Author: Kit Redwine

A recall first announced on June 27, 2025 by Rich Ice Cream Co, based in West Palm Beach, Florida, for 110,292 cases of various ice cream bars due to possible Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) contamination remains ongoing. Listeria is a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Background The recall notice did not say how the presence of Listeria in the affected products was discovered. Distribution The recalled items were distributed to California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas,…

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced a comprehensive food safety initiative during the opening of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s modernized Midwestern Food Safety Laboratory. The plan aims to strengthen the Food Safety and Inspection Service’s capacity to protect the nation’s meat, poultry, and egg supply chain. The announcement took place at the new facility in Normandy, Missouri, which replaces an outdated laboratory in St. Louis. The 70,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility secured funding during the previous Trump administration through collaboration with Congressional leaders. The laboratory will analyze verification samples for foodborne pathogens and chemical residues while supporting…

Kayem Foods Inc., based in Chelsea, MA, has issued a voluntary recall notice for 12 tons of ready-to-eat chicken sausage product due to possible contamination with pieces of plastic. Food contaminated with foreign objects, like plastic, has the potential to cause severe harm, including choking, injury, illness, damage to teeth, or even death. Background The presence of plastic was discovered after the company received complaints from customers that white pieces of plastic were found in the impacted product. Distribution The recalled item was shipped to retail outlets across the United States. Product Details BrandProductSizeLot CodeUse/Freeze By DateAl FrescoAll Natural al…

Sprouted beans, celebrated globally for their crisp texture and nutritional benefits, simultaneously present significant food safety challenges. Health agencies consistently link sprouts to bacterial outbreaks, with Salmonella emerging as a particular concern. Just yesterday, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced an investigation into frozen sprouted beans that, so far, has sickened 11 and lead to four hospitalizations. The reasons lie in the very nature of sprout production and inherent biological vulnerabilities. The germination process creates an ideal environment for bacterial growth. Sprouting requires warm temperatures (typically 85-95°F) and high humidity – conditions that also…

Paleteria La Providencia, based in Smyrna, Georgia has announced a recall of several popsicle products due to possible Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) contamination. Listeria is a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Background The presence of Listeria was discovered after through routine finished product testing. Distribution The recalled items were distributed in the Atlanta, Georgia area but the company’s distribution records are incomplete. The company is working with the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety division to identify what businesses may…

An unnamed Cape Town, South Africa restaurant temporarily ceased operations after health authorities linked 46 suspected cases of bacterial gastroenteritis to the establishment, according to findings released by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), according to an article in the Cape Times. The outbreak involved Shigella bacteria and enteroinvasive E. coli, pathogens that cause severe digestive illness in humans. The investigation began on February 8, 2024, when a general practitioner contacted the NICD about two patients presenting with acute diarrhea and elevated temperatures. Both individuals reported dining at the restaurant as part of a five-person group that consumed prawns during their meal. Three…

Health authorities have identified tomatoes as one of several food sources linked to Salmonella outbreaks that affected hundreds of people across the United Kingdom in 2024, according to an article in the Independent and other media sources. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) documented seven separate Salmonella outbreaks throughout the year, resulting in 304 total cases with 280 confirmed through laboratory testing. The tomato-related cases involved two distinct Salmonella strains: Blockley and Strathcona. Laboratory analysis confirmed 81 cases of Salmonella Blockley, leading to 14 hospitalizations. An additional 24 people contracted Salmonella Strathcona, also traced to tomato consumption. Cases linked to tomatoes were distributed throughout…

The United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency has announced a recall of Ballymaguire Foods’ Turkey and Ham Dinner due to possible Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) contamination. Listeria is a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Background The recall notice did not say how the potential presence of Listeria was discovered in the affected product. Distribution The recalled item was distributed to unnamed retailers in Northern Ireland. Product Details BrandProductSizeBatch CodeBest by DatesGood Food Turkey and Ham DinnerAll pack sizesAll batch codes18.0719.0720.0721.0722.0723.0724.0725.0726.07Supervalu18/07/25, 19/07/25, 20/07/25,…

A voluntary recall has been issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for multiple brands of salami due to potential Salmonella contamination remains ongoing. Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause serious infections in animals and humans, especially those in vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Background The recall was initiated as part of an investigation by the CFIA into a foodborne illness outbreak. This recall is related to an outbreak of Salmonella in Canada connected to other salami products from the company. Distribution The recalled products were distributed in the Canadian provinces of Alberta,…

In mid‑July 2025, the CDC and FDA issued an alert about a multistate salmonella outbreak traced to Deep‑brand frozen sprouted beans, specifically mat (moth) and moong (mung) varieties. As of the July 17 update: Though the case count is low, the illnesses began as far back as October 22, 2024, with the latest onset on June 24, 2025, indicating a long-running, intermittent outbreak likely tied to contaminated production batches. What Are Sprouted Beans, and Why Are They Risky? Sprouted beans are seeds (like mung and moth) allowed to germinate before freezing. The FDA labels them “sprout outbreaks” because sprouts have repeatedly…