A new study from Environmental Working Group (EWG) says that eating one freshwater fish a month is equivalent to a month of drinking water contaminated with forever chemicals, or PFOS, at levels that might be harmful to your health. PFOS, or perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, is one of the so-called "forever chemicals" because they do not break down in the environment. PFOS are found in food packaging, nonstick cookware, firefighting goats, and waterproof clothing. They, along with other PFAS chemicals, have been linked with the development of testicular and kidney cancer, weakened immunity, low birth weight, and endocrine disruption, along with fertility problems, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. These chemicals are everywhere, including in our food and our bodies. … [Read more...]
Fifteen Tips to Avoid Food Poisoning
Whenever there is a good poisoning outbreak, odds are that the outbreak notice will include some information about how consumers can protect themselves against contaminated food. While it is illegal for companies to sell food contaminated with enough pathogens to make someone ill, it happens all the time. These 15 tips to avoid food poisoning may help. Despite efforts from the federal government, industry, food processors, and farmers, the number of food poisoning cases in America isn't going down. There are still about 48,000,000 cases of food poisoning every year in this country, with about 126,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. But there are things you can do to protect yourself and your family. In fact, there are (at least) 15 tips to avoid food poisoning. Fifteen Tips … [Read more...]
CDC On Sun Sprouts Alfalfa Sprouts Salmonella Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released its investigation into the Sun Sprouts alfalfa sprouts Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak that has sickened at least 15 people in three states. Two people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The case count by state as of December 29, 2022 is: Nebraska (8), Oklahoma (1), and South Dakota (6). The age range is from 19 to 78 years. Illness onset dates range from December 2, 2022 to December 13, 2022. This outbreak was first announced by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services on December 24, 2022. At that time the case count was 12. Epidemiologic and traceback data show that alfalfa sprouts may be contaminated with Salmonella. Officials have been interviewing people about the foods they ate … [Read more...]
FDA Finds SunSprouts Alfalfa Sprouts Likely Source of Salmonella
The FDA has found that SunSprouts alfalfa sprouts grown by CW Sprouts Inc, doing business as SunSprout Enterprises, are "a likely source of illnesses" in a new Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 15 people in three states. The multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium was first identified in Nebraska by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services on December 24, 2022. Ill persons live in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Oklahoma. Two people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. We don't yet know the patient case count by state, or the full illness onset date range. The date the last illness was reported was December 13, 2022. Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local public health officials have … [Read more...]
Jif Peanut Butter Salmonella Outbreak Is Number Five of 2022
The Jif peanut butter Salmonella Senftenberg outbreak is the number five outbreak of 2022, with at least 21 people sick in 17 states. Four people were hospitalized because they were so ill. Several types of Jif peanut butter were recalled after the outbreak was first announced on May 21, 2022. The outbreak ended on July 27, 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The case count by state is: Arizona (1), Arkansas (1), Florida (1), Georgia (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (2), New York (1), North Carolina (2), Ohio (1), South Carolina (1), Texas (2), Virginia (1), Washington (1), and West Virginia (1). Patients ranged in age from less than one year to 85. The hospitalization rate was 31%, with four out of 13 … [Read more...]
Number Six Outbreak of 2022: Hepatitis in Strawberries
The number six outbreak of 2022 was the hepatitis in strawberries outbreak that sickened at least 19 people in four states. Thirteen of those patients were hospitalized, which is very high for this type of outbreak. This hepatitis A outbreak ended in August 2022. The illnesses were linked to HEB organic strawberries and FreshKampo strawberries. The case count by state was: Arizona (1), California (16), Minnesota (1), and North Dakota (1). Illness onset dates ranged from March 28, 2022 to May 6, 2022. The patient age range was from 9 to 73 years. There were 18 confirmed cases and one probable case. The outbreak was solved through epidemiologic and traceback evidence. Seventy-three percent of patients said they ate fresh organic strawberries before they got sick. The strawberries … [Read more...]