Consumer Reports has asked the USDA to strengthen its Salmonella framework to reduce consumer illnesses from poultry. CR has filed a comment letter with that agency, which states that poultry contaminated with Salmonella bacteria above a certain level should be kept off the market and recalled. Chicken accounts for amore Salmonella illnesses than any other food category. And the rate of those illnesses has been increasing over the last ten years. Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports said in a statement, "Salmonella infections from poultry have increased steadily over the past decade and sicken hundreds of thousands of Americans every year. The USDA’s current performance standards to reduce Salmonella infections from poultry have failed to drive down … [Read more...]
Deadly Yu Shang Listeria Outbreak Sickens 19, Kills 2
The deadly Yu Shang Listeria outbreak has now sickened 19 people in eight states and has killed two, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Seventeen people are hospitalized because they are so sick. That is an increase of eight new patients, eight new hospitalizations, one new death, and four new states. The case count by state is: California (10), Georgia (1), Illinois (2), Nevada (1), New Jersey (1), New York (1), Oregon (1), and Tennessee (2). The new states are Georgia, Nevada, Oregon, and Tennessee. The patient age range is from less than one to 86 years. All of the patients are Asian. Of 19 people who gave information to public health investigators, 17, or 89%, have been hospitalized. Sick person's samples were collected from October 24, 2021, to … [Read more...]
Secondary BrucePac Listeria Monocytogenes Recalls Begin
Secondary BrucePac Listeria monocytogenes recalls are starting to mount up. The original recall, for tens of millions of pounds of fully cooked chicken and other meats, was issued on October 9, 2024 and expanded on October 15, 2024. If you have any of these products in your home, do not eat them, especially if they are salads or wraps and are not heated first. Secondary Recalls Schoola On October 17, 2024, the USDA announced that some of the recalled BrucePac products were sent to schools. These meals were not part of the USDA's National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. The schools are in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, South Euclid, Ohio, Astatula Florida, Aston, Pennsylvania, Bangor, Michigan, Shady Hills, Florida, Staten Island, New York, Washington D.C., St. Petersburg, … [Read more...]
Chubby Chicken Burger Recalled In Canada For Undercooking
Chubby Chicken Burger is being recalled in Canada for undercooking. This product is sold as a fully cooked breaded, seasoned, boneless, skinless filet to institutions, hotels, and restaurants throughout the country. No mention of any illnesses was reported in the recall notice. The recalling firm is Maple Leaf Foods Inc. If a product made from chicken is undercooked, then cooled and reheated, it may not reach a safe enough temperature to kill any pathogens. Then if someone eats that product they could get sick. The recalled product is A & W brand Chicken Breast Portion Fully Cooked, Breaded, Seasoned, Boneless, Skinless Fillets, or a Chubby Chicken Burger. It is sold in 5 kilogram packages. The UPC number that is printed on the product label is 63100 41087 2. The production … [Read more...]
Perdue Frozen Chicken Nuggets and Tenders Recalled For Metal
Perdue Frozen chicken nuggets and tenders are being recalled for possible foreign material contamination in the form of metal wire. This poses a mouth injury and choking hazard. No adverse reactions have been reported to the company to date in connection with the consumption of these products. The recalling firm is Perdue Foods of Perry, Georgia. These frozen, ready to eat chicken breast nugget and tender items were produced on March 23, 2024. The recalled products are: 22 ounce (1.38 pound) vacuum-sealed plastic packages containing "PERDUE Simply Smart ORGANICS Breaded CHICKEN BREAST NUGGETS" with Best If Used By date of "03 23 25" stamped on the back of the package. 29 ounce (1.81 pound) vacuum-sealed plastic packages that contain "PERDUE CHICKEN BREAST TENDERS with Best If … [Read more...]
Backyard Poultry Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 109 in 29 States
A backyard poultry Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least 109 people in 29 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Any backyard poultry, including chickens and ducks, can carry Salmonella bacteria even if they look healthy and clean. The case count by state is: Alabama (6), Arizona (1), Arkansas (5), California (3), Colorado (3), Georgia (2), Illinois (4), Indiana (1), Kansas (4), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (5), Mississippi (3), Missouri (19), Montana (2), Nebraska (6), New Mexico (2), North Carolina (1), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (11) Oregon (2), Pennsylvania (2), Rhode Island (2), South Carolina (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (14), Utah (1), Washington (3), and Wisconsin (2). There are 33 people hospitalized because they are so sick. The … [Read more...]
Persistent Salmonella Strain in Chicken Has Sickened Americans
A persistent Salmonella strain in chicken has sickened Americans for a decade, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The strain is Salmonella Infantis (REPJFX01). This strain is resistant to multiple drugs and has caused outbreaks and illnesses in the United States and globally. The map is interactive on the CDC site. You can select a year and see how many people were sickened and where they live. These illnesses were first reported to PulseNet in 2012. As of December 31, 2022, information from 2,900 patients with REPJFX01 infection was reported. Illnesses caused by this strain occur all year long but are most common in the months of July and August. In all, seven outbreaks were investigated during the years of 2012 to 2022, but most were not solved … [Read more...]
McMaster Researchers Create Packaging Revealing Contamination
McMaster researchers have created food packaging that can reveal contamination of food, possibly helping prevent foodborne illness. Researchers Akansha Prasad, co-lead author of the paper that describes the invention, which was published in the journal Advanced Materials said in a statement, "This is something that can benefit everyone. We're hoping this technology will see lives, money, and food waste." Shadman Khan, co-lead author on the paper added, "We wanted to develop a system that was reliable, quick, affordable, and easy to use." The packaging will let producers, retailers, and consumers tell in real time whether the contents of a sealed food package are contaminated just by looking at it. Not having to open the package will eliminate the possibility of … [Read more...]
Public Health Alert For Park Street Deli Frozen Stuffed Chicken
A public health alert for Park Street Deli Frozen Stuffed Chicken Breast (chicken breast stuffed with broccoli) has been issued by the USDA because a processing deviation undercooked the chicken, which is labeled as ready to eat. This product should not be eaten because of this issue. No confirmed reports of adverse reactions linked to the consumption of this product have been reported to the company to date. The recalling firm is Vanguard Culinary Group, LTD of Fayetteville, North Carolina. A recall was not requested because this product is no longer available for sale. the ready to eat broccoli stuffed chicken breast was produced on December 3, 2022. It is 16 ounce (1 pound) vacuum sealed trays containing Park Street Deli Broccoli Stuffed Chicken Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast … [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...]
