Author: Alicia Maroney

The Truth About “Shelf-Stable” Snacks and Jerky: Hidden Outbreak Risks When we think of food recalls and outbreaks, the mind often jumps to frozen vegetables, deli meats, or leafy greens, not the shelf-stable snack that sits in a pantry for months. Yet “shelf-stable” snacks such as jerky, meat sticks, dried seafood, and protein bars carry their own set of hidden risks. According to the national food poisoning lawyer, Ron Simon, “These products are often marketed as safe to consume without refrigeration, but under certain conditions, they still can become vehicles for pathogens or other hazards. The risks are low overall,…

Food Poisoning Risks and Halloween: How to Keep Tricks from Turning Toxic Halloween is about costumes, candy, spooky fun, and an often overlooked risk: foodborne illness. Between neighborhood trick-or-treating, classroom parties, haunted-house concessions, and potluck Halloween gatherings, October piles up opportunities for bacteria and viruses to travel from farms, kitchens, and unclean surfaces into mouths. This is the season when rushed food handling, improvised treats, and an explosion of shared snacks create the right conditions for contamination. Understanding the risks, spotting the red flags, and practicing a few simple habits will keep the celebration spooky in the right way and…

FDA Warns Against Consuming Black Sheep Egg Company Eggs Amid Expanding Salmonella Recall The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers, retailers, and distributors not to eat, sell, or serve eggs produced by Black Sheep Egg Company following a widening recall tied to potential Salmonella contamination. The federal warning, issued on October 20, 2025, follows growing concern that contaminated eggs distributed through third-party brands have reached store shelves across several states. One of the latest companies affected is Kenz Henz, a Santa Fe, Texas–based distributor that announced on October 16, 2025, that it was recalling its 12-count packages…

The Autumn Rise in Norovirus and “Stomach Flu” Cases Norovirus season returns every autumn like clockwork. As nights lengthen and temperatures fall, hospitals, schools, care homes, and cruise ships start reporting clusters of vomiting and diarrhea that sweep through groups in days. Those outbreaks are not mere nuisances. Norovirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide and a top driver of foodborne illness; its seasonality makes the cooler months a predictable period of heightened risk. Understanding why norovirus peaks in fall and winter, and how indoor gatherings amplify transmission, helps households, employers, and institutions reduce illness, avoid closures, and…

Harvest Season Contamination: How Soil, Rain, and Equipment Spread Bacteria Harvest time is a double-edged sword. Acres of ripening produce, abundant crop yields, and brisk market demand bring excitement, but they also bring elevated risks of microbial contamination. During fall harvests, bacteria from soil, rain, and equipment can move into produce in surprising ways. These pathways have underpinned numerous foodborne illness outbreaks worldwide, and without vigilance, even the freshest produce can carry harmful microbes into your kitchen. The Soil as a Reservoir: Microbes Beneath the Surface Soil is more than inert dirt. It’s a living ecosystem, teeming with bacteria, fungi,…

Sno Pac Foods Recalls Del Mar 35 lb Bulk Frozen Spinach and 10 oz Organic Frozen Cut Spinach: What You Need to Know On October 6, 2025, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced a nationwide recall by Sno Pac Foods, Inc. of two frozen spinach products: Del Mar 35-pound Bulk Organic Frozen Spinach and Sno Pac 10-ounce Organic Frozen Cut Spinach, due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. According to the FDA recall notice, a bulk case of Del Mar spinach from the company’s supplier tested positive for Listeria, and that lot code was traced to repackaged 10-oz…

How to Safely Handle Ready-to-Eat Foods at Home: Protecting Yourself from Hidden Foodborne Risks The Hidden Danger in “Ready-to-Eat” Convenience Ready-to-eat (RTE) foods are a modern staple of busy households. From prewashed salads and deli meats to prepared pasta meals and rotisserie chicken, these items are designed to be consumed straight from the package, no cooking required. While they save time, they also come with hidden risks. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), foodborne illnesses cause an estimated 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3,000 deaths each year in the United States. A growing number…

Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Foodborne Illnesses at State Fairs and Festivals This Fall Fall in the United States brings cooler weather, colorful leaves, and a calendar filled with state fairs, agricultural shows, and local festivals. These events are beloved traditions, offering fried delicacies, barbecue competitions, fresh produce markets, and even petting zoos for children. Families attend for the atmosphere, entertainment, and above all, the food. But behind the joy and aromas of funnel cakes, corn dogs, and smoked meats lies a serious risk that too often goes unnoticed: foodborne illness. Large public gatherings that serve food are uniquely…

Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Prepared Pasta Meals (June–October 2025)New Recall, Expanding Case Count, and the Ongoing Federal Response to a Deadly Listeria Outbreak The multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to prepared pasta meals, first identified in June 2025, has taken a tragic turn. On October 6, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), released an update confirming that 20 illnesses across 15 states have now been connected to the outbreak. Of those infected,…

FDA Advises Consumers, Retailers, and Distributors Not to Eat, Sell, or Serve Recalled Black Sheep Egg Company Eggs The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers, retailers, and distributors to stop eating, selling, or serving certain cartons of eggs produced by Black Sheep Egg Company after testing found evidence of Salmonella contamination. The advisory covers 12- and 18-count cartons of Black Sheep Egg Company brand Free Range Large Grade A Brown Eggs with Best By dates from August 22 through October 31, 2025, and UPCs 860010568507 and 860010568538. The eggs were distributed in Arkansas and Missouri and may have…