Author: Kit Redwine

Food safety inspectors and outbreak investigators operate on public health’s frontlines, yet their psychological toll remains largely unaddressed despite high-stakes responsibilities. These professionals face relentless pressure to contain foodborne threats, with delayed recalls potentially causing fatal consequences as evidenced by FDA cases where negotiation delays preceded deaths and miscarriages. The role demands rapid decision-making during outbreaks, where imperfect data must guide immediate actions to protect consumers, a burden compounded by public scrutiny when failures occur. Critical Stressors Identified Psychological Impacts and Institutional Gaps Chronic stress manifests as burnout, anxiety, and depression, with turnover rates rising as professionals leave the field. Yet mental…

Ultraviolet (UV) sanitizing devices have surged in popularity as kitchen accessories promising to eliminate harmful pathogens from smartphones and countertop items. These gadgets primarily use UV-C light (wavelengths between 200–280 nanometers) to disrupt microbial DNA and RNA, rendering bacteria and viruses unable to replicate. Laboratory studies confirm UV-C light effectively neutralizes foodborne pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella, and influenza viruses on nonporous surfaces when applied at sufficient intensity and duration. For example, UV-C exposure achieves up to a ≥8 log₁₀ reduction (99.999999% elimination) in microbial loads under controlled conditions. Laboratory vs. Real-World Efficacy While lab results are promising, real-world performance faces significant hurdles: The…

Once considered primarily a travel-associated infection linked to contaminated water, hepatitis E virus (HEV) is now an emerging domestic concern in industrialized nations, with pork products at the epicenter. Genotype 3 (HEV-3), endemic in European, American, and Asian pig populations, has triggered a tenfold surge in human cases across Europe over two decades, shifting the focus to foodborne transmission. This rise prompts a critical comparison: Could undercooked pork sausage pose a widespread risk akin to historically notorious raw seafood like sushi? The Virology of Vulnerability HEV-3 circulates asymptomatically in up to 88% of pig herds globally, with viral replication concentrated in the…

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Sequel Naturals ULC, based in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, has issued a voluntary recall notice for Organic Protein + SupergreensTM Vanilla Flavoured Drink due to 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 recall notice did not say how the presence of plastic pieces was discovered in the impacted items. Distribution The impacted product was only distributed to a retail audience in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario,…

Krasniy Oktyabr Inc. USA, based in Brooklyn, New York has issued a voluntary recall for Aral Silver Vobla-brand Aral due to potential risk of Clostridium botulinum contamination. Clostridium botulinum is a bacterium that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning that can cause severe or fatal illness. Background The recall was initiated after product sampling by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and New York State Food Laboratory that the impacted product was not properly eviscerated before processing. Distribution The impacted product was distributed to retail outlets across the United States. Product Details Consumer Action As with all…

Danone U.S., based in White Plains, New York and Louisville, Colorado, has issued a voluntary recall notice for various YoCrunch yogurt products due to plastic contamination. 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 recall was issued after customers complained that plastic pieces were found in the product dome topper. The recall notice said that the “plastic pieces are transparent, may have sharp edges, and could present a risk to consumers because some pieces are between 7 and 25 mm in length.”…

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has issued an urgent warning for consumers to discard Byers Organic Dairy brand raw milk purchased between July 8 and July 10, 2025, due to contamination with Shigatoxin-producing E. coli bacteria. The affected products, sold in plastic half-gallon and gallon containers at the dairy’s store (10139 Church Hill Road, Mercersburg), carry sell-by dates of July 22 and July 23, 2025. Recall Details Routine testing by state inspectors confirmed the presence of the dangerous pathogen, prompting immediate removal of the products from store shelves. However, officials note the dairy could not provide a customer purchase list,…

Seafood-associated rhabdomyolysis, known as Haff disease, is a rare but serious syndrome characterized by the rapid breakdown of skeletal muscle following the consumption of certain cooked fish or crustaceans. First identified in 1924 near the Baltic Sea coast (Königsberg Haff), the condition has since been documented in Europe, the United States, China, Brazil, and Japan. The disease is defined by three diagnostic criteria: consumption of cooked seafood within 24 hours of symptom onset, a creatine kinase (CK) level at least five times the upper limit of normal, and a CK-MB fraction (cardiac enzyme) below 5% . Seafood Vectors and Global Patterns …

A salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated salami has now affected 84 people across four Canadian provinces, with nine of those requiring hospitalization. Background Those affected so far include 67 people in Alberta, 15 in Ontario, one (1) in Manitoba, and one (1) in British Columbia. who became ill after consuming three specific salami products. The contaminated items are Rea brand Genoa Salami Sweet, Rea brand Genoa Salami Hot, and Bona brand Mild Genova Salami. Most cases occurred between mid-April and mid-June, with patients reporting illness after eating the salami in prepared sandwiches or purchasing it from delicatessen counters. The Canadian Food Inspection…

A voluntary recall has been issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Marini Foods Limited, based in North York, Ontario, Canada, for Rea-brand soppressata salami sweet 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…