Author: Kit Redwine

Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) is investigating three linked food poisoning clusters involving nine individuals who dined at the Coffee House restaurant in The Kimberley Hotel, located in Tsim Sha Tsui. The incidents, which occurred on June 17 and 18, have raised concerns about food safety and hygiene practices in the establishment. The first cluster affected three women aged 54 to 82 who fell ill approximately 28 hours after consuming a lunch buffet on June 17. The second and third clusters affected six individuals who experienced symptoms about 12 to 14 hours after dining at the restaurant’s dinner…

Rochestery, NY-based Wegmans Food Markets has issued a voluntary recall of select Abilyn’s Ice Cream Cakes due to the potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes (“Listeria”). Listeria is a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Background In a statement, Abilyn’s Frozen Bakery said that, on June 21, one of their production partners notified them that recent product testing by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found the presence of potential Listeria contamination on the production line used to make the company’s…

Green Bay, WI-based Snapchill LLC has announced a voluntary recall of all its canned coffee products currently within their expiration dates, citing a potential risk of botulism, a potentially fatal illness caused by a potent toxin that attacks the nervous system. Background The recall comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified the company that the company’s manufacturing process for low acid canned foods had not been properly filed as required by regulations. The recalled products were distributed across the United States through coffee roasters, retail locations, and direct online purchases from Snapchill. Snapchill is currently working on…

An unfortunate incident unfolded in Agartala, the capital city of Tripura, India, on Thursday morning when over 20 female students from two higher secondary schools suddenly fell ill during their morning prayer session, according to an article in the Indian Express.. The students, primarily from Bodh Jung Girls Higher Secondary School and one from Maharani Tulsibati Girls Higher Secondary School, complained of severe stomach pain and chest discomfort, prompting immediate medical attention. Authorities quickly responded to the situation, rushing the affected students to the Agartala Government Medical College and the Gobind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital for treatment. While 11 students…

The Oneida County Health Department (OCHD) in New York state has issued an alert regarding a potential Hepatitis A exposure at a recent food demonstration held at Ace Hardware in the city of Rome. An individual who was infectious with the Hepatitis A virus participated in preparing and cooking food samples during the event, putting attendees who consumed the food at risk of contracting the illness. Health officials are urging any patrons who sampled the food at the hardware store demonstration to take immediate action. The Hepatitis A vaccine is effective in preventing infection if administered within two weeks (14…

It’s a frustrating situation that many people have experienced – you share a meal with friends or family, but later you’re the only one struck down with the telltale symptoms of food poisoning. While it may seem puzzling that others remain unaffected, the reality is that it’s entirely possible for just one person to contract a foodborne illness from a contaminated dish, according to a recent article on HuffPost. Emergency physician Dr. Justin Mazur explains that it’s a common misconception that everyone will get sick if food poisoning is involved. “It is more common that not everyone gets sick from…

The Download Festival in Leicestershire, England was marred by a food poisoning outbreak last weekend, with news of hundreds of attendees reportedly falling ill after consuming food from certain vendors. The organizers, Live Nation, took swift action by shutting down two food stalls implicated in the incident, according to an article on Leicester Mercury. As the music festival unfolded, numerous attendees began experiencing symptoms typical of food poisoning, including nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, and general malaise. The situation escalated to such an extent that some festival-goers resorted to using buckets as makeshift toilets due to the severe gastrointestinal distress.…

A recall of raw cheddar cheese first initiated in February by Fresno, California-based Raw Farm LLC is still ongoing, according to reports published by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The recall is due to the potential presence of E. coli, a bacterium with the potential to be fatal. Background The recall was first announced by Raw Farm LLC on February 16, 2024 and published by the FDA the following day. The contaminated products led to a multi-state E. coli outbreak in several states and subsequent FDA and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) investigation with state and local partners.…

A severe outbreak of E. coli that swept across the United Kingdom in the summer of 2023, resulting in one death and dozens of severe illnesses, has now been traced back to a probable source – minced beef products. The outbreak, according to a recent article in The Sun, which was initially detected by the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) surveillance systems in June 2023, was caused by a rare strain of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, or STEC. This strain is known for causing severe gastrointestinal symptoms, including bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting. Early on, officials suspected various…

More commonly associated with foodborne illness, botulism is a rare kind of food poisoning caused by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. However, botulism infection can also occur as an adverse side effect from cosmetic Botox injections. Health authorities in Hong Kong have now issued a serious warning after a 57-year-old woman fell critically ill with suspected botulism poisoning from unlicensed botulinum toxin injections received at a beauty parlor in neighboring Zhuhai, China. The unfortunate case highlights the grave risks of undergoing cosmetic procedures from unqualified or unregulated providers. According to Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP), the female patient had…