Author: Tony Coveny, Ph.D

Contaminated Papaya Shed Light on Significant Safety Gap A recent outbreak of illness caused by salmonella contaminated papayas are adding to the conversation had by many in the food safety industry. In the efforts made to keep consumers informed about food-related health risks, there are wide gaps that need addressing. The term ‘blanket statement’ is used to describe how many recalls are currently handled and it is not used in a warm, fuzzy way. The term is meant to describe the inability to pinpoint an outbreak to one manufacturer, producer or farmer, and the practice of then issuing a blanket…

NanoPack Project: Bioprotection from Food Pathogens through Active Packaging   Nanotechnology, which operates using specific target materials on the nano scale, has quickly become a popular topic of research across many disciplines. The Food and Drug Association (FDA) in particular has facilitated a broad spectrum of Nanotechnology research in an effort to prevent food-borne illnesses and preserve food in just the past few years. NanoPack Project is heading up the use of nanotechnology in food packaging by using antimicrobial materials to prevent the formation of pathogens. In fact, the European Union (EU) awarded over $7 million in funding towards the…

Cooper’s Hawk Winery Cyclospora Illnesses in Florida:  80 Cyclospora Illnesses Identified One of the local favorites on Big Island Drive, situated close to St. Johns Town Center in Jacksonville, Florida, is Cooper’s Hawk Winery.  Now, the popular restaurant is the center of a major Cyclospora outbreak with the number of Cooper’s Hawk Winery Cyclospora illnesses on the rise and likely to exceed 100. Cyclospora is often accompanied by extreme bloating, gas, extreme diarrhea, fatigue, and weight loss that can last for months and come and go in cycles.  The vast majority of the illnesses, noted one national Cyclospora lawyer, do…

Red Robin E. coli Outbreak: Westminster Red Robin Patrons Acquire E. coli The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), in conjunction with the Tri-County Health Department (TCHD),has launched an investigation into the Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews located at 799 West 146th Avenue in Westminster, Colorado. TCHD identified E. coli O157:H7 in the stool of two minors and one adult who ate at the Red Robin.  This Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli, or STEC, is the most common type of food borne E. coli. This form of STEC can cause bloody diarrhea and, in some cases, lead to…

Antibiotic Resistant “Chewable” Pig Ears Contaminated with Salmonella Pose Danger to Humans A popular treat for man’s best friend, pig ears are also great for dog’s teeth- breaking away plaque and food residue. However, as with all pet treats there can be risks. Pig ears can cause obesity if eaten too frequently, occasionally cause upset stomach and at times- dangerous bacterial infections. In fact, a recent outbreak of salmonella is linked to pig ears and the damage is far reaching. So far, thirty-three states are part of the recall. Both the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the…

Pet Food: Pig Ears Salmonella Outbreak Chew on this: dog treats, such as pigs’ ears or other rawhide can be dangerous for humans to handle. Even though these chewable dog treats are generally taken through a curing and hardening procedure, meat-based goodies can contain dangerous bacteria such as salmonella. The pig’s ears linked to a recent salmonella outbreak have sickened forty-five individuals with twelve hospitalized. At least thirteen states have reported cases with the hardest hit being Iowa, Michigan and New York. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) the salmonella strain causing infection is salmonella enterica serotype I…

Salmonella Melon Outbreak: 62 Cases of Salmonella linked to Mexican imported papayas. On June 28 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced their investigation on a multistate outbreak of salmonella. According to the FDA the outbreak is potentially linked to whole, fresh papayas imported from Mexico. 62 people have already been reported as affected by this outbreak, more than one third of which have been hospitalized. The FDA announced that the 62 cases of salmonella have been reported from eight separate states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,…

Seattle Children’s Hospital Mold Problem is Far Reaching Seattle Children’s hospital announced at a press conference Wednesday that they are ready to re-open operating rooms closed late May due to dangerous air quality. Investigation into multiple cases of infection led to the discovery of air leaks that allowed mold spores into operating rooms. At least one patient died as a result and multiple more patients developed infections. Seattle Children’s now affirms that testing of the air quality displays improved conditions. In all, 14 operating rooms were closed while the air quality was addressed. The complications from infections caused by mold…

A Worst-Case Scenario: MRSA Outbreak at Children’s Hospital NICU MRSA, the dangerous bacterium resistant to anti-biotics, has invaded an unfortunate ward at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children’s Hospital- the NICU. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at any children’s hospital is full of infants generally immunocompromised and susceptible to the dangers of foreign matter, like bacteria. So far, there are six infants confirmed to be affected by MRSA outbreak, another six adults testing positive and a few others experiencing possible symptoms. All persons recognized to be colonized with MRSA have been placed in isolation as is a standard precaution…

On June 14th The Egg Basket recalled four brands of eggs in NSW due to a salmonella enteritidis contamination. This makes The Egg Basket the seventh company to recall their eggs since last September.  The recalls were due to salmonella which is believed to have been widely spread by egg sharing between farms. The four brands recalled by The Egg Basket include: Country Fresh Eggs Just Eggs Chefs Choice Free Range Chefs Choice Cage Free Eggs The recalled eggs were sold directly from businesses in Kemps Creek and at Flemington Markets in NSW. The recalled eggs can be identified by…