Author: Tony Coveny, Ph.D

Tuna Salmonella Outbreak:  Frozen ground tuna recalled for potential salmonella contamination In the nation’s most recent tuna salmonella outbreak, thirteen people in seven states across the US have become ill after eating frozen ground tuna that is contaminated with salmonella. Two of those people have been hospitalized for the severity of their symptoms, but so far there are no deaths reported.  Jensen Tuna has recalled the frozen ground tuna as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local health officials investigate the multi-state salmonella outbreak. Jensen Tuna sources the frozen…

Reducing Risk While Dining at Restaurants During an E. coli Outbreak There is an ongoing investigation to identify the source of the recent foodborne outbreak caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O103.  A contaminated source could be “a specific food item, grocery store, or a restaurant chain” (CDC). When a specific source has yet to be identified, be cautious and continue practicing safe food handling skills. When dining at a restaurant, here are some tips for staying safe: Before Ordering: Wash your hands. Right away, you are going to play the role of an investigator. Upon arrival at…

Ongoing Investigation on an unsolved E. coli Outbreak According to the CDC, an unknown, contaminated source of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O103 has infected 96 people in a multistate outbreak from March 2, 2019, to March 26, 2019. Eleven people have been hospitalized. The investigation is ongoing, for investigators have yet to determine the specific source of the outbreak (CDC). Outbreaks can come from a range of sources— a specific food item at a grocery store, a restaurant chain, or a manufacturer. Within the distribution chain of farm-to-fork, there are plenty of opportunities for foodborne pathogens to contaminate…

Melon Safety:  Preventing Salmonella in Pre-cut Melon With news of the recent recall on pre-cut melons, and the FDA warnings of a Caito Melon Salmonella Outbreak, it is important to know some helpful information regarding melon safety. Because melons easily support the rapid growth of harmful foodborne pathogens like Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli, it is important to properly handle and serve this potentially hazardous food. Nothing makes this warning clearer than the two recent Caito Melon recalls in the last two years – both recalls linked to a melon salmonella outbreak. Melons first become exposed to bacteria, such as…

Milk E. coli Recall: Raw milk sold in Washington recalled as potential health risk A recall of raw whole milk, skim milk, and cream has been initiated after the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) discovered the presence of e. coli when testing samples of the milk. Dungeness Valley Creamery is working with the WSDA on the recall of raw whole milk, skim milk, and cream that may be contaminated with e. coli. The recall affects Dungeness Valley Creamery retail raw whole milk, skim milk, and cream displaying Best By dates of 4/6 through 4/20. WSDA found e. coli in…

How to Keep Kids with Food Allergies Safe: Food Allergies for Kids According to the CDC, four out of one hundred children under the age of 18 have food allergies (CDC).  A food allergy is a specific immune response to harmless components in food. Reactions to these immune responses range from slight tingling sensation around the mouth and lips to severe anaphylaxis. Avoid the Specific Allergens:  Allergies as Food Poisoning Allergens are substances that trigger allergic reactions. The eight major food allergens are milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, and crustacean shellfish. These allergens cause the most serious…

Pregnancy and Listeria: Safety for “Moms to Be” According to the Center for Disease Control, pregnant women are 10 times more likely to get a Listeria infection than other people. With about 260 deaths per year, food poisoning from Listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illnesses in the United States. Pregnant women infected with listeriosis risk passing the illness on to their unborn child. How to Prevent the Deleterious Effects of Pregnancy and Listeria Once linked primarily to ready-to-eat meat products like deli meats and hot dogs, Listeria outbreaks have been traced back to items like” soft cheeses,…

Being Prepared for the Worst when susceptible to food allergies  Quoting former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, it is best to “prepare for the worst, but hope for the best” when concerning food allergies. As a freshman in high school, I developed a rare food allergy to all red meat (beef, pork, lamb, etc.). After the allergist identified my allergy, I spent the next few years learning to safely navigate my school’s cafeteria, favorite restaurants, and family cookouts. Although completely avoiding red meat is ideal, it is impossible to completely avoid finding yourself in a situation where you’ve accidentally eaten a…

Recalled pet food poses health risks to animals and humans Raw frozen ground pet food is being recalled because it may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes and may pose a danger to both animals and humans. Thogersen Family Farm, based in Stanwood, Washington, is recalling several varieties of its pet food after samples collected by the Washington State Department of Agriculture revealed the pet food products contained listeria monocytogenes. Varieties of the Thogersen Family Farm pet food being recalled include coarse ground rabbit, coarse ground mallard duck, ground llama, and ground pork frozen raw pet food. These products were packaged…

Norovirus outbreak identified at children’s hospital in DC: Food poisoning? The Hospital for Sick Children (HSC) Pediatric Center in Northeast Washington, DC, has identified three patients who have tested positive for norovirus during the first week of April 2019. The number of patients becoming ill from a common exposure meets the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) definition of an outbreak. No additional illnesses have been reported since the initial three reports. The Pediatric Center staff has been advised to take precautions and visitor limitations have been put in place, to help curb the spread of the highly contagious…