Author: Mary Elise Cosgray

The United States Food and Drug Administration shared La Fiesta Food Products recall of their ground cinnamon product, adding onto the list of nationally recalled cinnamon products  due to lead contamination.  The report reads, “Lead is a toxic substance present in our environment in small amounts and everyone is exposed to some lead from daily actions such as inhaling dust, eating food, or drinking water. Exposure to larger amounts of lead can cause lead poisoning . . . While lead can affect nearly every bodily system, its effects depend upon the amount of and duration of lead exposure and age…

It is estimated that 1 in 6 Americans suffer from food poisoning every year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 48 million people in the USA will get sick from some form of food-borne illness. As such, it may be time to revisit the basics. Its never too soon to renew general public understanding of food poisoning and recommended preventative measures.  Firstly, food poisoning can happen to anybody – it does not discriminate. This is a point made often by the National Food Poisoning Lawyer, Dr. Tony Coveny: “…food-borne illnesses occur when a person eats…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the end of the Salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupes, which caused six reported deaths and 158 hospitalizations. The CDC publicized the closure of the multistate Salmonella outbreak on January 19th, 2024. A total of 407 individuals were officially sickened in the outbreak, though the actual number of victims is believed to be much higher. Originally, on November 8th, the CDC announced an initial recall of cantaloupes by TruFresh in the United States. The recall was succeeded by multiple brands taking their cantaloupes off of store shelves. The recall came after state…

On the 17th of January, 2024 the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shared BrightFarms recall of spinach and salad kits grown by Element Farms due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Grown in Pompton Plains, New Jersey, the BrightFarms recalled spinach also has potential to affect salad kit and has thus been recalled. The presence of Listeria monocytogenes was discovered after a routine testing conducted by Element Farms revealed BrightFarms spinach’s contamination. As the United States Food and Drug Administration elaborated, Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that, “…can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail…

Aged Cojito Mexican Grating Cheese Recalled Due To Listeria Presence On the 11th of January, 2023, the United States Food and Drug Administration confirmed the Rizo Lopez Foods Inc.’s recall of their Aged Cojita Mexican Grating Cheese due to potential contamination with Listeria Monocytogenes. Approximately 344 cases of Rio Bros California Creamery branded Aged Cojita Mexican Grating Cheese have been voluntarily recalled.  While the root cause remains unknown, the presence of Listeria monocytogenes was discovered in the cheese product as a result of a routine laboratory testing process by the Hawaii State Department of Health’s Food and Drug Branch. As…

In the midst of the United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) investigation of recalled Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches, the parents of 69 children are facing the grim reality of lead poisoning. As of December 19, 2023, all sickened consumers of the lead-tainted applesauce have been under the age of six years old. Children have been found to be at greater risk for lead poisoning than adults, due to the fact that their bodies absorb up to five times the amount of lead that an adult does from the same given source. This can often be due to the higher chances…

On the seventh of December, 2023, WRAL News announced an outbreak of 140 illnesses connected to the sushi restaurant, Sushi Nine. The Raleigh, North Carolina-based restaurant received notifications from consumers with adverse reactions after having consumed sushi at its business.  While a virus is believed to be the cause, the blame is under investigation. According to local reports, patrons reported experiencing symptoms that correlate similarly with those of Norovirus, often referred to as the “winter vomiting disease.” One victim, Austin Freels, shared details of his illness following eating sushi at Sushi Nine, while with family and friends a few days…

On the 5th of December, 2023, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated the November 2023 recall and investigation of Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches due to elevated lead levels resulting in lead poisoning in young consumers. The FDA listed the following items as having been recalled, noting that the full descriptions of recalled Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches could be found in their prior announcement. The subject product is the WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches including Schnucks-brand cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches and variety pack and Weis-brand cinnamon applesauce pouches. These products were sold nationally across various online stores and retailers, including…

On the 17th of November, 2023, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the ongoing investigation of a Salmonella outbreak linked to whole, fresh cantaloupes, under the label “Malichita”. The outbreak has sickened forty-three individuals from fifteen states, as shared by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The outbreak is under a collaborative investigation by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA); with efforts from both Canada and the United States. Canada found a link between the nationwide outbreak…

The United States Food and Drug Administration has updated the number of illnesses potentially connected to the recalled WanaBana puree and applesauce products to 22 individuals. Originally, the Wanabana firm published a recall in late October, due to the discovery of high levels of lead present in their various puree and applesauce products. In that press release, on October 29, 2023, the company stated that the cause of these illness and the recall was due to “…reports of elevated levels of lead found in certain units of the produc,” clarifying that the effects of consuming lead could be ”… toxic to…