Author: Tony Coveny, Ph.D

Two children, one in Nebraska and one in Kansas, were hospitalized in connection with the outbreak of E. coli linked to Pizza Ranch, a multi-state restaurant chain based in Orange City.  Both were experiencing kidney failure as a result of developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a disease that is associated with E. coli 0157 infections, particularly – though not exclusively – in children. A total of thirteen people contracted the outbreak strain of E. coli 0157. Five of the cases were in Minnesota. The remaining nine cases came from nine different states: Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Illinois.  The cases,…

Pizza Ranch linked to Five Cases of E. coli Pizza Ranch, a restaurant chain with locations in thirteen states, including Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Nebraska, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa, has been linked to a multi-state outbreak of E. coli. To date, there have been five cases confirmed in Minnesota and one in Kansas. Other states may be included but have not yet publicly confirmed any outbreak cases. The five Minnesota cases are associated with meals purchased as early as December 6, 2015, and as late as January 16, 2016. It is unknown when…

In the wake of the nationwide recall by Wonderful Pistachios, two additional companies are following suit: Texas Star Nut and Food Co. Inc. and Kanan Enterprises. Kanan Enterprises is voluntarily recalling its “Favorites Natural Pistachios,” while Texas Star Nut and Food Co. Inc. is recalling its “Natural Pistachio Kernels.” The Natural Pistachio Kernels being recalled come in cellophane bags, 8 oz. per bag, and are labeled with the lot code 40262001 and “Best By” date of January 4, 2017 (1/4/2017). The Kernels were distributed only to retail locations in Texas and Louisiana. The Favorites Natural Pistachios, manufactured by Kanan Enterprises,…

Although alerts, recalls, warnings and information about the oncoming widespread outbreak of Salmonella Poona were published by reputable government and non-government sources as early as August 2015, FDA Alerts were still being issued in late January of the next year, a sad moratorium on a deadly outbreak. Remain Alert: the Outbreak is Not Over That January 26th release, published by the FDA and CDC alike, updated the case count, reminding consumers that the outbreak was not a thing of the past, but was something still impacting the nation and a factor deserving of our daily attention: On January 26, 2016 the CDC…

Minnesota Man Latest Victim in Salmonella Montevideo Pistachio Outbreak To date, eleven people have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo across nine states, with the latest date of onset reported to be February 9, 2016. Dough Schultz, CCPH, information officer for the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has confirmed Monday to Food Poisoning News that “the onset date for the Minnesota case was February 9th, 2016,” confirming that the Minnesota case is the most recent confirmed case in the ongoing outbreak. The Minnesota man did not require hospitalization, Schultz said, and has since recovered. The single case of Salmonella Montevideo infection…

Four people have died in the ongoing Dole salad outbreak. Information obtained in response to requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) have proved that Dole found Listeria in the same plant responsible for manufacturing and distributing deadly Listeria-laced lettuce in 2014 and “infrequently” prior to that occurrence. The records start in 2012, when an inspection was triggered by a Listeria recall of American Blend salad, shed light on the Dole facility at the center of the current outbreak; a center which has been completely shut down since January, when the widespread outbreak was announced by the company. The inspection results…

Another Chipotle Outbreak? Company Closes MA Store Over Norovirus Concerns Chipotle has experienced its fair share of food-borne illness crises over the past year, and it seems primed to add another: the company has closed a Massachusetts location after four of the store’s employees got sick. The Billerica location, located a short distance outside of Boston, closed Tuesday and Wednesday for a full cleaning, and were set to repoen last Thursday, said Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold. Note: A recent Norovirus outbreak in Seattle was just announced on September 13, 2024. Whether or not the ill Billerica employees had norovirus is…

“Wonderful Pistachios” Not So Wonderful Anymore Initial Recall California nut company Wonderful Pistachios announced a voluntary recall of some of its products this week after a Salmonella outbreak that affected at least 11 people. The company provided a full list of the recalled products and their lot number they include Roasted No Salt Inshell Pistachios, Roasted Salt and Pepper In-shell Pistachios and Roasted Sweet Chilli Pistachios. The nuts include shelled shelled pistachios sold in Trader Joe’s stores, as well as stores in Canada, Mexico and Peru. They were also sold under the brand names Wonderful and Paramount Farms. “These products have a long shelf life…

Salmonella Contaminated Tea – It’s Possible Boost Tea Recall — Mesa, Arizona’s Awareness Corp. has announced a voluntary recall of the 7.4 oz. container of Boost Tea manufactured and distributed by the company due to concerns of Salmonella contamination. A third party customer of FutureCeuticals, a large manufacturer and supplier of organic ingredients in North America, first uncovered the possibility of Salmonella contamination during routine testing. Sources have disclosed to some outlets that organic spinach powder produced by FutureCeuticals tested positive for Salmonella in another company’s product other than in Boost Tea, which also contains the same organic spinach powder. Awareness Corporation conducted its own investigation…

Chipotle Exec Bonuses Take Hit in Wake of Multiple Outbreaks Executive bonuses for Chipotle executives have been cancelled due to the rash of food-borne illness outbreaks at Chipotle franchises across the nation in the past year, the company announced Friday. The outbreaks, which have sickened thousands nationwide, have rattled the company’s stock and have investor confidence wavering. In addition to denying the company’s corporate big-wig bonuses, Chipotle restructured options that it had already granted its executives so that the options will only pay off if management can fully restore the restaurant’s value to pre-outbreak levels. On Friday, when the company…