Author: Kit Redwine

Approximately 300 Sickened at Mexico Graduation Celebration The celebratory atmosphere of a psychology graduation last weekend quickly soured as a wave of illness swept through attendees. On July 20th, around 1,200 people gathered at a local convention center in Mérida, Mexico to celebrate the achievements of the 2019-2024 graduating class, according to The Yucatan Times. The ceremony itself went off without a hitch, with proud families and friends cheering on the new graduates. However, the festivities took an unexpected turn in the hours and days that followed. Reports of stomach issues began to pour in, with hundreds of attendees experiencing…

A former employee at a cafe in Australia has been awarded over $65,000 in compensation after contracting salmonella while working at the establishment in 2017, according to ABC News. The incident occurred at Central Cafe in Gungahlin, close to the Australian capital city of Canberra, which was temporarily closed by health inspectors in February 2017 following multiple reports of salmonella-related food poisoning. The cafe’s owner subsequently pleaded guilty to violating food safety laws and was fined $4,500. The plaintiff, identified by the court-assigned pseudonym Sara Gibson, was a 15-year-old employee working outside school hours when she contracted the illness. Gibson…

Local and state health authorities are investigating an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Flathead County, Montana. The Flathead City-County Health Department (FCCHD), in collaboration with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) and other local health departments, is working to identify the source and contain the spread of the potentially dangerous pathogen As of July 24, 2024, at least 13 cases have been linked to the outbreak, with many experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of E. coli infection. One death has been reported. Initial findings suggest that contaminated ground beef may be the source of the outbreak.…

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has posted a recall notice for mint from Rambrich Farms, based in Bradford, Ontario. The reason for the recall is microbial contamination with generic E. coli. Background As of this writing, no details have been provided by the CFIA or Rambrich Farms as to how the contamination was discovered. Distribution The recall notice says that the recalled mint was sold in bunches to retailers and distributors in Ontario. Specific retailers have not been named. Product Details Consumer and Commercial Action Consumers are advised to search their homes for the recalled product. As with all…

Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese, based in Austin, Kentucky, has initiated a voluntary recall of their St. Jerome cheese 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 Routine testing conducted by the Kentucky Department of Public Health detected the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in a sample from the affected batch. The recalled cheese was distributed through various channels, including wholesale customers, the company’s retail storefront, and their website. In response to…

The Productos La Hacienda, LLC of Edinburg, Texas voluntary recall of their Queso Rico La Hacienda-brand queso fresco cheese due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes (“Listeria”) is still ongoing, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforcement report. 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 announced on June 3, 2024 and remains ongoing. The recall was initiated for all product sizes after a product sample with an expiration date of…

Willard, Ohio-based Wiers Farm Inc. has expanded a July 12 recall of select whole cucumbers and bagged salad cucumbers to now include additional produce items 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, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Background The presence of contamination was identified during testing carried out by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The initially recalled items were sent to designated Walmart stores in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. The list of retailers…

A Salmonella outbreak at an IHOP restaurant in Bellevue, Washington, has health officials puzzled. The outbreak, which began in October 2023, has affected six individuals to date, with two requiring hospitalization. Fortunately, no deaths have been reported. Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause severe gastrointestinal illness in humans. Symptoms typically include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, appearing six hours to six days after exposure to the bacteria. While most people recover without specific treatment, the infection can be severe, especially for young children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. The King County Public Health Department has been…

Popular YouTuber Billy LeBlanc, known for his channel with over 200,000 subscribers, recently shared sad news with his followers. In an emotional update posted on July 16, LeBlanc revealed that his girlfriend, Natalie Clark, had passed away following a severe illness caused by consuming contaminated raw oysters, according to Indy 100. LeBlanc explained that both he and Clark were sickened after eating oysters together. LeBlanc endured a lengthy 12-day hospital stay, including eight days in the intensive care unit. When he woke up,LeBlanc learned Clark had passed away. He admits to having little memory of this time, stating he was…

Indio, California-based Stutz Packing Company has initiated a voluntary recall of their 1-pound packages of Shelled Walnuts 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 routine testing, prompting Stutz to halt production and distribution of the affected walnuts. The affected products were distributed to food bank warehouses in Texas and Arizona, with potential further distribution to various centers serving consumers, smaller…