Author: McKenna Madison Coveny

From grocery stores and restaurants to our own kitchens, food safety is something that affects everyone, every day. Even with advances in regulation, outbreaks of foodborne illness continue to occur — from E. coli and Listeria to Salmonella and Campylobacter. Each year, the CDC estimates that roughly 48 million Americans get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases. These illnesses are almost always preventable, making food safety one of the most important — yet overlooked — aspects of public health. The Basics: Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration…

E. coli is a bacterium commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals. Many strains are harmless and even play a role in normal gut flora. But certain strains can cause serious disease—including urinary tract infections (UTIs), bloodstream infections, foodborne illness, and sepsis. In particular, antibiotic-resistant strains of E. coli have become a major global health concern. When E. coli enters sites of the body where it doesn’t belong—such as the urinary tract, bloodstream, or other normally sterile tissues—it can trigger infection. The bacterium’s ability to adapt, survive in hostile environments, and resist antibiotics means that what might once…

Botulism is one of the rarest but most dangerous foodborne illnesses known to science. Caused by a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, this condition can lead to severe paralysis and even death if not promptly treated. Despite modern food safety standards, outbreaks still occur every year, often tied to improperly processed foods, contaminated canned goods, or — more recently — infant formulas and home-prepared items. What Is Botulism? Clostridium botulinum is a bacterium that thrives in low-oxygen environments such as sealed containers, soil, and dust. Under certain conditions, its spores produce the botulinum toxin — one of the most potent…

Federal health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of infant botulism tied to a powdered baby-formula brand, leading to the recall of two specific lots of product. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 13 infants — all of whom consumed the formula in question — have been hospitalized across 10 U.S. states. No deaths have been reported so far. The formula implicated is produced by ByHeart Inc., and the recalled lots are labeled 206VABP/251261P2 and 206VABP/251131P2, both with a “Use by” date of December 1 2026. Infant botulism is caused when spores from the bacterium Clostridium…

A popular peach salsa sold at major grocery stores across the United States has been recalled over potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination, according to a recent announcement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and JFE Franchising, Inc., a Houston-based company. The recall affects SNOWFRUIT-branded peach salsa, packaged in 16-ounce plastic clamshell containers with best-by dates of November 3 or November 4, 2025. The product was distributed nationwide, primarily through Kroger and affiliated grocery chains. The decision follows the recall of fresh peaches supplied by Moonlight Companies, a California-based grower that warned of potential contamination discovered during routine sampling. Although…

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a recall for three varieties of tomato-based pasta sauces manufactured by First and Last Bakery, LLC (Hartford, Connecticut) after regulators determined the products were processed without an approved safety schedule, creating a risk for contamination with Clostridium botulinum — the bacterium that causes botulism. The affected products are: All are packaged in 26-fluid-ounce jars bearing a “Use By” date of 09/26 (September 2026), and were distributed to Connecticut and Massachusetts retail outlets beginning September 22, 2025 through October 28, 2025. Although illnesses have not yet been reported, the severity of potential botulism…

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has reported at least 11 confirmed cases of Campylobacter infection that appear to be linked to the consumption of unpasteurized (“raw”) milk from a common source. While the specific raw‐milk producer remains unnamed in the public release, the company is said to be cooperating with the investigation and notifying its customers. Raw milk is milk that has not undergone pasteurization—a heat treatment process that kills harmful microbes. IDPH Director Sameer Vohra emphasized that “Pasteurization is one of the greatest public health successes of the last century,” and cautioned that raw milk “skips this…

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)…