Author: Kit Redwine

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Chaeban Ice Cream, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada have issued a recall for Chaeban Mediterani Mascarpone Fresh Soft Cheese due to possible contamination with E. coli, a pathogen that can cause serious, and sometimes severe, foodborne illness in certain populations. Background No information was provided as to how the contamination with E. coli was discovered. This has been classified as a Class II recall, meaning that there is some risk that consuming the recalled food item may lead to short-term but non-life threatening health issues. Distribution The recalled product was distributed to a retail…

A recall first announced on April 10, 2025 by Bakkavor Foods USA Inc, based in Carson, California, for California Pizza Kitchen Tequila Lime Base due to possible contamination with wood remains ongoing. 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. Background The recall was issued after the company was notified by a supplier that the affected product may be contaminated with pieces of wood. This recall has not yet been classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Distribution The affected…

The modern diet is saturated with processed foods containing thousands of approved additives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, preservatives, and colorants, designed to enhance texture, shelf life, and appeal. While deemed safe individually by regulatory bodies like the FDA and EFSA, emerging research reveals complex interactions between these substances and our digestive system, particularly concerning gut microbiome balance and intestinal barrier integrity. Unlike whole foods, many additives aren’t digested by human enzymes but are metabolized by gut bacteria, potentially triggering cascading effects on health. Emulsifiers: Gut Barrier Disruptors Common emulsifiers like sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polysorbate 80, prevalent in ice cream and…

The United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union has triggered significant recalibrations in food safety governance, altering regulatory alignment, border protocols, and surveillance mechanisms between the two jurisdictions. Initially, the UK maintained continuity through the Retained EU Law framework, preserving standards like the General Food Law Regulation (EC) 178/2002. However, divergence has accelerated since 2022, exemplified by Great Britain permitting titanium dioxide (E171) in foods after its EU ban and authorizing gene-edited crops, a policy contrasting with the EU’s stricter GMO framework. Northern Ireland, bound by the Windsor Framework, remains aligned with EU standards, creating internal UK regulatory asymmetries. Maximum…

Each year, billions of birds traverse continents along established migratory routes, creating dynamic networks for pathogen dispersal. Research confirms that these movements facilitate the spread of viruses, bacteria, and parasites across agricultural landscapes, posing significant biosecurity challenges. The convergence of wild and domestic birds at shared habitats, particularly wetlands and stopover sites, enables cross-species transmission of infectious agents. Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) demonstrate the clearest linkage to migration patterns. Phylodynamic analyses reveal that AIV dispersal rates are 4 to 13 times higher within migratory flyways than between them, with waterfowl (Anseriformes) and shorebirds (Charadriiformes) acting as primary reservoirs. Highly pathogenic H5N1 strains…

A recall has been issued by Medtech Products Inc., a Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. company and based in Tarrytown, New York for five lots of Little Remedies Honey Cough Syrup due to contamination with Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) and loss of shelf-stability. B. cereus is a spore-forming pathogen that can produce toxins capable of causing food poisoning in humans. Background The recall notice did not specify how the contamination with B. cereus in the recalled product was discovered. Distribution The affected items were distributed across the United States through online sales and retail outlets from December 14, 2022 and June 4, 2025. Product…

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and public health officials are currently investigating a multi-state Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) outbreak that has sickened 17 individuals across 13 states. The outbreak has resulted in three deaths and one fetal loss as of June 17, 2025. On Tuesday, June 17, the FSIS announced that FreshRealm had issued a recall for several chicken fettuccine alfredo products because they were possibly contaminated with the outbreak strain of Listeria. Health officials have confirmed that the outbreak strain of Listeria affected people between August 2024 and May 2025. Laboratory testing revealed the same bacterial strain in a routine…

A voluntary recall first initiated on May 6, 2025 by GBC Food Services LLC, based in Farmers Branch, Texas, for two types of peanut butter snack cups due to plastic contamination is ongoing. 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 product is being recalled because it may be contaminated with plastic material. No press release was issued for this recall. How the contamination with foreign objects was discovered has not been announced. This recall is classified as a Class II recall, meaning…

As global freshwater supplies dwindle, agricultural regions increasingly rely on recycled water for irrigation, a practice critical for food security but laden with microbial risks for raw-consumed crops like lettuce, spinach, and kale. Leafy greens, with their large surface area and proximity to soil, are particularly vulnerable to pathogen transfer during irrigation. Here’s what research reveals about the risks and mitigation strategies. How Pathogens Reach Crops Recycled water (treated wastewater) can introduce human pathogens into agricultural systems through direct contact with edible leaves. Key contaminants include Escherichia coli O157:H7, norovirus, Salmonella, and parasites like Giardia. These pathogens originate from fecal…

Fuentes Farms LLC, based in McAllen, Texas, has issued a recall for 71 boxes of fresh cucumbers 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 At this time, this recall seems unrelated to the recent recall of cucumbers from Bedner Growers Inc associated with a multistate Salmonella outbreak. Distribution The recalled product was distributed in Texas “by local vendors at the Flea Markets in the McAllen and Alamo areas.” As with any food…