Author: Tony Coveny, Ph.D

Hepatitis A Litigation linked to the Townsend Farms Organic Anti-Oxidant Berry Blend Cases Finally to go to Trial The Hepatitis A litigation surrounding the organic anti-oxidant berry blend sold by Costco stores and packaged by Townsend Farms continues into its fourth year.  The domestic entities, which include Costco, Townsend Farms, and at least two other intermediaries, are currently litigating against the Turkish supplier of the pomegranate arils.  At the same time, the Hepatitis A litigation brought on behalf of some of those who got Hepatitis A from consuming the Townsend Farms berry blend is also ongoing, with the first case…

I. M. Healthy SoyNut Peanut Butter Substitute Responsible for At Least 7 Illnesses in the E. coli Portland Day-care Outbreak: Investigation Ongoing The I. M. Healthy SoyNut E. coli outbreak has grown to two-dozen victims as more and more victims are identified.  Among the victims are children from at least two different day-cares where the SoyNut was either served or made one of the children sick and then led to secondary infections as the illness spread.  Day-cares, like school and hospitals, are institutions where bacteria can spread quickly in the absence of careful hand washing and proper personal hygiene. Multnomah…

Vulto Cheese Leads to Two Listeria Deaths, Six Hospitalizations There have been a large number of recalls for foods that are considered potential carriers of Listeria bacteria in recent years.  And while not all of the recalls have been linked to human illnesses, there have also been a number of high-profile recalls linked to hospitalizations and death – in some instances, more than 85% of those testing positive for Listeria have required hospitalization and a number of those victims have died.  The most recent deadly Listeria outbreak has been linked to the Vulto soft-rind cheeses that are manufactured by Jos…

I. M. Healthy E. coli Outbreak Continues: Two Additional Victims Identified in Portland, Oregon Two recent cases of E. coli, identified in patrons of a Portland Oregon daycare facility, have now been linked to the I. M. healthy E. coli outbreak that has sickened about 20 people in 9 states.  At least three others have pending tests to see if they too are linked to the outbreak.  The victims were made ill after consumption of the SoyNut butter, a peanut, wheat and dairy free peanut butter alternative. According to Multnomah County Health Department officials, the Portland cases are a genetic match…

I. M. Healthy SoyNut Recall Now Naming Dixie U.S.A.’s Dixie Diner’s Club brand Carb Not Beanit Butter The SoyNut E. coli  outbreak linked to I. M. Healthy SoyNut products has been expanded to include Dixie U.S.A.’s Dixie Diner’s Club brand Carb Not Beanit Butter (CNBB).  CNBB is made from roasted organic soybeans and is seen as an all-natural source of phytoestorgens and isoflavones, with 20% less fat than peanut butter.  It is gluten, wheat, and dairy free, and is considered “heart healthy.”  The product, which was only available through mail or on-line purchase, it is now being recalled due to…

According to the Multnomah County Health Department, at least four individuals, including three kids and one adult have been sickened in an outbreak of E. coli linked to a Montessori school. The three children are preschoolers, and other tests are still pending, which means the number of victims may still rise.   The outbreak coincides with a national outbreak of E. coli in which 16 individuals have been identified in 9 states.   There is no word yet as to whether these two outbreaks are connected, but the executive director and owner of the Montessori school, Tammy Kennedy of Alameda, said that…

Vulto Creamery is now recalling all lots of the hand-crafted Heinennellie, Miranda, Willowemoc, Ouleout , Andes, Blue Blais, Hamden & Walton Umber cheeses produced at its Walton, NY facility.  This follows reports of six illnesses requiring hospitalization, and two subsequent deaths, caused by consumption of Vulto cheese contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria is a potentially deadly bacteria that is especially dangerous in young children, older people, and can cause miscarriages and still births in pregnant women. Vulto hand-crafted cheeses are made from raw milk from Jersey cows, and sold extensively in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States, with Whole foods, and…

Vulto Listeria Deaths: Deaths and Hospitalizations in Connecticut, Florida, Vermont and New York due to Listeriosis from Consumption of Vulto Cheese Vulto Creamery has issued a national recall of soft-wash rind cheeses, including all of its Ouleout, Miranda, Heinennellie and Willowemoc raw milk cheeses due to the potential contamination with Listeria, a potentially deadly bacteria.  The soft rind cheeses were distributed nationwide, including many locations in the Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states, but also in California, Chicago, Portland and the District of Columbia.  At least a dozen local stores in and around Brooklyn and Albany carry the cheese, as well as at…

Although hard to believe, nearly one in six American consumers will contract food poisoning this year alone.  Most will get sick for a few days, and move on without seeking medical attention or finding out what made them sick  But 128,000 of these victims will be hospitalized, while others will suffer lingering symptoms such as gastrointestinal irregularity, arthritis, other immune problems for months or even years, and about 3000 of these victims will die. Adulterants Include Bacteria, Viruses, Parasites, Chemicals or Dangerous Substances The causes of these illnesses will be the presence of one or more adulterants in the food…

Whole Foods Listeria Recall:  Whole Foods in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine and New York Issues Recall of Soft-Rind Raw Milk Cheeses Listeria is a risk whenever consuming raw milk products, and hence the sale of raw milk is highly regulated throughout the U.S.  It is also a primary ingredient in many cheeses, including soft-rind cheese sold at Whole Foods.  Vulto Creamery, a supplier of soft-rind cheeses to Whole Foods, issued a recall after testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found Listeria in certain of its cheeses, including Ouleout and Miranda cheese, were contaminated with Listeria. Who is Vulto…