Author: McKenna Madison Coveny

What should have been a highlight of the season turned into a public health nightmare for the University of California, Berkeley field hockey team. On the eve of their ACC Championship quarterfinal match in Louisville, Kentucky, a sudden and violent outbreak of food poisoning sent twelve players and one team official to the hospital, leaving the Golden Bears barely able to field a team for competition. Head coach Shellie Onstead described the situation as “like something out of a movie.” Players became violently ill overnight, some suffering from extreme nausea and dehydration that required IV treatment and anti-nausea medication. Social…

A deadly Listeria outbreak tied to recalled precooked pasta meals has resulted in at least six deaths and 27 illnesses across 18 states, according to federal health authorities. The contamination has been traced to Nate’s Fine Foods, a Roseville, California company that recalled nearly 245,000 pounds of ready-to-eat pasta in September 2025 after routine testing and genetic sequencing confirmed Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The outbreak reportedly began in August 2024 and has continued through October 2025, with the most recent illness recorded on October 16, 2025. Fatalities have been confirmed in Hawaii, Oregon, Illinois, Michigan, Texas, and Utah, and one case…

On October 9, 2025, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) posted a voluntary recall by Foodynamics of certain lots of freeze-dried pet treat products sold under the brands Raw Dog Barkery, BellePepper Cats, Kanu Pets and What’s In the Bowl because of the potential contamination with the bacterium Salmonella. According to the FDA notice: Affected Products & Lot Information Here are some of the key details for the affected product lots (as per the corrected FDA posting): Raw Dog Barkery brand (for dogs & cats): The affected products were distributed to specific retailers: in Wisconsin (WI), New York (NY)…

When most people think of food poisoning, they imagine an unpleasant few days of nausea, vomiting, and recovery. But for some, a single contaminated bite can become a matter of life or death. Among all foodborne pathogens, few are as insidious—or as deadly—as Listeria monocytogenes. Over the past decade, Listeria outbreaks have repeatedly made headlines for contaminating products that seemed harmless: deli meats, soft cheeses, lettuce, cantaloupe, ice cream, even hummus. Behind each recall lies a pathogen capable of surviving where others die, striking hardest at the most vulnerable populations and leaving a wake of hospitalizations, miscarriages, and fatalities. What…

A massive nationwide recall has been announced after more than 2 million pounds of ready-to-eat pork jerky were found to be contaminated with small pieces of metal wire. The product, sold under the Golden Island brand name, was distributed through Costco and Sam’s Club stores across the United States, raising widespread concern about manufacturing oversight and food safety. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the recall was initiated by LSI, Inc., a food producer based in Alpena, South Dakota. Investigators discovered that fragments of wiry metal likely originated from a conveyor-belt malfunction in…

Health authorities in Queensland have launched an urgent investigation after a cluster of people were hospitalized with symptoms consistent with ingestion of a potent rodent-poison chemical. Officials warn the public to remain vigilant and provide guidance on what to do. What happened According to Queensland Health, five individuals — including one child — from three families in the Logan / Metro South region (south-east Queensland) presented within a week with unexplained bleeding-related symptoms. The patients were treated at major hospitals including Princess Alexandra Hospital and Logan Hospital. Laboratory testing suggested the chemical implicated is brodifacoum — a powerful anticoagulant commonly…

A recent outbreak of E. coli infections has been linked to cheese products produced by Twin Sisters Creamery, a Washington-based artisan cheese company. According to state health officials at least three people, one of them being a child under the age of five, have fallen ill after consuming cheese tied to the creamery. Two are known to be residents of Whatcom County, while another lives in Ohio. Genetic testing by public-health laboratories confirmed that the strain of E. coli found in the sick individuals matches samples taken from Twin Sisters products—prompting an immediate recall and widespread consumer warning. The recall…

Incident summary Why this concerns public-health and trust Health risks of E. coli in drinking water E. coli are indicator organisms of fecal contamination; when present in drinking-water systems they raise risks of pathogenic microbes (like E. coli O157, or other disease-causing bacteria, viruses or parasites) that can cause gastrointestinal illness, dehydration, and in vulnerable populations (children, older adults, immunocompromised) more serious outcomes. In a boil-water scenario, residents may need to refrain from normal use (drinking, brushing teeth, cooking). As one resident put it: “We’re using bottled water to brush our teeth… it’s terrifying to think about what could happen.”…

The Recalled Product Maison Gabriel Coulet brand Roquefort – La Cave cheese (100 g wedge) has been recalled in Canada due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. So the key takeaway is: if you have this exact product (brand, 100 g size, best before Nov 3 2025) in Ontario or Quebec, you should throw it away or return it to the store, and avoid consuming it. Why this is especially important: Listeria’s dangers While many foodborne pathogens are serious, Listeria monocytogenes has a few characteristics that make it especially noteworthy in food-safety: Survival and growth in cold conditions Unlike many bacteria…

What happened Why this matters Salmonella risk from eggs Eggs are a well-known vehicle for Salmonella contamination. Even when they look clean and normal, eggs can harbour Salmonella bacteria inside or on the shell. If eggs are under-cooked or used in raw preparations (e.g., homemade mayonnaise, hollandaise, cookie dough), the risk increases.Symptoms of salmonellosis typically include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps and may appear 6 hours to 6 days after ingestion. Most healthy people recover in 4-7 days, but young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems may suffer more serious illness. The scope of the hazard Even though…