Author: Kit Redwine

A voluntary recall first announced on 6/5/2025 by Hy-Vee, based in West Des Moines, Iowa, for multiple sushi products 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 No press release was issued for this recall. How the presence of Listeria contamination in the affected products has not been published. Distribution According to the recall notice, the products were distributed to “retail locations throughout the Midwest.” Product Details ProductSizeCode…

A salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated salami has now affected 72 people across three Canadian provinces, with seven individuals requiring hospitalization. Background Those affected include 57 people in Alberta, 14 in Ontario, and one (1) in Manitoba 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 Agency (CFIA) issued recalls for these…

Health authorities in Pingtung County, Taiwan have launched an investigation into a suspected food poisoning incident that left seven people hospitalized after eating breakfast at a hotel in the popular tourist destination of Kenting. The Pingtung County Public Health Bureau received notification Monday evening from Kaohsiung City’s Department of Health about patients being treated for suspected food poisoning at E-Da Hospital. Initial epidemiological findings indicated the incident occurred at a Pingtung County hotel, prompting local health officials to dispatch teams to collect samples for testing. The seven affected victims were part of a 31-person group of New Taipei company employees…

An Air India flight from London to Mumbai landed safely Monday after multiple passengers and crew members reported feeling dizzy and nauseous during the journey. Flight AI-130, operated with a Boeing 777 aircraft, experienced health incidents involving at least two crew members and five passengers who became ill during different phases of the flight, according to an Air India spokesperson. The aircraft continued its scheduled route despite the medical issues and touched down safely at Mumbai’s airport, where medical teams were stationed and ready to assist. Following the landing, two passengers and two cabin crew members who continued experiencing symptoms…

Heavy metals, including lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic, pose significant health risks through environmental contamination of food systems. These toxic elements enter agricultural ecosystems primarily via polluted water and soil, subsequently accumulating in crops and food products. Research shows that chronic exposure to these contaminants, even at low concentrations, contributes to neurological impairment and kidney damage in human populations. Neurological Consequences Heavy metals disrupt neurological function through multiple pathways. Lead and mercury readily cross the blood-brain barrier, interfering with neurotransmitter systems and neural development. Symptoms of exposure range from subtle cognitive deficits and peripheral neuropathy (manifesting as numbness or prickly…

England recorded its highest number of food poisoning cases in a decade during 2024, with significant increases in two major bacterial infections prompting health authorities to issue enhanced safety warnings. The UK Health Security Agency reported that Campylobacter infections jumped 17.1% from 60,055 cases in 2023 to 70,352 cases in 2024, representing 121.9 reports per 100,000 population. Adults aged 50 to 79 accounted for 44% of all reported cases. Salmonella infections also reached a decade peak, rising 17.1% from 8,872 cases in 2023 to 10,388 cases in 2024. Children under 10 years old were disproportionately affected, comprising 21.5% of all…

The rapid expansion of ghost kitchens, delivery-only facilities projected to reach $71.4 billion in sales by 2027, has intensified food allergen risks in increasingly crowded culinary spaces. Unlike traditional restaurants, these operations often house multiple brands within shared kitchens, amplifying cross-contact hazards for the 33 million Americans with food allergies. With 25% of anaphylactic reactions occurring during restaurant meals, the stakes for effective allergen management have never been higher. The Cross-Contact Crisis Shared equipment and confined workflows create ideal conditions for allergen transfer. Studies reveal that standard cleaning protocols frequently fail: in assessments of kitchen utensils, milk residues remained on…

We’ve all been there – one bite of questionable chicken or a sketchy seafood dish, and suddenly we’re swearing off that food for life. Now, according to an article in ScienceNews Explores, scientists have uncovered the brain mechanism that makes food poisoning experiences so powerfully memorable. Unlike most learning situations where immediate consequences are needed, our brains can connect stomach troubles with something we ate hours or even days earlier. This remarkable ability has puzzled researchers for years, especially since mice typically need instant rewards or punishments to form associations. A team at Princeton University spent five years investigating this…

Pennsylvania health officials are urging consumers to immediately dispose of specific raw milk products after discovering dangerous bacterial contamination linked to multiple illness reports across the state. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has issued a warning for all Meadow View Jerseys brand raw milk purchased since early April, with sell-by dates spanning from April 15 through July 8. The contaminated dairy products pose serious health risks and should be thrown away without consumption. Laboratory testing confirmed the presence of campylobacter bacteria in milk samples after several consumers reported becoming ill following consumption. This harmful pathogen causes campylobacteriosis, a foodborne illness…

A food poisoning outbreak in Saint-Quentin, France, has claimed one young life and left eighteen other children hospitalized, prompting criminal charges and widespread business closures as authorities race to contain the crisis. The case began unfolding when children across the northern French town started falling ill with severe symptoms. What initially appeared to be routine food poisoning quickly escalated into a medical emergency when eight children developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a dangerous complication that attacks the kidneys and can prove fatal. The outbreak’s youngest victim, a twelve-year-old girl, succumbed to the illness on June 16th, highlighting the deadly potential…