Author: Kit Redwine
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced a six-month delay in implementing its new Salmonella testing program for not ready-to-eat (NRTE) breaded stuffed chicken products. The program, initially scheduled to begin May 1, 2025, will now start on November 3, 2025. This postponement also extends the deadline for businesses to reassess their Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans for these products to the same November date. The delay follows FSIS’s May 1, 2024 final determination that declared NRTE breaded stuffed chicken products containing Salmonella at levels of 1 colony forming unit (CFU) per gram or higher…
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), along with Concord Premium Meats Ltd., based in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Canada, and Caldic Canada Inc., based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, have announced recalls of food products due to contamination with pieces of wood. Food contaminated with foreign objects, such as wood, has the potential to cause severe harm, including choking, injury, illness, damage to teeth and tongue, or even death. Concord Premium Meats Ltd. is recalling M&M Food Market-brand Brazilian Style Picanha Steaks and Marc Angelo-brand Carnitas. Caldic Canada Inc. is recalling SupHerb Farms-brand IQF Cilantro Large. Background No information was provided by either…
Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Inc., based in Oxnard, California, is voluntarily recalling a single lot of washed and ready-to-eat Marketside Celery Sticks due to 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, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Background The potential presence of Listeria contamination was discovered by the Georgia Department of Agriculture during random testing at a retail store in Georgia. One of several samples tested positive for Listeria. Distribution The product was distributed to a select…
In an era dominated by clean-label trends and wellness culture, the food industry has rushed to replace synthetic preservatives with alternatives branded as “natural.” From rosemary extract in snack bars to fermented radish powder in deli meats, these plant-derived, mineral-based, or microbial substances promise to keep food fresh without the perceived risks of artificial chemicals. But as “natural” preservatives proliferate, scientists and regulators are raising urgent questions: Do these ingredients truly deliver on their safety claims, or are consumers trading one set of risks for another? The Rise of Natural Preservation The shift toward natural preservatives reflects a broader demand…
In an era where food waste is widely condemned as both an ethical failing and an environmental crisis, a dangerous contradiction has taken root: the societal pressure to avoid discarding food is compelling individuals to consume items that may jeopardize their health. From scraping mold off bread to reheating leftovers past their prime, the deeply ingrained mandate to “clean your plate” is clashing with basic food safety principles. This collision of values has created a public health dilemma, as cultural guilt over waste overrides the rational assessment of food spoilage. This article examines how the fear of waste drives unsafe…
A recall first initiated by Agri-Mark Inc, based in Waitsfield, Vermont, for Cabot Creamery 8 oz. Extra Creamy Premium Butter Sea Salted due to contamination with elevated levels of coliform bacteria remains ongoing. Presence of coliform bacteria may indicate fecal contamination and can result in serious illness in certain populations. Background No press release was issued for this recall and the company has not said how the presence of coliform bacteria was discovered. Distribution The recalled item was distributed to Arkansas, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Product Details Consumer Action Consumers should search their homes to…
The sizzle of a rare lamb chop hitting the pan, the juicy pink center of a perfectly seared pork tenderloin—these culinary delights may carry an invisible passenger with unsettling implications. Toxoplasma gondii, a microscopic parasite lurking in undercooked meat, has quietly infected nearly one-third of humanity. While medical textbooks traditionally dismissed it as harmless to healthy adults, a growing body of research suggests this common infection might be subtly rewriting neural circuits, potentially influencing everything from mental health to everyday decision-making. This isn’t science fiction but a disturbing reality emerging from laboratories worldwide. The same parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, long…
Johnsonville, LLC, based in Momence, Illinois, has issued a voluntary recall for over 22,000 pounds of cheddar bratwurst due to potential contamination with plastic. Food contaminated with foreign objects, such as plastic, has the potential to cause severe harm, including choking, injury, illness, damage to teeth and tongue, or even death. Background The recall was initiated after the company received two consumer reports of hard plastic that was found in the recalled product. Distribution The recalled items were shipped to retail outlets in Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, MIchigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Product Details Consumer Action Consumers should…
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Aladdin Foods have announced a recall in Canada of Aladdin Foods-brand lean ground beef due to contamination with E. coli, a pathogen that can cause serious, and sometimes severe, foodborne illness in certain populations. Background The presence of E. coli was discovered in the impacted product through testing. This is classified as a Class I recall, which means consuming the affected product poses a high risk of serious health problems or death. Distribution The recalled product was only distributed in the Canadian province of Ontario. Product Details Consumer Action Consumers should search their…
A voluntary recall has been issued by Tony’s Chocolonely Inc., based in New York, New York, for seven lots of the company’s Dark Almond Sea Salt Bar and Everything Bar due to potential contamination with small stones. Food contaminated with foreign objects, such as stones, has the potential to cause severe harm, including choking, injury, illness, damage to teeth and tongue, or even death. Background The company received 12 reports that small stones had been found in the product that was caused by lack of proper filtration in the almond harvesting and processing processes. Distribution The recalled items were distributed…