I asked our AI friends – What are the pros and cons of replacing FDA Commissioner Makary with me – here is the response? This is a very timely question — Makary resigned as FDA Commissioner today, May 12, 2026, amid reports of internal tensions and policy clashes, with the vaping dispute reportedly being a […]
This article at the Monterey Herald gives a comprehensive assessment on the problems faced by the lettuce and spinach industry of Salinas over the next year – a solution needs to be found. From the article: Bill Marler, a partner in the Seattle law firm Marler Clark, who has represented victims in high-profile foodborne illness […]
Listen to this story… NPR – News & Notes, October 13, 2006 Spinach, tainted by E. coli bacteria, has reportedly made about 200 people in two dozen states sick. At least three people are said to have died from the outbreak. Lawmakers and advocates are demanding federal authorities do more to eliminate the contamination. Farai […]
I am not surprised that they found cows and cow poop near spinach fields – I found the same a week ago traveling through Salinas: From AP story of this morning: E. coli Find Shows Difficult Mix Of Cattle, Spinach Bill Marler, a Seattle lawyer representing 93 people who got sick eating spinach and […]
According to FREDERIC J. FROMMER of the Associated Press, Federal officials refused to tell Minnesota authorities which of two beef plants were linked to a fatal E. coli outbreak last summer, according to a state report. One woman died and at least 17 people were sickened from the E. coli outbreak in the Longville area, […]
FDA Statement on Foodborne E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach Positive Test Results FDA and the State of California announced today that test results from the field investigation of the outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in spinach are positive for E. coli O157:H7. Samples of cattle feces on one of the implicated ranches tested positive […]
More thoughts on yesterday’s hearing: I have concerns despite the 4 deaths and over 200 illnesses that some politicians may simply fiddle while more spinach and lettuce is grown and more customers are sickened and more businesses go bankrupt (watch for that next). Yesterday’s hearing was more telling by who did not attend – most […]
Kudos to Senator Dean Florez – If we ever needed a smart politician, here he is. As reported today by ABC TV: A Central Valley lawmaker says state and federal food and health agencies had ample warning but didn’t do enough to prevent E. coli outbreaks like the ones that have sickened nearly 200 consumers, […]
This company should not be pointing fingers at anyone but itself. After all, who is more to blame? The person who sold the juice or the person who drank the juice? I know where I stand. Tim Warner, spokesman for Bolthouse Farms, the company whose carrot juice has been traced as the source of botulism […]
The Associated Press reported today that the Mexican government banned imports of U.S. lettuce on Monday after a California company recalled some of its lettuce when irrigation water tested positive for the E. coli bacteria. In a press statement, the Health Department also said the government had ordered stores to remove U.S. lettuce from their […]
Tomorrow I’ll be in Sacramento for a hearing on this latest spinach E. coli outbreak. The hearing is being held by the California Senate Committee on Governmental Organization and is titled, "Unraveling the E. coli Outbreak: Are State Emergency Response Systems Prepared for Outbreaks of Foodborne Illnesses?" The hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m. […]
From KCBS Television: “The industry is in high gear to do this, and we know that the future of the spinach and vegetable industry generally depends on regaining consumer confidence,” said Bob Perkins, executive director of the Monterey County Farm Bureau. The produce inspection system also needs a kill switch, said Andrew Starbird, a food […]
Update from CBC News: Toxic carrot juice paralyzes 2 in Toronto. My guess is that soon Mexico and Canada will ban the sale of everything from the United States. From the article: Two Toronto residents are paralyzed after drinking carrot juice that tested positive for a botulism toxin, according to the city’s public health department. […]
According to Canadian News reports over the last 24 hours: “While officials believe the bacteria likely came from fresh produce – most likely lettuce – the food inspection agency said there’s little hope it will be able to determine the source of the outbreak…. Two separate E. coli outbreaks in Ontario, with a total of […]
From the New York Times October 7, 2006 by Libby Sander: “There were probably people like this around the country getting sick, but their sicknesses antedated the realization that we had a problem,” Dr. Safranek said. “In late August this really hadn’t come to light as a nationwide outbreak.” Public health officials believe that for […]
The tragedy of Ruby Trautz’s death is only compounded by the death of June Edith Dunning of 1303 The Terrace, Hagerstown, MD. She died on 13 September 2006 from complications associated with E. coli 0157:H7. June’s death has yet to be counted, but will and the death toll will them be four. This is from […]