Author: McKenna Madison Coveny

RAW FARM-Brand Raw Cheddar Cheese Linked to Nearly a Dozen E. Coli Cases in Four States The FDA and CDC have identified 10 individuals, so far, who have been infected with E. coli bacteria following consumption of RAW FARM-brand Raw Cheddar cheese. The recall applies to RAW FARM- brand Raw Cheddar blocks and shredded cheese, including all sizes of blocks and shredded packages of Original Flavor and of Cheddar with added Jalapeño Flavor. Both flavors have been implicated in the outbreak to date. The recall includes all product within its current shelf-life. These products are sold mostly through Sprouts Farmers…

Lead and Chromium Found in WanaBana Applesauce Pouches Favorited by Children – No Testing was Performed on the Final Product Before Importation According to the FDA, the cinnamon sticks that were processed for use in the WanaBana Cinnamon Applesauce that contained high levels of lead was sourced from Sri Lanka. According to Agencia Nacional de Regulación, Control y Vigilancia Sanitaria (known by the acronym “ARSCA”), the Sri Lanka cinnamon sticks were “negative” for lead poisoning when they were provided to Negasmart or Carlos Aguilera, the two Ecuadorian companies involved in manufacturing the product. According to ARSCA, the cinnamon sticks were…

Ongoing Decade-Old Investigation of Listeria in Queso Fresco and Cotija Cheese The most recent food poisoning outbreak investigation was launched just last month, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launching an investigation into Queso Fresco and Cotija Cheese linked to Listeria Monocytogenes, a deadly bacteria for those with a weak immune system or for expecting mothers. The queso fresco and cotija cheeses were manufactured by Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc., of Modesto, California. The implicated product includes cheese, yogurts and sour cream (or “crema”) sold under the labels: Tio Francisco, Don Francisco, Rizo Bros, Rio Grande, Food City, El…

What’s the Difference Between a Food Recall and an Outbreak of Food Poisoning? Many consumers receive emails or letters from their favorite grocer, or see notices on television, about recalls of certain food items, be it Quaker Oat products, Jiff Peanut Butter, or pre-cut cantaloupe. These are issued for products that are believed to have the potential for being contaminated with a particular pathogen – in the case of the recent recalls of Quaker Oat products, Jiff Peanut Butter, and pre-cut cantaloupe, the potential contamination has been Salmonella bacteria.  “Most” of these recalls are done after either a random test…

Quaker Oats Recall Continues to Grow One of America’s most widely-known snack brands, Quaker Oats, initially issued a recall of several of their products in late December of 2023 due to possible contamination of Salmonella bacteria. Now, they have voluntarily recalled another one of their products, a type of granola bar snack product they sell, Quaker Chewy Dipps Llama Rama. This is just the latest in a long list of implicated products. For easier reference, an FDA web-PDF has been made available. The Hawai’i State Department of Health (DOH) Food and Drug Branch (FDB) issued a recall warning pertaining to…

Salmonella is a Bacteria – Here is What Consumers Need to Know  Salmonella is a foodborne illness that can be contracted by consuming contaminated drink or food such as unpasteurized dairy, raw meats, or fresh fruits and vegetables. According to the CDC, Salmonella causes approximately 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the United States every year. Although it is quite common, most people are unaware that there are different types of Salmonella, called “serotypes”. There are actually hundreds of different serotypes of Salmonella, although scientists have only identified “less than 100”, that are the most common in…

The CDC Expands Charcuterie Meat Outbreak Warning As cases related to the Salmonella contaminated Busseto brand and Fratelli brand charcuterie meat products, sold at both Costco and Sam’s Club, double, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a new food safety warning just last Thursday, expanding the products under the same brand that consumers need to be aware of. Earlier this month, the recall resulted in stores pulling approximately 11,097 pounds of Busseto Foods brand ready-to-eat charcuterie meat products off their shelves. Although the recall only included one lot code for consumers to be wary of, as is…

An Assistant Professor at Georgia University Shares Her Experience with Shiga Toxin-Producing E.coli E.coli is dangerous, and Carla Schwan, an assistant professor at Georgia University, had an experience that proves it. At the age of twelve, young Carla came into contact with the Shiga toxin-producing E.coli bacteria through contaminated meat. Initially, Schwan and her loved ones thought she had a stomach ache. That is until her condition worsened severely and her physicians realized the extent of her illness – and that she had come into contact with the potentially deadly bacteria. She had developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS. Just…

Crohn’s Disease: What is it? Crohn’s, a chronic illness that is thought to affect approximately half a million Americans today, is a disease that can affect any part of one’s digestive tract (which runs from the mouth all the way to the anus). Most commonly, traditional cases find the effects mot concentrated in the small intestine and the beginning of their large intestine. Crohn’s disease is considered to be a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) because of the inflammation it causes in these areas, What Causes Crohn’s?             Despite the abundance of research conducted on this topic, researchers do…

On January 3rd, 2024, Fratelli Beretta USA, Inc., recalled approximately 11,097 pounds of Busseto Foods brand ready-to-eat charcuterie meat products, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The recall was initiated after authorities identified the bacteria Salmonella in the product. The product was tested by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. This outbreak, thus far, has resulted in 24 illnesses and 5 hospitalizations in 14 states, including Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s testing revealed that Salmonella was found in unopened samples…