Author: Kit Redwine

NALEDI – Tragedy struck the township of Naledi in Soweto, Johannesburg, as five young children have died in an incident involving allegedly tainted food. The victims, aged between six and nine, reportedly fell ill after consuming snacks purchased from a local tuck shop on Sunday. Tuck shops are typically small retailers, often selling sweets and snacks, located close to schools, hospitals, or other facilities. An inquest has been initiated by the South African Police Service in Gauteng Province into the deaths. A police spokesperson said that the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear pending post-mortem results. Eyewitness accounts from…

A recent study has shed light on potential strategies to combat Escherichia coli (E. coli) infections in weaned pigs. Rachel Retterath, a second-year student at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, presented her findings at the Allen D. Leman Swine Conference, addressing the ongoing challenge of E. coli-related morbidity and mortality in nursery pigs, according to a recent article on porkbusiness.com. The research focused on water acidification as an alternative treatment for E. coli infections, particularly in light of growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance. Previous studies have indicated that E. coli is less likely to colonize in environments…

A long-running Listeria outbreak linked to a California-based cheese and dairy company has resulted in a federal order to cease production. Rizo-Lopez Foods, the company at the center of the investigation, has been directed to halt all food preparation and processing operations by the U.S. Department of Justice, according to multiple news reports. Listeria infection is particularly dangerous for certain vulnerable populations. Pregnant individuals, people aged 65 or older, and those with weakened immune systems are at highest risk. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, sometimes preceded by gastrointestinal symptoms. In…

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced a recall by Rousseau Chocolatier, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada of boxes of its Thankful chocolates due to potential mold contamination. Mold can cause a number of side effects including respiratory illness, allergic reactions, and mycotoxin poisoning. Background The recall notice did not specify how the potential presence of mold in the affected products was discovered. Distribution The recalled product was sold online and via retail in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Product Details BrandProductSizeBest Before Rousseau ChocolatierThankful (box)1 boxAll packages sold from September 28, 2024 to October 6, 2024 Consumer…

Connecticut officials have issued a warning against consuming raw milk following a recent recall. The state’s Department of Agriculture has recalled bottled raw milk from Nature View Dairy in Bridgewater, Connecticut after confirming two cases of campylobacter illness linked to the product. Campylobacter, a bacteria found in additional samples of the farm’s raw milk, is commonly found in the intestines of cattle, poultry, and pigs. Even a small amount of Campylobacter bacteria can cause illness. Infection can occur through consuming unpasteurized milk, undercooked meat, or contaminated produce, as well as through contact with animals or their living environments. Symptoms usually…

A recall by Milo’s Poultry Farms, LLC, based in Bonduel, Wisconsin for various eggs due to potential contamination with Salmonella remains ongoing and with additional product information now available. 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 prompted after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed Milo’s Poultry Farms that environmental samples had tested positive for Salmonella. Further analysis using whole genome sequencing revealed that these samples were linked to an ongoing Salmonella outbreak investigation. There are 65 reported…

Taiwan A food poisoning outbreak in Taitung County, Taiwan has claimed another life, raising the total number of fatalities to four. The latest victim, a 59-year-old woman named Yang, passed away after being in a coma since September 18th. She had been on life support at a local hospital, but her family decided to discontinue treatment due to her lack of improvement. The incident began when an 83-year-old woman died on September 17th after eating homemade millet dumplings. Later that day, several mourners consumed leftover food from her kitchen, including the dumplings. This led to multiple cases of severe food…

A voluntary recall by Big Bottom Milk Company, based in Rutherfordton, North Carolina that was first announced on August 28, 2024 because required pasteurization temperatures were not achieved remains ongoing. If proper pasteurization temperatures are not reached, food products may still contain harmful bacteria, which increases the risk of foodborne illness. Background No press release was issued for this recall and the company has not yet released information on how the issue was discovered. This is classified as a Class II recall, which means that a recalled product has a low chance of causing serious injury or death, but there…

Durant, Oklahoma-based BrucePac has issued a massive recall of nearly 10 million pounds of “ready-to-eat” meat and chicken 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 potential presence of Listeria was uncovered during routing testing by the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of BrucePact ready-to-eat poultry products. A further investigation revealed that BrucePac ready-to-eat chicken was the source of the Listeria…

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced a recall of multiple brands of beef jelly tongue products due to potential Listeria monocytogenes (“Listeria”) contamination. 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 an investigation into a foodborne illness outbreak by the CFIA uncovered the potential for Listeria contamination. A food safety investigation is ongoing and other products may be recalled. The CFIA will verify that the recalled products will be removed…