Author: Kit Redwine
An E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s has prompted the fast food chain to pull specific ingredients and its Quarter Pounder hamburgers in several locations. The outbreak is currently under investigation by multiple federal and state agencies. Here is everything known to date about this large-scale incident: Background The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), are working to identify the specific contaminated ingredient causing the E. coli O157:H7 infections. Most affected individuals reported consuming McDonald’s Quarter Pounders before falling…
Valencia Elementary School, located in Aptos, CA, California, suspended operations last Thursday following a widespread outbreak of suspected norovirus that affected hundreds of students. The Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) announced the closure on Friday to prevent further transmission of the highly contagious virus. The scale of the outbreak became apparent when student absences surged dramatically, jumping from over 80 students on Wednesday to 236 by Thursday, according to school district officials. The rapid increase raised concerns among school staff, with one anonymous employee questioning why the facility wasn’t closed sooner and why staff weren’t initially informed about the…
What should have been a relaxing family vacation turned into a tragic one when two-year-old Chloe Crook developed severe food poisoning at Egypt’s five-star Jaz Aquaviva resort, leading to multiple life-threatening complications including blood clots and kidney failure, according to the Mirror. The incident, which occurred at the resort in July, has left the toddler traumatized and facing ongoing medical challenges. Days after she and her family arrived at the all-inclusive resort, Chloe began showing severe symptoms including bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. Her condition rapidly deteriorated, resulting in temporary blindness and loss of speech. The situation became critical…
Health officials in Great Falls, Montana are investigating a Salmonella outbreak that has primarily affected local elementary school students. The Cascade City-County Health Department (CCHD) has confirmed eight cases since October 30, 2024, with six cases identified among students at Sacajawea and Valley View elementary schools. The additional cases include one staff member from another school and one individual unconnected to the school system. The outbreak has prompted a coordinated response between CCHD and Great Falls Public Schools, with health officials working alongside school nursing staff to alert families, contain the spread, and identify the contamination source, which remains unknown. …
Japan TOKYO – Dozens Fall Ill on Guam-Japan Flights A group of high school students traveling from Guam to Japan became sick across two separate flights. The suspected case of food poisoning affected a total of 34 passengers on both Japan Airlines Flight 942 and United Airlines Flight 873, with 16 and 18 cases respectively. The situation turned serious upon landing at Narita Airport in Japan on Thursday evening, with 14 passengers requiring hospitalization due to symptoms including vomiting. Sources from Narita airport and Chiba Prefecture officials noted that several travelers had begun experiencing symptoms before their departure from Guam.…
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced a recall by Griffith Foods Ltd, based in Alsip, Illinois of multiple dry blend products due to 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 specify how the contamination with foreign material was discovered. 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. Distribution The affected products were…
Yu Shang Food, Inc., based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, has issued a recall of certain ready-to-eat meat and poultry products 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 recall was initiated after routine testing by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) confirmed the presence of Listeria in the affected products. Approximately 4,589 pounds of meat and poultry products are subject to the recall.…
Recent action by major fast-food restaurants chains to remove fresh onions from their menus have highlighted a persistent challenge in food safety: fresh produce presents more significant contamination risks than beef, according to The Western Producer. This reality came into sharp focus following a widespread E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s onions that affected 90 people across the Midwest and western United States, resulting in one death. The incident, which prompted McDonald’s to remove Quarter Pounders from approximately 2,800 of its U.S. locations, is a stark reminder of how vulnerable fresh produce supply chains remain to contamination. This stands in…
Health officials have concluded their investigation into a norovirus outbreak connected to a McDonald’s restaurant in Kirkland, Washington. The outbreak, which affected three customers who dined at the location between October 23 and October 26, 2024, has now been resolved. Two of the affected customers tested positive for norovirus, a highly contagious virus known for causing gastroenteritis. The infected individuals had no connection to each other, with their symptoms beginning between October 25 and October 26. None of the cases required hospitalization and no fatalities were reported. King County Public Health officials launched their investigation after receiving reports of illness…
CIBUS Fresh, based in Noblesville, Indiana, ihas issued a voluntary recall of products made with Glenview Farms Spreadable Brie 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 recall was initiated after the company received notice from a supplier of the potential for Listeria contamination in the affected product. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been notified by the company of the recall and is working to…