Infant Formula In collaboration with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Infant Botulism Treatment & Prevention Program (IBTPP), and state and local partners, officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of infant botulism linked to powdered infant formula. As of November 8, 2025, 13 infants with suspected or confirmed infant botulism from 10 states have been identified. What We Know So Far Public health agencies have issued joint alerts indicating that…

Infant Botulism: Understanding the Risks and Protecting the Youngest Patients Infant botulism is a rare but serious disease that occurs when an infant ingests spores of Clostridium botulinum (or related species) that then germinate in the immature gut and produce botulinum neurotoxin in situ. The toxin blocks nerve signals that control muscles and breathing, leading to progressive floppiness, trouble feeding, and in severe cases respiratory failure requiring prolonged intensive care. Although uncommon, infant botulism demands rapid recognition and coordinated public health and clinical response because early treatment with botulinum immune globulin substantially reduces morbidity and length of hospitalization. How Infant…

Hi Tony! I hope you and the kids are doing well! Jason and I are leaving Monday night to go on vacation, so I’m sending my three articles for this week now. We will be back mid-week next week, so next week’s articles will come in the second half of the week. 🙂 Moonlight Companies Recalls California-Grown Peaches Over Possible Listeria Contamination On October 29, 2025, Moonlight Companies announced a voluntary recall of selected lots of California-grown conventional yellow and white peaches because Listeria monocytogenes was identified in the packing facility environment. The company’s announcement, posted on the U.S. Food…

Vanguard Enterprises, LLC Recalls Monarch Premium Kratom Powder Over Salmonella Risk On October 28, 2025, Vanguard Enterprises, LLC, operating as Bedrock MFG in Boise, Idaho, announced a voluntary recall of its Monarch Premium kratom powders, specifically the Bali Gold, Red Bali, Green Maeng Da, and White Elephant varieties, because of potential contamination with Salmonella infection. According to the recall notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune…

Gift Baskets and Mail-Order Foods: Are They Safe to Ship? Sending a gift basket or a mail-order food box is a generous, convenient way to celebrate, comfort, or congratulate someone. The aroma of freshly baked cookies arriving at the doorstep or a curated basket of cheeses and charcuterie can make a special moment memorable. The same generosity can quickly turn sour, however, if perishable items are temperature abused or mishandled during packing, transit, or final delivery. The Basic Problem: Perishable Food Plus Time and Transport Food safety is basically a race against time, temperature and contamination. Perishable items, meat, poultry,…

Outbreak Investigation of Listeria: Prepared Pasta Meals and Expanded Recalls A multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes tied to prepared pasta meals has prompted an expanding series of recalls, intense laboratory work, and urgent warnings from federal agencies. What began in mid-2025 as a cluster of severe illnesses linked to heat-and-eat chicken fettuccine alfredo has grown into an investigation that spans dozens of product lines, multiple manufacturers and distributors, and the discovery of Listeria in a pre-cooked pasta ingredient. Public-health authorities emphasize swift product removal and careful cleaning because Listeria causes disproportionate harm to pregnant people, older adults, and anyone with…

New Hoque & Sons Inc Issues Alert on Uneviscerated Dry Ghoinnya Fish: The Hidden Botulism Risk in Ungutted Dry Fish On October 30, 2025, New Hoque & Sons Inc. of Maspeth, New York, issued an alert about a single lot of its product marketed as Dry Ghoinnya Fish (FDA.gov) after state testing showed the item had been sold uneviscerated. Federal and state food-safety authorities warn that uneviscerated, salt-cured, or dried fish have a well-documented association with foodborne botulism and can pose a life-threatening hazard to consumers. New Hoque & Sons’ alert asks retailers and consumers to check for a clear…

Purity Products Recalls One Lot of MyBladder After Detection of Escherichia coli O7:K1 and 1303 Purity Products announced a voluntary recall on October 27, 2025, for a single lot of its dietary supplement MyBladder after routine testing indicated the product “has the potential to be contaminated with Escherichia coli O7:K1 and 1303” (FDA.gov). The company described the action as a precautionary measure to protect consumers and ensure product safety. The announcement was posted as a company recall notice on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recall portal. Purity Products’ public statement, posted to the FDA recall page, makes clear that…