Author: Kit Redwine

Metro Produce Distributors Inc., based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has initiated a voluntary recall of all Lunds & Byerlys fresh guacamole products. This recall is 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 for Listeria contamination was discovered through a routine sampling program conducted by Metro Produce Distributors. As a result, the company has halted production and distribution of these products while they investigate the source of the…

Seven family members in Taichung, Taiwan were hospitalized on July 29 with suspected food poisoning, according to Taiwan News. Their symptoms, including abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, are commonly associated with infectious gastroenteritis. The patients, aged 7 to 43, ate at a traditional breakfast shop at 2:20 a.m., consuming various items including noodles, dumplings, and beverages. Symptoms began around 3 a.m. The Taichung City Fire Bureau responded at 1:34 p.m., transporting all seven to Tungs’ Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital. They will remain under observation while the Taichung Food Safety and Sanitation Bureau investigates. If the breakfast shop is found responsible, it…

A recent outbreak of Yersinia enterocolitica has caught the attention of health authorities across Europe, with 136 cases reported in four countries. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has identified raw milk goat cheese produced in southeastern France as the likely source of the infections, according to The Sun. Yersinia enterocolitica is a bacterium that causes yersiniosis, a foodborne illness typically associated with consuming contaminated pork products. However, this outbreak has highlighted the potential risks of unpasteurized dairy products, specifically artisanal cheeses. The majority of cases – 133 – were reported in France between January and July…

Two chefs in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China, have been sentenced to prison and fined for adding prescription antibiotics to restaurant dishes. The head chef and cook received sentences of two years and 18 months respectively, with probation, and were fined a total of 160,000 yuan ($22,000). In an effort to prevent food poisoning, the chefs illegally added gentamicin sulfate, an antibiotic used in China to treat diarrhea, to 1,612 servings of stewed dishes since 2023, generating 77,376 yuan in sales, according to Global Times. This practice violates China’s Food Safety Law, which prohibits adding medicines to food products. According to…

The June 27, 2024 recall of Santa Ana, California-based Prophet Premium Blends, LLC Diamond Shruumz-brand infused cones, chocolate bars, and gummies due to toxic levels of muscimol is still ongoing. Muscimol is a chemical found in mushrooms of the genus Amanita. Background Based on complaints received in May from consumers who reported being sickened by consumption of certain Diamond Shruumz products, a company investigation showed that the products contained elevated levels of muscimol. The affected products were distributed to the following states: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY,…

Colonna Brothers of North Bergen, NJ has expanded its voluntary recall of ground cinnamon products due to potentially high lead content. Lead is a neurotoxin that can affect nearly every system in the human body and is especially dangerous for young children. Background This recall was initiated following FDA’s targeted sampling of discount cinnamon brands. This recall expands upon a previous voluntary recall issued on March 6, 2024, which included several other lot codes of the same products. Those earlier recalled items have already been removed from store shelves. The affected products were distributed nationwide through retail stores and mail…

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the food supply is an increasingly critical issue in public health. While the American food supply is generally safe, according to a recent article by the CDC, the presence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in food can lead to infections that are difficult to treat with conventional antibiotics. AMR bacteria can enter the food chain through various routes. During animal slaughter and processing, resistant bacteria can contaminate meat products. Animal feces containing these bacteria can contaminate soil, water, and fertilizers, potentially leading to the contamination of fruits and vegetables. People can become infected by handling or consuming contaminated…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled a proposal this week aimed at significantly reducing Salmonella contamination in poultry products. Developed by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the proposed rule represents a three-year effort to reevaluate and enhance strategies for controlling Salmonella in poultry and protecting consumers from related foodborne illnesses. Salmonella remains a persistent threat to public health, causing over 1 million infections annually in the United States. Poultry products are among the leading sources of these infections, with an estimated 125,000 chicken-associated and 43,000 turkey-associated illnesses each year. Despite decreasing Salmonella contamination rates in poultry products,…

Lower Valley Processing, a Kalispell, Montana-based meat processor, has initiated a voluntary recall of all ground meat products produced from animals slaughtered on June 5, 2024 due to potential meat contamination with E. coli O157:H7, a dangerous strain of bacteria that can cause severe illness in humans. Background The contamination came to light when the Flathead City County Health Department in Montana began receiving reports of E. coli O157:H7-related illnesses. An investigation involving state and local health authorities traced the outbreak to potentially undercooked Wagyu burgers served at various restaurants. Subsequent testing of products from lot 1400 confirmed the presence…

Boar’s Head Provisions Co., Inc., based in Jarratt, Virginia, has announced an expansion of last week’s widespread recall to include an additional 7 million pounds of its sliced deli-meat, packaged meat, and poultry 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 first initiated after the Maryland Department of Health discovered Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of unopened liverwurst during an outbreak investigation. The finding prompted Boar’s…