Author: Kit Redwine

Riverside Natural Foods Inc., based in Chicago, Illinois, has issued a voluntary recall of its MadeGood granola bars due to potential contamination with pieces of metal. Food contaminated with foreign objects has the potential to cause severe harm, including choking, injury, illness, damage to teeth, or even death. Background The recall notice did not clarify how the potential presence of metal pieces in the recalled products was discovered. The company did say it has thoroughly examined the manufacturing site where the recalled products were produced and has identified the cause of the problem. Riverside said that the issue has been…

Last week, Food Poisoning News reported on a large-scale incident of foodborne illness related to consumption of traditional vietnames banh mi sandwiches from a local bakery on November 26, 2024. The owner of the bakery in Vũng Tàu City, has now been hit with significant penalties following the serious food poisoning outbreak that affected over 340 people and resulted in one fatality. Local authorities from Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province have fined the owner of Cô Ba, a bánh mì shop, 125 million Vietnamese dong (approximately $4,900). The business will also be required to suspend operations for five months. The incident…

Outbreak Update as of December 5, 2024 update The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections associated with cucumbers from grower Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico. As of December 5, 2024, 68 people across 19 states have been infected with the outbreak strain. NOTE: According to the nation’s leading salmonella lawyer, who filed the first cucumber lawsuits, “there are still so many victims out there, and I would just impress upon them to bring their Salmonella Lawsuits quickly to avoid problems…

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Palm Bites Canada have issued a voluntary recall for Oasis Treasures-brand Pistachio Dubai Chocolate due to potential Salmonella contamination. Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause serious infections, especially in vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Background The recall was initiated after testing revealed the potential presence of Salmonella contamination. This is classified as a Class II recall, which means the affected products may pose a moderate health risk, but the probability of serious health consequences is low. The CFIA is currently conducting a food…

Many news articles and press releases concerning food poisoning, or the latest food recall identifying contamination with a specific pathogen, contain language that foodborne illness or infections can be especially harmful to “those with compromised or weakened immune systems.” Why is this, and more importantly, what foods can those in higher risk categories safely consume? Based on advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to individuals with compromised immune systems, the following guide highlights specific food choices that can help prevent potentially dangerous foodborne illnesses. Who is at risk and why Individuals with weakened immune systems, including…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has introduced a new National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) to address the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreak in dairy cattle that began in March 2024. The comprehensive approach aims to systematically track and control the virus’s spread across the United States through a detailed, multi-stage monitoring process. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a new Federal Order requiring nationwide collection and sharing of raw milk samples for testing. The strategy represents a coordinated effort to understand and mitigate the potential risks associated with the H5N1 virus in dairy herds across the country. The…

HYDERABAD – Students Sickened from School Lunch A group of 15 students from a government high school in the city fell ill after consuming food provided at the school. Following complaints of stomach discomfort and nausea from eating school-provided eggs, the affected students were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Two of the students were initially diagnosed in critical condition although their condition later stabilized. Authorities have launched an investigation and food samples have been sent for testing. Parents and local residents are calling for stricter monitoring to ensure the safety of meals provided in schools. MAGANUR – Food…

A Listeria outbreak connected to ready-to-eat meat and poultry products has been linked to contaminated products including chicken feet, duck neck, beef shank, and pork hock. The outbreak has been traced to products manufactured by Yu Shang Food, Inc., based in Spartanburg, South Carolina. In response to the outbreak, Yu Shang Food has recalled more than 72,000 pounds of meat and poultry products. The contamination was discovered in October through routine testing, which detected listeria in both the food products and the production environment. Ron Simon & Associates December 5, 2024 Update As in other outbreaks, The CDC said that…

Singapore SINGAPORE – ByteDance Singapore Food Poisoning Investigation Concludes The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has ended its investigation into a mass outbreak of foodborne illness at ByteDance’s Singapore office, confirming that catered food was the primary cause of the outbreak. The July 30 incident affected 130 employees, with 57 individuals requiring hospitalization. The SFA described it as “one of the more serious food poisoning cases in recent years” and indicated potential enforcement actions against responsible parties. Two catering companies were involved in the incident: Yun Hai Yao, which operates the Yun Nans restaurant chain, and Pu Tien Services, a central…

Raw Milk Facility HThe California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has suspended Raw Farm’s raw milk product distribution following the detection of H5N1 bird flu virus in milk samples. CDFA dairy inspectors collected milk samples from Raw Farm’s bottling facility on November 27, 2024. Laboratory tests conducted on November 28 confirmed the presence of the bird flu virus. In a statement, Steve Lyle, Director of Public Affairs CDFA stated that all Raw Farm operations are currently under quarantine. This includes herds and bottled products, effectively stopping all raw milk product distribution. Raw Farm had previously voluntarily recalled two milk…