All articles tagged with #food safety
Regular use of the over-the-counter remedy bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) can cut the risk of traveler’s diarrhea by about 65%, especially in high-risk regions such as Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia; maintain consistent dosing and consider dietary precautions, as probiotics or antibiotics may not be the best preventive measures.
Nine people have fallen ill in a U.S. E. coli outbreak linked to raw milk and unpasteurized cheeses, with federal investigators tracing the source and warning consumers about unpasteurized dairy products.
FSIS issued a public health alert for a 16 oz White Oak Pastures ground beef product (EST 34729) produced on Feb 26, 2026 and distributed to Mom’s Organic Markets and various outlets in DC, MA, MD, NJ, PA, and VA due to possible metal contamination; no recall was issued because the product is no longer available for sale. Two consumer complaints have been reported; no injuries. Consumers who purchased the product should discard it or return it. FSIS and White Oak Pastures have provided contact channels for questions, and the FSIS Meat and Poultry Hotline and eCCF reporting system remain available for public inquiries.
Health inspectors temporarily closed Mama Tina’s Gumbo after finding thawed seafood and food stored in buckets, with authorities requiring corrective actions and a follow-up inspection before reopening.
Eight common food-safety myths are debunked with practical home-kitchen tips—safety matters in homes too; refrigeration slows but doesn’t stop spoilage; thaw meat safely in the fridge or using cold water/microwave with immediate cooking; expiration dates often reflect quality, not safety; washing produce with soap or specialized washes isn’t necessary; organic isn’t guaranteed safer or more nutritious; packaging risks are minor; brown meat isn’t automatically spoiled—use smell/texture to judge, and when in doubt, throw it out.
Restaurant workers say raw oysters carry real illness risks with no reliable way to detect infection; health authorities like the CDC advise cooking oysters thoroughly to reduce risks from Vibrio, norovirus, hepatitis A, and other pathogens, meaning diners should favor cooked preparations over raw servings.
The FDA upgraded Made Fresh Salads’ cream cheese recall to a Class I alert due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination, warning it could cause serious health consequences or death. The recall covers more than a dozen five-pound tubs across 14 flavors, linked to a contaminated mixer and distributed in New York with expiration dates through Feb. 27. Consumers should return the product for a full refund; pregnant women, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk, though no illnesses were reported at the time of the recall.
An Environmental Working Group analysis of FDA records finds 111 GRAS substances used in foods, beverages and supplements have not undergone safety review, cited in products from Capri Sun to Quaker Oats. GRAS is a voluntary self-certification path that can let potentially unsafe ingredients reach the market, prompting calls for the FDA to close the loophole and require transparent safety data.
Health Secretary RFK Jr. proposes closing the GRAS loophole and forcing companies like Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks to prove safety data for their ingredients, part of a broader push to tighten FDA oversight of food additives and ensure items marketed to teens are safe; the plan has drawn skepticism given RFK Jr.’s controversial past on nutrition and the political context surrounding its rollout.
RFK Jr. targets Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks, demanding safety data on sugar levels in iced coffee, a move that has stirred New Englanders and highlighted RFK Jr.’s penchant for high‑profile clashes over food policy.
Health Secretary RFK Jr. urged Dunkin Donuts (and Starbucks) to provide safety data for high-sugar iced coffee, signaling potential regulatory moves to remove ingredients without proven safety as part of a broader push to tighten ultraprocessed foods.
Illinois health investigators traced a Salmonella Agbeni outbreak to a Brown County fair beer tent, where a poorly cleaned cooler that stored ice may have contaminated beer; after consulting ChatGPT for guidance, researchers concluded the AI-assisted input supported the cooler as a credible source, but the utility of AI remains uncertain and new cooler sanitation protocols were put in place while AI limitations and the need for validation against primary literature were acknowledged.
More than 55,000 pounds of IQF blueberries were recalled after the FDA upgraded the recall to Class I due to a potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The frozen berries, shipped in 30-pound cases and 1,400-pound totes, were distributed in Michigan, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin and Canada and were not sold directly to consumers in stores. Listeria infection can be severe, especially for older adults, newborns and those with weakened immune systems.
The Oregon Potato Company issued a Class I recall covering 55,689 pounds of IQF blueberries due to potential listeria monocytogenes contamination, with distribution to Michigan, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin (not sold in retail). The FDA notes listeria can grow at refrigeration temperatures and poses serious health risks, especially to pregnant people, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals; those who become ill should contact the FDA’s 888-SAFEFOOD line or submit a MedWatch report.
The FDA upgraded an Oregon Potato Company recall of about 55,689 pounds of IQF blueberries to Class I due to possible listeria monocytogenes contamination; the product was distributed to Michigan, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin and not sold in retail stores; listeria can grow at refrigerator temperatures and cause listeriosis, with higher risk for pregnant women and their babies, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems; exposure should prompt contacting the FDA’s emergency line or submitting a MedWatch report.