Author: Kit Redwine
Hong Kong HONG KONG – Contaminated Dessert Seized in Hong Kong Food Safety Crackdown The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) in Hong Kong has identified a batch of imported frozen dessert containing excessive bacterial contamination. The affected product, Hazelnut Cacao Frozen Dessert from The Ice Cream & Cookie Co., was found to have a total bacterial count of 71,000 per gram – significantly exceeding the legal limit of 50,000 per gram for frozen confections. The contaminated batch was discovered as part of the CFS’s routine food surveillance program. According to a CFS spokesperson, the test results indicated an unacceptably high…
As Shigella outbreaks quietly escalate worldwide, becoming a leading cause of fatal diarrheal illness even in developed nations, a promising vaccine candidate has entered a crucial testing phase. Shigella is a bacteria that causes shigellosis, an infection characterized by symptoms such as bloody or prolonged diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever, which can last between five to seven days. In rare instances, shigellosis can lead to more severe complications, including reactive arthritis, bloodstream infections, and seizures. The disease, which causes an estimated 165 million infections globally, including 62 million cases in children under five, has led to urgent action from vaccine…
A voluntary recall by Westby Cooperative Creamery, based in Westby, Wisconsin, for certain cheese curd products, first announced on September 29, 2024 remains ongoing. The recall was initiated due to contamination with generic E. coli, a bacterium that can cause severe illness in certain populations. Background No press release was issued for this recall and no information has been provided as to how the potential for E. coli contamination was found. This recall is classified as a Class II recall, meaning that the recalled products have a lower chance of causing major injuries or death, however there is still the…
New information is now available in the Salmonella outbreak that has primarily affected local elementary school children in Great Falls, Montana. There are now 10 confirmed cases of Salmonella infection with nine identified among students at four different Great Falls Public Schools (GFPS) elementary schools with another three test results are pending. One of the three is connected to another secondary school. Of the four elementary schools affected, three are currently known: Sacajawea, Meadowlark, and Valley View. Salmonella, a bacterial infection affecting approximately 1.35 million Americans annually, typically spreads through contaminated food consumption. Transmission can occur through contact with infected…
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…