After the Arizona fair E. coli outbreak, that sickened an unknown number of children, a bill has been introduced to the Arizona Senate requiring handwashing stations at petting zoos and animal exhibits. SB 1082 was introduced by Senator Kavanaugh. The state fair was held from September 19 to October 26, 2025. The bill would mandate that operators of these types of attractions must make sure that visitors wash their hands with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer right after leaving any area where animals are accessible to the public. In addition, an official would have to be present to supervise this process. And a sign must be prominently displayed at all entrances and exits containing this statement: "For the safety of all persons, participants must wash their hands on … [Read more...]
Meat and Poultry Recalls for Bacteria Hit Historic Low in 2025
In-depth analysis from Food Poisoning Bulletin Meat and poultry recalls for bacterial contamination hit a historic low in 2025, according to a Food Poisoning Bulletin review of data published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS). Meat and poultry producers issued 43 recalls in 2025, but just five were for bacterial contamination, the lowest total in two decades of available data, excluding 2020. 2025 Meat and Poultry Recalls FSIS recalls are divided into three classes; products subject to Class 1 recalls pose the risk of serious illness or death. In 2025, 39 of the 43 recalls issued for meat and poultry products were Class 1. In addition to bacterial contamination, other categories of Class 1 recalls, and their 2025 totals, are as … [Read more...]
Top 10 Foodborne Illness Outbreaks of 2025
These are the top 10 foodborne illness outbreaks of 2025. It was a busy year, with illnesses caused by everything from frozen foods to cucumbers. But eggs were the biggest culprit in 2025, causing three of the 10 outbreaks and sickening at least 302 people. Salmonella caused six of the 10 outbreaks. Some of these outbreaks were deadly. Number 10: Sweet Cream Pastries Salmonella These mini pastries sickened at least 18 people with Salmonella infections in seven states. The imported sweets sickened people in the states of California, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The FDA added the manufacturer to the list of Import Alerts so the pastries could be detained without inspection. Number 9: Metabolic Meals Salmonella The ninth largest … [Read more...]
Deadly August Egg Salmonella Outbreak Number One of 2025
The deadly August Egg Company Salmonella outbreak was the number one outbreak of 2025 with at least 134 people sick in 10 states, 38 hospitalized, and one death. The outbreak was a announced on June 6, 2025 and was declared over on July 10, 2025. The case count by state is: Arizona (8), California (109), Colorado (2), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Nebraska (2), New Jersey (2), Nevada (4), Utah (1), and Washington (4). The patient age range is from 1 to 90 years. Illness onset dates ranged from February 24, 2025 to June 6, 2025. Of the 112 people who gave information about their illness to public health investigators, 38 were hospitalized, for a hospitalization rate of 34%, which is much higher than the typical rate of 20% for a Salmonella outbreak. The person who died lived in … [Read more...]
Number 2 Outbreak of 2025: Country Eggs Salmonella
The number 2 outbreak of 2025 was the Country Eggs Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak that sickened at least 105 people in 14 states. The outbreak was announced on August 28, 2025, and was declared over on November 20, 2025. The case count by state was: Arizona (1), California (82), Florida (1), Georgia (1), Hawaii (1), Iowa (1), Minnesota (4), North Carolina (2), Nebraska (1), New Mexico (1), Nevada (4), New York (2), Pennsylvania (1), and Washington (3). Illness onset dates ranged from January 7, 2025 to August 14, 2025. The patient age range was from 1 to 91 years. Of the 82 people who gave information about their health to public officials, 19 were hospitalized, for a hospitalization rate of 23%, slightly higher than the typical 20% rate for a Salmonella outbreak. State and … [Read more...]
Number 3 Outbreak of 2025: Bedner Cucumbers Salmonella
We continue the top 10 outbreaks of 2025 with number 3: the Bedner cucumbers Salmonella outbreak that sickened at least 69 people in 21 states. The cucumbers were recalled, and many secondary recalls of foods made with those cucumbers were also issued. The patient case count per state was: Alabama (1), California (1), Colorado (1), Florida (7), Georgia (10), Illinois (5), Indiana (1), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (3), Maryland (1), Michigan (2), Mississippi (1), North Carolina (4), New Jersey (3), New York (4), Ohio (6), Pennsylvania (7), South Carolina (6), Tennessee (1), and Virginia (3). Illnesses started on dates ranging from April 2, 2025 to May 29, 2025. The patient age range was from 1 to 89 years. Twenty-two people were hospitalized. Epidemiologic, traceback, … [Read more...]
Number 4 Outbreak of 2025: Vega Farms Eggs Salmonella
The number four outbreak of 2025 is the Vega Farms Salmonella outbreak that sickened at least 63 people in California as of December 5, 2025. Thirteen people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The outbreak has not been updated since then. The California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Food and Agriculture are working together to investigate this outbreak. After identifying the supplier of the eggs, both agencies conducted an inspection of Vega Farms. Multiple environmental and egg samples tested positive for Salmonella. Whole genome sequencing showed that the Salmonella in at least one sample matched the strain found in patient isolates. The eggs were sold to restaurants, grocery stores, co-ops, and farmers markets in Northern … [Read more...]
Number 5 Outbreak of 2025: ByHeart Infant Formula Botulism
The number 5 outbreak of 2025 is the Byheart infant formula botulism outbreak that is still ongoing. There are at least 51 infants in 19 states who have been sickened in this outbreak; all have been hospitalized. The case count by state is: Arizona (5), California (12), Idaho (2), Illinois (2), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (2), Maine (1), Michigan (1) Minnesota (3), North Carolina (2), New Jersey (1), Ohio (1), Oregon (4), Pennsylvania (1), Rhode Island (1), Texas (8), Virginia (1), Washington (2), and Wisconsin (1). The infants range in age from 16 to 264 days. Illness onset dates range from December 24, 2023 to December 1, 2025. All of the infants were treated with BabyBIG®, the FDA-approved treatment for this infection developed by the California Department of Health. The FDA … [Read more...]
Outbreak #6 of 2025: Deadly Lyons and Sysco Frozen Shakes
The top 10 outbreaks of 2025 continues with number six: the deadly Lyons and Sysco frozen shakes Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that sickened 42 people in 21 states and killed 14. Forty one people were hospitalized. The outbreak was declared over on May 16, 2025. The case count by state was: Alabama (1), California (4), Colorado (1), Connecticut (2), Florida (2), Illinois (5), Indiana (3), Maryland (1), Michigan (2), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nevada (1), New York (3), North Carolina (2), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (1), Tennessee (2), Texas (6), Washington (1), and West Virginia (1). The patient age range was from 43 to 101 years. Illness onset dates ranged from August 17, 2018 to March 13, 2025. A total of 14 deaths were reported. Those patients lived in ten states: … [Read more...]
Top 10 2025 Outbreaks: Number 7 Deadly FreshRealm Listeria
Our top 10 list of 2025 outbreaks continues with number 7: the deadly FreshRealm Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened at least 27 people in 18 states and killed 6. This outbreak investigation has not been updated since October 30, 2025. The case count by state is: California (3), Hawaii (2), Florida (1), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Louisiana (2), Michigan (2), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), North Carolina (1), Nevada (1), Ohio (1), Oregon (3), South Carolina (1), Texas (3), Utah (1), and Washington (1). There are 17 states listed, not 18 as the CDC is claiming. We don’t know what is causing this discrepancy. The people who died lived in Hawaii, Oregon, Illinois, Michigan, Texas, and Utah. One pregnancy-associated illness caused a fetal loss. Many products have been … [Read more...]
