The USDA has developed technology to reduce pathogens in shell eggs. Raw eggs and egg products can carry Salmonella bacteria and cause illness and outbreaks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the pathogen causes about 1.35 million illnesses, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths every year in this country. Pasteurizing eggs does work, but less than 3% of commercial shell eggs are pasteurized in the United States. Conventional pasteurization is a long process. The eggs are submerged in hot water for more than 57 minutes to inactive Salmonella bacteria. Researchers at the Agricultural Research Service's Eastern Regional Research Center in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, used a novel thermal technology that has a much shorter processing time. The technique uses … [Read more...]
Family Dollar Store Pays $41.675 Million For Rodent Infestation
The Family Dollar Store pays $41.675 million for having a rodent-infested warehouse and holding consuming products under insanitary conditions, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). This is the largest ever monetary criminal penalty in a food safety matter. Family Dollar was charged with one misdemeanor count of causing FDA regulated products to become adulterated while being held under insanitary conditions. The plea agreement requires the company and Dollar Tree. Inc. to meet robust corporate compliance and reporting requirements for the next three years. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jerome T. Kearney presided over the company's guilty plea and sentencing at the hearing. Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer said in a statement, "When consumers go to the … [Read more...]
Learn About Sausages and Food Safety From the USDA
Learn about sausages and food safety from the USDA, with tips on buying, storing, and cooking this type of meat product. Sausages are sold either uncooked or ready-to-eat. This information will be clearly marked on the product package. Types of Sausages There are two broad categories of sausage: ready to eat and uncooked. Ready to eat sausages are dry, semi-dry, and/or cooked. Dry sausages can be smoked, unsmoked, or cooked. Semi-dry sausages are typically heated in the smokehouse to partially dry and fully cook the product. Cooked sausages, such as bologna and frankfurters, are cooked and may also be smoked. Uncooked sausages are raw and must be cooked to a safe final internal temperature before eating. Deciphering the Label The label on all sausage products will give you the … [Read more...]
Wisconsin is Launching a Food Poisoning Reporting Tool
Wisconsin is launching a food poisoning reporting tool called "Feeling Sick? Report It Quick!" to help identify outbreaks and help the health department announce problems to the public to reduce illnesses. The online questionnaire takes less than five minutes to complete. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services State Health Officer Paula Tran said in a statement, "By using this tool, Wisconsinites can help other people in their community from getting sick and prevent outbreaks. Ingesting contaminated food and water may cause just a little stomach upset for some, for others it can lead to hospitalization and be life threatening. We're asking people - when you're feeling sick, report it quick." The new tool asks for current symptoms, places the respondent recently visited, and … [Read more...]
Get Super Bowl Delivery and Takeout Food Safety Advice
Get Super Bowl delivery and takeout food safety advice from the USDA to keep your guests safe from food poisoning at your party. There are special rules for handling takeout and delivery foods. If you ordered takeout or Super Bowl delivery foods the day before the game, make sure that someone is available to get the food inside your home and into the fridge in a timely manner. All food that is not going to be eaten immediately should be refrigerated. If you ordered the food for delivery the day of your party, refrigerate cold foods if it's more than two hours before it's time to eat. You may want to reheat foods before serving. If you are serving food to groups, the two hour rule is critical. Perishable foods cannot be in the danger zone of 40°F to 140°F for more than two hours. … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Exposure at Two Restaurants in Westbrook, Maine
There is a possible hepatitis A exposure at two restaurants in Westbrook, Maine, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC). A food worker worked at those establishments while infectious. The restaurants are Legends Rest Taproom and Paper City BBQ, which are both located at 855 Maine Street in Westbrook. The dates where the employee was working are: January 14, January 17 to the 21st, January 24 to the 28th, January 31, and February 2, 3, and 4 in 2024. Anyone who ate there or ordered takeout from those locations during those dates could have been exposed to the virus. Unfortunately, the hepatitis A vaccine is most effective when given within two weeks of exposure. That means that anyone who ate there or ate food prepared at those establishments … [Read more...]
ShopRite Hepatitis A Exposure on Oxford in Northeast Philadelphia
A possible ShopRite hepatitis A exposure on Oxford Street in Northeast Philadelphia has prompted a warning from the Philadelphia Department of Health. A person who worked at that store, located at 6301 Oxford Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was contagious. No more reports of illness have been received by officials to date. Anyone who handled raw beef or pork or who ate undercooked raw beef or pork that was purchased from the store's meat counter between January 4 and January 21, 2024 may have been exposed to the virus. Anyone who has completed the hepatitis A vaccine regimen, or who has had the disease in the past should be protected. The vaccine will protect if it is given within two weeks of exposure. Since the first potential exposure occurred 22 days ago, anyone who … [Read more...]
FDA Warns Tejocote Root Supplements Could Be Yellow Oleander
The FDA is warning consumers that some Tejocote Root supplements could instead be yellow oleander, which is a poisonous plant. In September 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report of several tejocote root products that were substituted with toxic yellow oleander. The FDA has tested nine products, and found that they do contain yellow oleander. Ingesting yellow oleander can cause serious health problems and can be fatal. The plant affects the neurological system, the gastrointestinal system, and the cardiovascular system. Symptoms of yellow oleander poisoning include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cardiac changes, dysrhythmia, and more. The products the government is warning about are usually sold online through third … [Read more...]
Pennsylvania Sues Farmer Amos Miller For Illegal Raw Milk Sales
The state of Pennsylvania sues farmer Amos Miller to stop the illegal distribution of raw milk and other products, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry and the state's Department of Agriculture. The complaint is against Miller's Organic farm, its owners, and related businesses. Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture searched the farm after two people were sickened with E. coli infections after allegedly consuming eggnog made with raw milk from that facility. The lawsuit was filed after "years of attempts by state and federal officials to bring the farm into compliance with the law," according to the Attorney General. The complaint outlines violations of Pennsylvania’s Milk Sanitation Law, Food Safety Act, Retail Food Facility … [Read more...]
5 Star Nutrition Distributed Misbranded Dietary Supplements
According to the Justice Department, Defyned Brands, also known as 5 Star Nutrition, distributed misbranded dietary supplements. The company pled guilty to a three count information charging it with that action. The company admitted that from September 2018 to July 2020, it delivered into interstate commerce misbranded dietary supplements, which are considered a type of food under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The specific admission was that shipments of products known as Epivar, Alpha Shredded, and Laxobolic were misbranded. They allegedly contained ingredients that were mislabeled as supplements or were not listed on the product label. The products were marketed as dietary supplements. They were sold at 5 Star Nutrition Retail locations. The company has agreed to … [Read more...]
