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 […]
And, where is the Inspector General’s Report? And, where are the Congressional Hearings? Here is the final paragraph from the USDA/FISS Food Safety Assessment of the Boar’s Head in 2022 plant that in 2024 would sicken 61 – killing 10 with Listeria-tainted Liverwurst: An analysis of the [below] stated NRs (non-compliances) indicates when not adequately […]
The slivered onions have been linked to an E. coli outbreak that sickened over 100, putting 1 man in an early grave. The FDA inspection report – redacted – makes an interesting read – full report below. OBSERVATION 1You did not implement your sanitation preventive control, monitoring, corrective action and verification OBSERVATION 2You did not […]
FSIS published a report on the why’s of the outbreak and a list of things it intends to do to prevent another “Boar’s Head” FSIS Assessment of Factors Contributing to Outbreak Associated with Boar’s Head Establishment M12612 M12612 is a large establishment in Jarratt, VA, that received its grant of inspection in April 1984. The […]
Perhaps we should become Canada’s 11th Province? The full article is worth a read. Nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica infections are a leading cause of enteric disease in Canada, most commonly associated with foodborne exposures. Raw frozen breaded chicken products (FBCP) have been implicated in 16 Salmonella outbreaks between 2017 and 2019. This study quantified the impact of the 1 April […]
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted thousands of routine surveillance food safety inspections of domestic and foreign food facilities from fiscal year 2018 through fiscal year 2023 (see fig.). According to GAO’s analysis of FDA data, FDA conducted an average of 8,353 domestic inspections per year and an average of 917 foreign inspections per […]
According to the CDC, the total of 113 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella were reported from 23 states: Alaska 2, Arizona 1, California 4, Colorado 8, Iowa 3, Illinois 4, Massachusetts 6, Michigan 3, Montana 18, Nebraska 1, Nevada 1, New Jersey 2, New Mexico 1, New York 1, Ohio 1, Oregon 9, Pennsylvania […]
In early December 2024 the FDA stated: “The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to an iceberg and romaine lettuce blend served at catering events, restaurants, and a school. Based on epidemiological information collected by CDC, a total of 69 […]
CDC is saddened by Louisiana’s report that a person previously hospitalized with severe avian influenza A(H5N1) illness (“H5N1 bird flu”) has passed away. While tragic, a death from H5N1 bird flu in the United States is not unexpected because of the known potential for infection with these viruses to cause severe illness and death. As […]
Perhaps, more information will be forthcoming this week. FDA Traceback Initiated: Used to identify the source and distribution of the implicated food and remove the contaminated product from the marketplace, to distinguish between two or more implicated food products, and to determine potential routes and/or sources of contamination in order to help prevent future illnesses. For […]
Last week the FDA left this cryptic remark on its website: For the outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 (ref #1280), the confirmed vehicle was updated from iceberg/romaine lettuce blend to romaine lettuce due to the traceback investigation. The case count has increased from 86 to 88. Previously the FDA had announced that they were investigating illnesses in […]
NOROVIRUS: Human norovirus is a major cause of foodborne illness worldwide (WHO, 2023) and is estimated to cause approximately 685 million cases and 212,000 deaths of acute gastroenteritis per year (Kirk et al., 2015). The symptoms of norovirus infections are nausea, vomiting, non-bloody diarrhea, and abdominal pain, which are all self-limiting (WHO, 2023). HEPATITIS A: […]
Summary Public Health is investigating an outbreak of salmonellosis (caused by Salmonella bacteria) associated with Mary Pilgrim Inn, an emergency temporary housing shelter in Seattle. Many of the people became sick after eating food served at two Christmas dinners on December 25, 2024, or leftovers from those dinners on December 26, 2024. The food served at these […]
Both the FDA and FSIA are investigation a Listeria outbreak. Perhaps it is too much to assume it is the same outbreak? So says the FDA: So says the USDA/FSIS:
Audience Product The implicated products include shellstock oysters harvested from 12/02/2024 to 12/17/2024 by Ruco’s Shellfish (WA-1995-SS) from a portion of Hammersley Inlet growing area in Washington State. The oysters were distributed in WA and OR and may have been distributed to other states as well. The following photo is included as an example of […]
Braga Fresh is voluntarily issuing a precautionary advisory of a single production lot of washed and ready-to-eat 12oz Marketside Broccoli Florets with best if used by date Dec 10, 2024. This product is past its best if used by date and is no longer in stores, but consumers may have frozen the item for later […]