Author: Kit Redwine

Food banks worldwide face a complex operational challenge: distributing donated food quickly to address severe hunger while ensuring rigorous safety standards. This balancing act intensifies when managing potential recalls, where protocols designed to protect recipients may inadvertently limit availability of desperately needed nourishment. Vulnerability at Both Ends Recipients of food bank services often belong to high-risk groups, children, elderly individuals, immunocompromised people, and those with chronic health conditions, who are disproportionately affected by foodborne illnesses. Simultaneously, these populations face heightened nutritional vulnerability. Research indicates 83% of UK food bank users experience ill-health, with higher rates of diabetes and heart disease than…

Farmers’ markets offer vibrant connections to local food systems, but informed consumers recognize that freshness alone doesn’t guarantee safety. Direct dialogue with vendors is essential to uncover critical handling practices that aren’t visible at the stall. Asking targeted questions helps mitigate risks like bacterial contamination, allergen exposure, and improper temperature control. Cross-Contamination Protocols Ask: “How do you separate raw meats, poultry, or seafood from ready-to-eat items like produce or baked goods?” Vendors should describe dedicated cutting boards, utensils, and display areas for raw proteins. Color-coded tools or physically segregated stalls prevent pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli from transferring to…

Summer is nearly here in the northern hemisphere. As temperatures rise, so do the opportunities for outdoor cooking and picnics. The sizzle of meat hitting a hot grill is a summer staple, but this cooking method carries hidden chemical risks. When fats and juices from meat, particularly red meat, poultry, or fish, drip onto burning charcoal, they ignite flames and smoke. This smoke contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a class of chemicals that adhere to the meat’s surface. Among these, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is classified as “carcinogenic to humans” by the World Health Organization, with others like dibenz[a,h]anthracene deemed probable carcinogens. How Risk Intensifies …

Farmers’ markets offer vibrant connections to local food systems, but informed consumers recognize that freshness alone doesn’t guarantee safety. Direct dialogue with vendors is essential to uncover critical handling practices that aren’t visible at the stall. Asking targeted questions helps mitigate risks like bacterial contamination, allergen exposure, and improper temperature control. Cross-Contamination Protocols According to one prominent food poisoning lawyer, Tony Coveny Ph.D., ask: “How do you separate raw meats, poultry, or seafood from ready-to-eat items like produce or baked goods?”   Vendors should be able to describe dedicated cutting boards, utensils, and display areas for raw proteins. Color-coded tools or…

Infection with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), particularly the O157:H7 strain, is a recognized cause of acute kidney injury during the initial illness, primarily through hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). However, emerging evidence indicates that the renal consequences can persist or manifest more than a decade after the initial infection, extending far beyond the acute phase. HUS: The Gateway to Chronic Kidney Issues HUS develops in approximately 5-10% of STEC infections, rising to 15% in children under five. It triggers a triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney failure, often requiring dialysis and blood transfusions acutely. Critically, 25% of HUS…

India – Mass Food Poisoning at Religious Festival At least 85 people have been hospitalized with symptoms of food poisoning in India’s city of Madurai. Those affected had attended a religious festival where food was served. This incident is hot on the heels of another case of food poisoning earlier this month where 90 patients of a mental health hospital fell ill due to suspected foodborne illness. In that incident, the state government terminated the contract of the hospital’s food vendor, citing gross negligence and breach of contract. All of those hospitalized from the latest food poisoning incident are said…

A salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated salami has affected 57 people across two Canadian provinces, with seven individuals requiring hospitalization. The Public Health Agency of Canada announced the outbreak on Wednesday. Background Those affected include 44 people in Alberta and 13 in Ontario 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 late May, with patients reporting illness after eating the salami in prepared sandwiches or purchasing it from delicatessen counters. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency…

A recall first issued on May 19, 2025 by Crystal Creamery Inc, based in Modesto, California, for 92,594 lbs of non fat dry milk 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 How the potential presence of Salmonella was discovered has not yet been released. No press release was issued for this recall. This recall has not yet been classified. Distribution The recalled product was distributed only in California and Texas. As…

Forensic food epidemiology employs advanced genetic analysis to trace pathogens through food supply chains, transforming how investigators solve contamination mysteries. By examining the DNA fingerprints of bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, scientists can pinpoint outbreak sources with unprecedented precision. This approach relies on whole-genome sequencing (WGS), which decodes nearly all 3 million DNA letters of a pathogen’s genome to identify unique mutations that act as biological barcodes. From PFGE to Precision: The Evolution of Outbreak Detection Historically, investigators used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), a method that separated DNA fragments into banding patterns. While PFGE could link some cases, its…

Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has issued an urgent public health notice regarding contaminated durian-flavored ice cream that contains bacterial levels exceeding legal safety standards. The agency has instructed the public to immediately stop consuming the affected product and has ordered retailers to remove it from shelves. Product Details and Contamination The contaminated product is Alchemia brand Durian Gelato, manufactured by Pay & Pay Ice Cream International Company Limited and distributed by Kai’s Gourmet Limited. The 70-milliliter containers carry a best-before date of April 13, 2026, and originate from Hong Kong production facilities. Laboratory testing revealed the ice…