After 146 people were sickened (with 36 dead) by Listeria-tainted cantaloupe grown in Colorado, the California Cantaloupe Growers finally charged/backed into action. They are now in the process of adopting the “California Cantaloupe Program.” You have to wonder why it took 36 dead and a total of 146 sickened to wake them up? It is […]
Paratyphi B is a rare type of salmonella in part because it has a 30-day incubation period as opposed to one to 10 days found in more common types. The disease causes diarrhea that may be bloody, high fever, headache and abdominal pain. It is rarely fatal but can be dangerous to the young, elderly […]
Public Health’s job is the Public’s Health and that includes telling us the truth. Last week I was perplexed when Director Catherine Templeton of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced that a “Spartanburg-area Mexican restaurant” was to blame for a recent E. coli O157:H7 outbreak where at least 10 have […]
Raw milk products produced by Organic Pastures of Fresno County have been released from a statewide quarantine that began May 10. CDFA imposed the quarantine in response to the detection of campylobacter bacteria, and notification from the California Department of Public Health of reported campylobacter food-borne illnesses in persons consuming Organic Pastures raw milk. CDPH […]
Caribe Produce LTD Co. of McAllen, TX, is recalling 286 cases of Papaya Maradol, Caribeña Brand papayas because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. Routine testing by the company revealed the presence of Salmonella in the papayas, according to the recall notice. The company says no illnesses have been reported. The recalled Papaya Maradol, Caribeña Brand […]
Dr. Ron Chapman, state public health officer and director of California Department of Public Health (CDPH), today warned people not to eat certain bagged salads manufactured by River Ranch Fresh Foods, LLC because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. To date, no illnesses have been reported. River Ranch Fresh Foods, LLC, of Salinas, California, […]
Lancaster Frozen Foods and G&W Incorporated recall beef products in South Carolina Perhaps it has nothing to do with the E. coli cases annoounced in Spartanburg earlier this week, but the timing is interesting. Foods and G&W Incorporated are voluntarily recalling about 6,908 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli […]
CDC finds 316 sick in 26 States the same week that FDA announced multiple manufacturing violations at Moon Marine in India. Questions remain why Tuna Scrape was served raw to customers. A total of 316 individuals infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Bareilly or Salmonella Nchanga have been reported from 26 states and the District of Columbia. […]
Last week the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) did what public health departments should do – announce to the public that an outbreak – especially an E. coli O157:H7 – is happening. However, the DHEC for whatever reason chose to announce the outbreak and then only name the type of restaurant, and […]
As of May 11, at least 15 people in nine states and one person in Canada had been confirmed infected with Salmonella from contact with the contaminated dry dog food or from contact with a pet that had eaten the tainted product, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Form 483 […]
Lynne Shackleford and I likely did not make friends in South Carolina public health today. She for even writing an article – “State agency criticized for refusal to name Spartanburg restaurant linked to E. coli.” And, me for criticizing a South Carolina Health Department during a break today speaking on last years cantaloupe Listeria outbreak […]
I know, you thought it was sushi. Hat tip to Dr. Marion Nestle of New York University and Alan Reilly of Food Safety Authority of Ireland for noticing what was right before our eyes: Who would have known that you were supposed to cook Tuna Scape before you ate it? Perhaps the grocery stores and […]
Korean War veteran Clifford Tousignant served the United States of America for 22 years, earning three purple hearts along the way. In 2009, he died from eating Salmonella contaminated peanut butter. Mr. Tousignant was one of nine people who died and 714 who were sickened in a 2008/2009 Salmonella outbreak linked to Peanut Corporation of […]
A total of 258 persons infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Bareilly (247 persons) or Salmonella Nchanga (11 persons) have been reported from 24 states and the District of Columbia. 32 ill persons have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. Collaborative investigation efforts of state, local, and federal public health agencies indicate […]
Dina ElBoghdady from the Washington Post wrote again on the ongoing process to list pathogens that sicken over 100,000 a year in the U.S. as adulterants – “USDA to test beef for more strains of E. coli.” For those readers of my blog (thanks mom), I have taken up much space – even more than […]