Author: Kit Redwine
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has announced a recall and quarantine of raw milk produced by Schoch Family Farmstead, Inc., based in Salinas, California, due to contamination with Campylobacter jejuni. Campylobacter jejuni is a bacteria that causes infectious disease in the intestines, resulting in cramping, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. Background The recall and quarantine was initiated after Campylobacter jejuni was detected in a sample tested by CDFA. Distribution Product Details No other lots or products are included in the recall order. Consumer Action Consumers in California who have purchased raw milk from Schoch Family Farmstead are…
Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has finished an epidemiological investigation into two food poisoning clusters affecting passengers on Cathay Pacific Airways flights from Kathmandu, Nepal, to Hong Kong. The primary focus was flight CX640, which arrived in Hong Kong on January 8 and 9, where 43 passengers experienced food poisoning symptoms. The affected travelers included 22 men and 21 women, ranging in age from 11 to 75 years old. Passengers reported symptoms characteristic of food poisoning, including vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The symptoms emerged rapidly, occurring 10 to 60 minutes after consuming in-flight meals. Despite the…
Taiwan’s Control Yuan, the highest ombudsman in the country, has ordered comprehensive corrective measures against the Taipei City Government following a devastating food poisoning incident at the Polam Kopitiamrestaurant that claimed six lives and affected 33 people last year. The Malaysian restaurant’s Xinyi District branch became the epicenter of an investigation after the fatal outbreak in March 2024. Prosecutors have already taken legal action, indicting five restaurant personnel, including the owner and chefs, on charges of negligent homicide. Detailed investigations revealed a series of critical administrative and investigative failures. When initial notifications about suspected food poisoning cases were received, city…
The CGIAR Initiative on One Health has concluded a two-year food safety intervention program across multiple Vietnamese provinces, targeting critical food safety challenges in slaughterhouses and traditional markets, according to cgiar.org. CGIAR describes itself as “the world’s largest global agriculture innovation network” providing “evidence to policy makers, innovation to partners, and new tools to harness the economic, environmental, and nutritional power of agriculture.” The initiative, which ran from 2022 to 2024, addressed significant food safety concerns identified through earlier research by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). Preliminary studies had revealed alarming levels of Salmonella contamination, with nearly 40% of…
Bird Flu Outbreak Halts Georgia Poultry Operations at Commercial Farm Georgia health officials have suspended all poultry activities statewide following the confirmation of bird flu in a commercial operation in Elbert County in the northeastern part of the state, according to cnn.com. The case, jointly confirmed by state and federal agricultural authorities, represents the first detection in a Georgia commercial poultry facility since the nationwide outbreak began in 2022. The Georgia Department of Agriculture has implemented immediate containment measures, including the suspension of all poultry exhibitions, shows, sales, and related gatherings. Commercial operations within a 6-mile radius of the affected…
As global populations expand and human-animal interactions increase, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is focused on the importance of One Health, a comprehensive strategy that recognizes the fundamental connections between human health, animal welfare, and environmental conditions. This collaborative approach brings together experts from multiple disciplines to address complex health challenges that span these interconnected domains. The One Health framework has become increasingly critical as communities worldwide face emerging health threats. These challenges stem from several key developments: population growth pushing into new geographic areas, increased contact between humans and both wild and domestic animals, climate change,…
Two companies have issued recalls for products due to the potential for spoilage. A recall by Horizon Organic Dairy, LLC, based in Broomfield, Colorado, first issued on December 13, 2024 for its Horizon Organic Aseptic Plain Whole Milk due to the potential for premature product spoilage remains ongoing. A recall by Mr. Bing Foods Inc., based in New York, New York, also first issued on December 13, 2024 for its Mr. Bing-brand Sriracha Chili Sauce due to the potential for the product to contain spoilage organisms remains ongoing. Background Horizon Organic Dairy, LLC – No press release was issued for…
The King County Public Health department is investigating a foodborne illness outbreak at Kobuta & Ookami Katsu & Sake in Redmond, Washington, following reports of two customers becoming ill after dining at the restaurant in late December. The affected customers dined at the Japanese restaurant on December 22, 2024, with symptoms appearing the following day. Both individuals reported experiencing symptoms consistent with bacterial infection, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and chills. No hospitalizations or deaths have been reported in connection with the outbreak. During a January 10, 2025 inspection, health officials identified several food safety violations at the restaurant.…
A recall first initiated on December 10, 2024 by Summit Import Corporation, based in Jersey City, New Jersey, for Yu Yee Five Spice Powder due to contamination with elevated levels of lead remains ongoing. Lead is a neurotoxin that can affect nearly every system in the human body and is especially dangerous for young children. Background The recall was initiated after product testing revealed elevated levels of lead. This recall is classified as a Class II recall, meaning that exposure to the recalled product has a lower chance of causing major injuries or death yet may still cause temporary or…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a comprehensive strategy to prevent outbreaks of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and norovirus (NoV) linked to fresh and frozen berries, following recent contamination incidents involving imported products. The initiative comes in response to HAV outbreaks in 2022 and 2023 traced to berries from a single international supplier. While domestic berry production has maintained a strong safety record with no reported enteric (of, relating to, or affecting the intestines) virus outbreaks in 35 years, imported berries have been associated with several incidents since 1997. The significance of addressing viral contamination in berries…