Author: Tony Coveny, Ph.D

Greenbelt Microgreen products recalled in Washington state Microgreens produced in Canada and sold in the state of Washington have been recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with listeria. Greenbelt Greenhouse LTD of British Columbia, Canada, has recalled all of its Greenbelt Microgreen products with the best before dates from 4/24/18 to 4/30/18. The affected Greenbelt Microgreens brand microgreens were distributed to Whole Foods stores in Washington between 04/11/18 and 04/24/2018. The recall was the result of sampling performed by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), which revealed that the Broccoli Microgreen contained the bacteria. Due to…

3000 cases of ice pops potentially contaminated with listeria A company based in Wheeling, West Virginia, has recalled approximately 3,000 cases of ice pops as a precaution, as the frozen products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Ziegenfelder Company issued a voluntarily recall of their Budget $aver Cherry Pineapple Monster Pops and Sugar Free Twin Pops on April 23, 2018. The recalled ice pops had been distributed in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The pops were delivered to retail grocers and distributors between…

UPDATE:  98 Victims in 22 States: Source of e. coli tied to romaine lettuce still not identified – Romaine Lettuce E. coli Lawyer The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has still not identified the specific source of the romaine lettuce contaminated with e. coli that has made so many people sick in the past few weeks. The lettuce was likely grown or originated from the winter growing areas in Yuma, Arizona. However, beyond that no grower, supplier, distributor, or brand has yet been pinpointed. The FDA reports that on April 19, 2018, Alaska health partners announced that several people in a correctional…

Numbers continue to rise in romaine lettuce case Reports of e. coli contamination associated with romaine lettuce sickening people across the US continue to rise. There may be even more reports coming in within the next few weeks. Although the most recent illness reported apparently started on April 12, Illnesses that occurred in the last two to three weeks might not yet be reported because of the time between when a person becomes ill with e. coli and when the illness is reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At last count, on April 25, 2018, 84 people…

E. coli contamination widespread in this newest leafy green e. coli outbreak, affects all ages A teenager in Altoona, Pennsylvania, is one of the latest to fall ill after consuming romaine lettuce contaminated with e. coli. The outbreak has now affected 60 people in 16 states, approximately half of whom have been hospitalized because of the severity of their symptoms. Pennsylvania has seen the most cases of confirmed illnesses directly related to the consumption of contaminated romaine lettuce. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has expanded its warning to consumers to cover all types of romaine lettuce from the Yuma,…

Wegmans recalls Traditional Medicinal herbal teas Wegmans grocery stores and Traditional Medicinal have both posted recall notices on their websites, for EveryDay Detox Lemon Tea and Organic Throat Coat Lemon Echinacea Caffeine Free Tea. Both tea products are potentially contaminated with salmonella. Traditional Medicinal indicated that its supplier of lemon myrtle leaf, which is a minor ingredient in both recalled tea products, tested a sample of the herb and discovered salmonella. Neither of the recalled products has been found to be contaminated specifically as yet. No illnesses have been reported as a result of consumption of these tea products. The…

Smoked salmon products recalled for listeria Superior Foods Company is recalling 487 pounds of Smoked Salmon Spreads. The company, based in Kentwood, Michigan, is recalling three types of salmon spreads because they could be contaminated with listeria. Listeria monocytogenes was identified through routine inspection and testing by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). Recalled salmon spread products were produced by Superior Foods Company on March 26, 2018, and distributed to Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Minnesota to retail grocery stores and some food service businesses. The recall covers the following products: Smoked Salmon Spread 5 lb. bulk units…

Over 200 million eggs recalled in 9 states Rose Acre Farms, based in Seymour, Indiana, has voluntarily recalled over 200 million eggs that are potentially contaminated with salmonella. 206,749,248 eggs have been recalled by the company as a cautionary measure. The eggs were distributed out of a farm in Hyde County, North Carolina, and were sold in Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia through retail stores and restaurants. To date, there have been 22 illnesses, all on the east coast of the US, that have been linked to the recalled eggs.…

Romaine lettuce e. coli outbreak expands to more states Reports of illnesses related to romaine lettuce have increased significantly. There are now 53 cases of consumers suffering from food poisoning as a result of the e. coli outbreak associated with the romaine lettuce. In the past 5 days, 18 more people have become ill, 5 more states have been affected, and 9 more people have been hospitalized. The illnesses are now being reported in 16 states, including Alaska (1), Arizona (3), California (1), Connecticut (2), Idaho (10), Illinois (1), Louisiana (1), Michigan (2), Missouri (1), Montana (6), New Jersey (7),…

Buffalo Wild Wings employee diagnosed with Hepatitis A An employee at the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant on Mound Road in Warren, Michigan, has been diagnosed with Hepatitis A. The Macomb County Health Department confirmed the illness during a recent inspection of the restaurant. The spread of Hepatitis A can occur when proper food safety protocol is not followed. Unlike other diseases and illnesses, you cannot get Hepatitis A from simply interacting with an infected person. In other words, hugging, sitting next to, or being coughed on by an infected person will not give you Hepatitis A. Rather, infection is the…