Author: McKenna Madison Coveny

            In late 2022, a multistate outbreak of the Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) in frozen organic strawberries struck consumers, hospitalizing 13 of he 18 confirmed patients in Washington State. In Canada, there were also 10 hospitalized patients confirmed to be linked to the same outbreak. Now, once again, Hepatitis A has been linked to frozen strawberries. The same product that caused the string of illnesses last year is again the focal point of an outbreak this year.             According to an update made by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 8, 2023, the initial count of seven…

Food poisoning is a nuisance for pretty much everybody, with one-in-six Americans getting ill each year. It can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and other unpleasant side effects. This definitely isn’t fun for anyone, but for some it can even be deadly. Young children, the elderly, the immunocompromised, and those who are pregnant or who suffer from chronic health issues are at a high risk of more serious injury. No matter how much you wash and clean your produce, or inspect your food, some foods are naturally more likely to be carriers of these nasty illness-causing bacteria, viruses, parasites,…

When people think of where Salmonella often resides, many immediately think of raw meats, specifically chicken. Although this is true, it can also be consumed through raw dairy products, vegetables, and even fruits! One unlikely product that people don’t often think of is eggs. Poultry, such as chickens, can carry Salmonella, and this bacteria can then be passed on to the eggs they lay. According to the CDC the contamination occurs when Salmonella gets “on the shells of eggs when birds lay eggs or when the eggs touch bird droppings (poop) after being laid.” This especially becomes a concern when…

In late 2022, a multistate outbreak of Hepatitis A in frozen organic strawberries struck consumers, hospitalizing 13 out of the 18 confirmed patients in Washington State. In Canada, there were also 10 hospitalized patients confirmed to be affected by the same outbreak. Now, once again, the same strain of Hepatitis A linked to these frozen strawberries that caused this string of illnesses last year, is again causing another outbreak this year.             In the current multistate outbreak, so far 7 people have been confirmed ill and two have been hospitalized. The guilty berries are also from the same growing area…

Due to a possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination in Ready-To-Go (RTE) salads, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a health alert. They are particularly alerting consumers about certain salads produced from March 10, 2023 to March 24, 2023. The main concern is that since these salads haven’t reached their expiration dates yet, they may still be in peoples’ fridges. The products affected by this public health alert bear these labels:             Thus far, there have been no reported illnesses, and officials are acting out of an abundance of caution for the sake of peoples’…

Salmonella has struck again with a recent multistate outbreak spanning eleven states, resulting in at least a dozen ill including three requiring hospitalization. The CDC has identified raw flour as the culprit, but are still trying to pinpoint which brand(s). The sources of these victims’ illnesses have been identified as both raw dough and batter, with the only common denominator in these consumed products being raw flour. Baked/fully cooked flour isn’t an issue, but the problem is that many people consume flour raw by eating cookie dough or batter before cooking it. Although it can be fun to “try a…

Over the years, prices at consumer local grocery stores have been rising at an ever-infuriating rate. This can lead to people, for good reason, into buying products at discounted prices, even if said products often look like they have seen better days. Although this is understandable, it can be wasteful, and in some cases, dangerous. Even so, there are signs you can be on the lookout for, in order to avoid wasting your money, or worse, becoming ill. Follow your senses! One sign that is particular to meats, is the color. The meat you buy should not be gray or…

Cell Phones are Dirtier Than Previously Thought Since June of 2007, when the iPhone was “born,” iPhones have been incorporated into practically every aspect of a person’s daily routine. People check their phones when the get up in the morning, use them to play music in the shower, take them with them to school or work, use them on all forms of public transit, and more. For this reason alone it shouldn’t be surprising that these little boxes of metal and plastic often carry more germs than a public bathroom’s toilet seat. Speaking of germs and iPhones, a new study…

Potlucks can be Tricky. Here are some Hints to Prevent Food Poisoning             It isn’t uncommon that at least once or twice a year, the average American has attended a potluck. Whether it be a “get to know your coworkers” event, a family get-together, or even a birthday party or holiday celebration of some kind, potlucks are quite common and considered very conventional in American culture. But what many don’t realize is that potlucks can be dangerous, and the risk of becoming ill with food poisoning is increased tenfold.             Why is this the case for many potlucks? Well, for…

Are Sprouts too Dangerous to Eat? When someone becomes ill with food poisoning, the normal reaction is to mentally catalogue all of the foods they have eaten, and sort them into two groups: safe, and “possible culprit”. What many don’t realize is that sprouts, almost always consumed raw (“uncooked”), should always be sorted into the latter category. Why is that? For one, sprouts have a long history of being the source of food poisoning outbreaks. Initially identified as a possible common food poisoning source in the 1990s, outbreaks linked to sprouts have become almost routinely common. According to Real Simple,…