The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is collaborating with public health officials in many states and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of human infections due to Salmonella serotype Saintpaul. Since mid-March, 35 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Saintpaul have been reported from 7 states.  [...]

I had the opportunity to investigate first-hand the PCA peanut processing plant in Blakely, Georgia yesterday.  This plant was the subject of the recent peanut butter salmonella recall that sickened 691 people and killed 9.  Below is the NBC videotape of my investigation, which showed rats, insects, roaches, standing water and roof leaks inside the plant [...]

Torres Hillsdale Country Cheese of Reading, Michigan has announced the recall of Oaxaca soft Mexican-style cheese due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.   The recalled cheese was distributed to retail stores and delis in in Illinois and Minnesota in 10 pound balls, labeled with the name “Torres Hillsdale Country Cheese LLC.”   The recall encompasses production dates 3/17/2009, with [...]

In the past 3 years, there have been several food-borne salmonella outbreaks in the United States.  More than half of those outbreaks were linked to the consumption of manufactured food such as peanut butter, pet food, or cereal.  Less than half of those outbreaks were related to fresh produce such as cantaloupes, tomatoes, peppers, and alfalfa [...]

On March 26, 2009 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that multiple samples of pistachios and pistachio-containing products collected from Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc, California were contaminated with several serotypes of Salmonella, including Montevideo, Newport, and Senftenberg.  Since that time, the CDC has been actively investigating [...]

Every year in the United States, there are over 30,000 laboratory confirmed cases of salmonella illness.   To be considered a confirmed case, a person must provide a stool, urine, or blood sample that tests positive for salmonella. There are over 2500 different known types - or more accurately – serotypes of salmonella.   Three of those serotypes [...]

        Union International Food Co. is further expanding the recall of Lian How brand and Uncle Chen brand retail and institutional products.  The recall now includes various size packages of all Uncle Chen and Lian How sauces, oils, and oil blends because the products may be contaminated with salmonella.  Uncle Chen and Lian How [...]

After contaminated food is eaten, there is a delay before the consumer starts to feel the first food poisoning symptoms.  This delay is called the “incubation period”.  Incubation periods of foodborne illnesses can range from a few hours to several days or weeks.   People tend to believe that the last food they ate caused their illness.  This is not always the [...]

April 9, 2009 — Amalgamated Produce, Inc. (API), Bridgeport, CT, announced a voluntary recall today of its Specialty Farms, Vermont Sprout House, Nature’s Promise and BroccoSprouts sprout items with sell by date codes of March 31 through April 27, 2009. These sprouts are being recalled because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (LM).  LM is [...]

April 9, 2009   – The Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) has assessed $14.6 million in administrative penalties against a Texas peanut plant owner Plainview Peanut Co., LLC, (PPC) for alleged violations of state food safety regulations.  PPC is owned by Peanut Corporation of America - a now bankrupt company that is at the heart [...]