Author: Kit Redwine

Outbreak Background- July 11, 2025 Federal health officials, working with state and local authorities, have finished investigating a multistate Salmonella outbreak connected to eggs. Combined epidemiological evidence, laboratory testing, and traceback data have established that eggs from August Egg Company that were contaminated with Salmonella and made people sick. The outbreak has been declared to be over. Legal Action – July 11, 2025 The first August Egg Company lawsuit was filed on June 24, 2025 by national Salmonella law firm Ron Simon & Associates, along with Gomez Trial Attorneys, on behalf of Carrie Fairchild who consumed the impacted eggs and…

Overview The FDA’s CORE Response Teams manage multiple outbreak and adverse event investigations at various stages of completion. These investigations range from those with limited initial information to cases nearing resolution. Healthcare providers and public health officials encourage individuals experiencing potential foodborne illness symptoms to report details about food consumption prior to becoming ill, as this information assists in resolving active and emerging outbreaks. The FDA issues public health advisories when investigations produce specific actions consumers can take for protection. These advisories contain the most current investigation details and consumer safety information. Some investigations may not identify a definitive source or contributing…

A recall first announced on June 14, 2025 by Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., based in Rochester, New York, for various Wegmans-brand muffin products due to contamination with pieces of metal remains ongoing. Food contaminated with foreign objects, such as pieces of metal, has the potential to cause severe harm, including choking, injury, illness, damage to teeth and tongue, or even death. Background A press release was not issued for this recall. How the presence of metal in the recalled food was discovered has not been announced. This recall is classified as a class II recall, meaning that “exposure to a violative…

A voluntary recall that was first issued on May 27, 2025 by The Whole Herb Company Inc., based in Sonoma, California, for Celery Seed Whole Organic 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 No press release was issued for this recall and no information was provided as to who the potential contamination with Salmonella was discovered. This recall is classified by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as a class 1…

Malaysia Food Poisoning Strikes Nearly 350 at College KOTA BHARU – Health officials are investigating a suspected food poisoning incident at a private college that has affected 343 people. Those affected include students, committee members, and staff at the institution. Dr Zaini Hussin, the state health department director, stated that salmonella bacteria is believed to be responsible for the outbreak. Those sickened experienced symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Health authorities suspect chicken curry prepared by an external catering service as the source of the contamination. Of the total cases, 134 people sought medical treatment independently, while health personnel identified 209 additional…

A voluntary recall has been issued by Natureen International Inc., based in Walnut, California, for 244 bags of Wei-Chuan Dried Black Fungus Slice due to potential Salmonella contamination. 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 U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) was notified by the California Department of Public Health that the impacted product was discovered to be contaminated with Salmonella. The recall notice said that production has been halted while the company and the FDA investigate…

The Network Architecture The GenomeTrakr network represents a transformative approach to foodborne pathogen surveillance. Established in 2012 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it operates as the first globally distributed system using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to identify pathogens in real time. The network integrates public health laboratories across 19 U.S. federal facilities, 40 state health and university labs, and 24 international laboratories spanning Argentina, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Thailand. Data curation and bioinformatic analyses are managed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), which processes over 20,000 pathogen isolates monthly and has sequenced more than 1.5…

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) operates as a collaborative industry effort focused on enhancing food safety management systems across international supply chains. Established in 2000 by the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), a global industry network, GFSI facilitates cooperation among retailers, manufacturers, food service companies, and other stakeholders. Its core mission is to achieve continuous improvement in food safety, ultimately delivering “safe food for consumers everywhere” (GFSI). GFSI functions primarily as a benchmarking organization. It does not perform certifications or audits itself. Instead, it establishes rigorous technical requirements and benchmarks existing third-party food safety certification programmes against these global standards. When…

South Korea is experiencing an increase in gastrointestinal illnesses as the country enters the peak season for such infections, according to the Korea Herald. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KPCPA) reported surveillance data from 210 hospitals with 200 or more beds showing increases in bacterial infections. Salmonella infections increased from 66 patients in the first week of June to 127 by the fourth week, representing a 92.4 percent increase. Campylobacter cases rose from 58 to 128 during the same timeframe, more than doubling in four weeks. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections affected 133 people between January and June, an increase of 30.4 percent…

Australian researchers have successfully used artificial intelligence to generate a functional biological protein capable of killing antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to phys.org. This achievement represents the first time Australian scientists have created a ready-to-use protein through AI technology. The research, published in Nature Communications, demonstrates a new approach to addressing the growing crisis posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as E. coli. The study positions Australia alongside the United States and China as countries with AI platforms capable of rapidly producing thousands of ready-to-use proteins for medical applications. Dr. Rhys Grinter and Associate Professor Gavin Knott co-led the research through the AI Protein Design…