Author: Kit Redwine

State and county health officials in Arizona had conclusive genetic evidence in mid-November linking a dangerous E. coli outbreak to the Arizona State Fair’s petting zoo, but did not confirm this connection to the public until early January, newly obtained records show. The outbreak, which sickened at least 18 people—most of them children—and led to several hospitalizations with life-threatening kidney complications, has sparked criticism from parents, food safety advocates, and a former state health director who call the illnesses “preventable.” According to one local paper, at least 11 cases tied to the outbreak shared an identical genetic fingerprint. This genome…

For generations, the connection between certain fermented foods and good health was understood through tradition and observation, not microbiology. Today, science is unraveling the precise mechanisms behind this ancient wisdom, revealing a compelling narrative of microscopic warfare within our gut. At the forefront are probiotics—live beneficial bacteria and yeasts—which are now recognized not merely as digestive aids but as active defenders against the pathogens that cause foodborne illness. As concerns over food safety and antibiotic resistance grow, these microscopic allies are emerging as a powerful, natural strategy for prevention and resilience. Foodborne diseases remain a persistent global challenge, causing millions…

From songbirds at a backyard feeder to mice in a spice warehouse, wild animals form a vast, mobile network that can carry dangerous bacteria and parasites into the human food supply, challenging farmers, regulators, and consumers to rethink contamination control. Each year, foodborne diseases affect an estimated one-third of the world’s population, causing millions of illnesses and hospitalizations. While public attention often focuses on contamination in processing plants or restaurant kitchens, a significant portion of these pathogens begin their journey far earlier, carried by wild creatures into agricultural fields and food production facilities. These animals—from birds and rodents to insects—act…

For most, food poisoning is a short, if brutal, ordeal. A few days of gastrointestinal misery, a vow to avoid that suspicious chicken salad, and then life moves on. But for a significant number of people, the physical illness is only the beginning. The memory of that experience can linger, transforming the simple, essential act of eating into a source of deep anxiety and fear. This is not just picky eating or a passing dislike; it is a profound psychological shift rooted in our most basic survival instincts. Recent neuroscience has begun to map exactly how a single bad meal…

In kitchens across the world, from busy restaurant lines to quiet home counters, a set of deeply ingrained beliefs guides how people handle, cook, and store their food. Passed down through generations, shared among friends, or absorbed from fleeting online tips, these “common sense” rules offer a reassuring, if false, sense of control over an invisible world. We sniff the milk, glance at the color of a burger, and quickly snatch a dropped chip from the floor, confident in our judgments. However, a growing body of scientific evidence reveals that many of these trusted practices are not just harmless folklore—they…

The story of foodborne illness has long been dominated by bacterial villains like Salmonella and E. coli. But public health experts are increasingly sounding the alarm about a different, more elusive class of pathogens that are now recognized as the leading cause of foodborne sickness worldwide: viruses. While names like norovirus and hepatitis A may be familiar, their profound impact on global health and the complex challenges they present to our food supply are only now coming into full focus. Recent analyses confirm that viruses are responsible for the greatest number of illnesses from foodborne outbreaks. In the United States…

As the new year unfolds, gyms fill up, grocery carts overflow with fresh produce, and countless individuals embark on a shared mission: to eat better. This annual wave of nutritional resolve is driven by goals like cooking more meals at home, incorporating more whole foods, and exploring plant-based alternatives. Yet, amidst this well-intentioned focus on what to eat, a crucial component of true wellness often goes overlooked: how we handle our food. The simple acts of storing, preparing, and cooking are the silent partners to healthy eating, and neglecting them can undermine the very benefits we seek. This year, a…

For many, the pleasure of dining on raw seafood is unmatched. The salty, briny taste of a freshly shucked oyster or the delicate texture of salmon sashimi represents the pinnacle of culinary enjoyment for seafood lovers. Across the globe, raw oyster bars and sushi restaurants have become fixtures of trendy dining, celebrating the unadulterated flavors of the ocean. Yet, beneath this surface of gourmet delight lies a complex and shifting landscape of risk that is growing more pronounced each year. The same waters that provide these delicacies are home to a host of natural bacteria and pathogens, the most formidable…

The global shift toward plant-based eating represents one of the most significant dietary transformations in recent decades. Driven by concerns for personal health, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability, consumers are embracing fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, and a proliferating array of processed alternatives to meat and dairy. Supermarket shelves now brim with plant-based burgers that sizzle, chick’n that shreds, and cheeses that melt, offering unprecedented choice and convenience. Yet, beneath this surface of progressive eating lies a complex and evolving landscape of food safety that challenges long-held assumptions. The widespread belief that choosing plants over animal products is an inherently safer…

When people think of food poisoning at a large gathering, they might envision a single contaminated ingredient or a glaring hygiene error. However, one of the most frequent culprits operates through a far more mundane and systemic flaw: the simple act of letting food sit out. Clostridium perfringens is a bacterium that causes nearly one million cases of foodborne illness in the United States each year, yet it rarely garners the headlines of other pathogens. Its story is not one of exotic contamination but of predictable biology exploiting a common weakness in mass food service. The illness it causes is…