Author: Claire Cosgray

On the 8th of November, 2022, Seven Seas International USA LLC, of Petersburg, Florida, announced their voluntary recall of Wild Caught Alaskan Sockeye Smoked Salmon of Giant Food Private Label due to a potential health concern. This voluntary recall announcement was published by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on November 8th, 2022, as well. The health risk regarding the Wild Caught Alaskan Sockeye Smoked Salmon is listed as possibly being contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes. As reported by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, (FDA), the Wild Caught Alaskan Sockeye Smoked Salmon has “the potential to be contaminated with…

On the 16th of September, 2022, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced Kroger Co.’s voluntary recall of their bagged kale due to it possibly containing the organism Listeria Monocytogenes. The product’s full title is Kroger Brand Kale labeled “The Kroger Co. Fresh Produce.” Kroger’s voluntary recall affects the Kroger Brand Kale packaged and sold in 16 oz. plastic, sealed bags. The 16 oz. bags of Kale contain best by date of 09/18/2021 as well as a UPC 11110-18170. These can be found written on the front of the plastic bags below a baby-blue colored bar. Distribution of these…

Potential E. coli Contamination of Ground Beef in HelloFresh Meal Kits Distributed Between July 2-21, 2022 On September 10, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert due to the potential contamination of ground beef with E. coli O157:H7 in certain HelloFresh meal kits. HelloFresh is a meal kit company based in Berlin, Germany. HelloFresh is the largest provider of meal kits in the U.S. A food recall has not been issued because the products of concern are no longer available for purchase. However, customers of HelloFresh are urged to check…

An outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections, which is believed to be connected to romaine lettuce served on Wendy’s sandwiches, has recently spread across several different states, accruing well in excess of 100 cases of illness, and likely many more that have not yet been reported or confirmed. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the source of this outbreak is still under investigation, however, the available data strongly indicates that romaine lettuce served in Wendy’s sandwiches at various locations was the cause. Of the initial 37 confirmed cases of infection, 10 people have experienced severe…

Food poisoning occurs when you eat food or drink a liquid that is contaminated with a virus, bacteria, parasite, or chemical, that then infects your gastrointestinal tract and causes serious inflammation of the stomach lining and intestines. This inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract is officially called gastroenteritis, but many people refer to it as the “stomach flu”, or more generically, simply “the flu.” According to the CDC, these illnesses are most often the result of Norovirus, a common virus that causes the dreaded stomach bug and not actually the Influenza (flu) virus. There are a few other viruses which can…

A recent outbreak of Listeria infections is believed to be linked to an ice cream producer in Sarasota, Florida, called Big Olaf Creamery. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there have been 23 people affected by the outbreak with 22 of these people seeking hospitalization due to the severity of their symptoms. One woman, Mary Billman, has passed away, allegedly due to the consumption of Big Olaf ice cream. Ms. Billman’s estate is pursuing legal action in response to her death. When multiple cases of food poisoning are reported to medical providers or health officials,…

Big Olaf Ice Cream Implicated in Listeria Outbreak The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Florida Department of Health, and public health and regulatory officials in various states are investigating an ongoing multistate Listeria outbreak connected with the consumption of Big Olaf brand ice cream products. The Big Olaf brand ice cream products that are believed to be connected to the current Listeria outbreak were produced at the Big Olaf Creamery establishment in Sarasota, Florida. The connection between Big Olaf brand ice cream and the cases of Listeria infections have not yet been proven, however, the epidemiological data…