Author: Kit Redwine

Authorities in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City are increasing food safety oversight after multiple food poisoning incidents led to dozens of students requiring hospitalization. The situation has heightened concerns about street food safety, particularly during the hot season when food spoilage accelerates. Street vendors commonly set up near school gates and along busy streets throughout the city, creating challenges for food safety management. Many vendors prepare ingredients the night before or early morning to save costs. Another vendor, selling fried foods outside a local school, purchases ingredients from local markets but acknowledges uncertainty about the traceability of these items. Parents…

While Salmonella and E. coli dominate headlines as common sources of foodborne illness, a less known yet more serious threat is emerging: toxic fungi contaminating global food supplies. Among these, Fusarium species, a group of mold pathogens, are gaining notoriety for their ability to produce mycotoxins, hazardous compounds linked to chronic diseases, immune suppression, and even cancer. As climate change and agricultural practices reshape fungal ecosystems, regulators and scientists are sounding the alarm about the urgent need to address this underrecognized crisis. Fusarium and Its Toxic Legacy Fusarium fungi thrive in staple crops like wheat, corn, and barley, producing mycotoxins…

Easter is a tapestry of traditions: crackling ham fresh from the oven, rainbow-dyed eggs hidden in sunlit gardens, and baskets overflowing with chocolate treasures. But beneath the joy lies a hidden danger: the risk of foodborne illness. With a few mindful practices, you can ensure your holiday feast is as safe as it is memorable. Let’s explore how to protect your loved ones while savoring every bite. Mastering the Art of Ham Safety A glazed ham, bronzed and glistening, is the crown jewel of Easter tables. But this showstopper demands respect. Fresh, uncured hams, less common but prized for…

Public health officials in Nova Scotia, Canada are investigating a confirmed case of hepatitis A in the town of Bridgewater. The health agency said the overall risk to the public is low, but have issued a warning for people who may have been exposed to the virus. Those who ate or drank at Sushi Bay Japanese Cuisine at 450 LaHave Street, Unit 170, in Bridgewater between March 8 and March 28, 2025, are advised to monitor themselves for hepatitis A symptoms for the next five weeks. If symptoms develop, individuals should contact their primary care provider or local Public Health…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced a public health alert for multiple soup and bowl products due to contamination with 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. Background The alert was issued after FSIS was made aware that an ingredient in the soups, cilantro, had been recalled due to contamination with foreign material. In the announcement, FSIS said that they anticipate other products could soon be added to the alert. Distribution The…

Imagine biting into a crisp salad or savoring a juicy burger without worrying about hidden dangers like E. coli or Salmonella. Thanks to nanotechnology—the science of manipulating materials at the atomic level, this vision is becoming a reality. In a world where foodborne illnesses sicken 600 million people annually and claim 420,000 lives, scientists are turning to particles smaller than a grain of pollen to detect and eliminate pathogens long before they reach our plates. This is the story of how “nano” is making food safer, smarter, and more sustainable. Nanosensors on Patrol Traditional methods of detecting harmful bacteria in…

The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally altered global hygiene practices, embedding aggressive disinfection routines into daily life as households sought to protect themselves from viral transmission. Kitchens, in particular, became focal points for scrubbing, spraying, and sanitizing, driven by early fears of surface contamination. While these measures were initially justified as critical for public safety, emerging scientific evidence now raises alarms about their unintended consequences. The overuse of antimicrobial products, especially in home kitchens, may be accelerating the evolution of drug-resistant pathogens, or “superbugs,” a phenomenon that threatens to reverse decades of progress in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This growing crisis underscores…

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…