The CDC reports: Shigellosis is a nationally notifiable diarrheal illness caused by gram-negative bacteria. Shigella infection is spread through fecal-oral transmission and sexual contact. Although most infections are self-limited, antibiotics are indicated for severe illness or to reduce transmission in settings with high risk for spread. Since 2015, a growing proportion of cases has been caused by […]
Well Food Safety News IPhone Application has been submitted. Hopefully, it will be approved and up and running in the next few days – for free.
According to the Wall Street Journal a few moments ago, Basic Food Flavors Inc., the Las Vegas company at the center of a recall of more than 100 food products containing hydrolyzed vegetable protein, or HVP, continued to make and distribute food ingredients for about a month after it learned the bacteria salmonella was present […]
Sometimes lawsuits are a bit like a war, or perhaps more a long battle anyway. Like a battle or a war, the damages to each side in litigation are real – the injuries to the victims, the costs to the defendant. The decision when to file suit (when to go to war or battle) are […]
I think lawyers like me are about as popular and well thought of as congress members and AIG executives. Just in the last few days I have felt the sting of prejudice when asked to financially support a couple of non-profit groups and projects, but to do so without being directly involved because others would […]
Shigella is a bacterium that can cause sudden and severe diarrhea (gastroenteritis) in humans. Shigellosis is the name of the disease that Shigella causes. The illness is also known as “bacillary dysentery.” Shigella bacteria can infect the intestinal tract after the ingestion of relatively few organisms. This is why shigellosis is the most communicable of […]
This week I get to stick close to home. I have a Food Safety Speech at the Seafood Products Association Meeting in Seattle on Tuesday and then a quick trip to Washington State University on Wednesday and Thursday. Here is the final draft of my slides for the Seafood folks:
The FDA has updated its expanding recall list of various products containing Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein. The list includes: Bouillon Products – Herbox Dip and Dip Mix Products – Concord Foods, De la Casa, Delicioso, Follow Your Heart, Fresh Food, Concepts, Great Value, Johnny’s Fine Foods, McCormick, Oak Lake Farms, Reser’s, Rojo’s, T. Marzetti Dressing and […]
Brian Gehring of the Bismarck Tribune confirmed today that the South Dakota Health Department says it will not seek charges against a rural Washburn woman for operating an unlicensed catering business linked to sickening 180 people last summer. Aggie Jennings of rural McLean County catered three events (2 weddings, 1 reunion) in mid-June that led […]
According to local press reports, the DuPage County Health Department is staffing its call center throughout the weekend to keep tabs on the rising number of gastrointestinal illnesses being reported from a Subway restaurant in Lombard. Four more cases of shigellosis were confirmed Friday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases caused by the outbreak […]
U. S. Customs and Border Protection announced Friday that officials seized 107 pounds of "queso fresco," which is soft Mexican cheese. The illegal cheese was hidden in false compartments of a vehicle trying to enter the United States across the Bridge of the Americas on Wednesday. Federal officials permit travelers to import personal quantities of […]
As part of the Salmonella Montevideo investigation, the Food and Drug Administration has been actively investigating the supply chain of black and red pepper supplied to Daniele International Inc., Pascoag, R.I. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 245 people have been infected with a matching strain of Salmonella Montevideo in at least […]
Elizabeth Armstrong and her 5-year-old daughter Ashley put a face on the 76,000,000 American’s who become sick by food each year at a cost of over $152,000,000,000.
Although some say that government does not work – perhaps there are parts that do? Did the FDA Reportable Food Registry work as it was supposed to and start the hydrolyzed vegetable protein Salmonella Tennessee recall? The reality is that according to the FDA: [t]he manufacturer of the affected product is Basic Food Flavors Inc […]
According to an FDA press release, the FDA is taking steps to protect the public following the early identification of Salmonella Tennessee in one company’s supply of hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP). This is a common ingredient used most frequently as a flavor enhancer in many processed foods, including soups, sauces, chilis, stews, hot dogs, gravies, […]
In reading the report (which you can download below), I was struck by this one passage: The dairy operator was found to be knowledgeable of sanitary standards and testing methods. However, sanitary measures such as having hand washing stations, the use of bleach for sanitizing bottles, proper dishwashing water temperatures, and monitoring of transport temperatures […]