A new Salmonella Irumu outbreak has been added to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table, so there are now five active outbreaks on that Table. Three of the outbreaks are unsolved. Salmonella Irumu is an uncommon serotype of this pathogen. It has not been linked to any outbreaks for at least 19 years. There are 26 people sick in that outbreak. The FDA has initiated traceback, but there has been no recall, no inspections, and no samples have been collected or analyzed. The Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak in a not yet identified food has sickened at least 83 people. That number has not changed since the last update was issued. Traceback has been initiated. The outbreak linked to recalled organic bulk cucumbers caused by Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup has not … [Read more...]
FDA Revokes Regulation Allowing Brominated Vegetable Oil
The FDA has revoked the regulation allowing brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food. This oil is modified with bromine. He agency concluded that the intended use of BVO in food is no longer considered safe. A series of studies conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health found the potential for adverse human health effects from the use of brominated vegetable oil. The FDA announced plans to ban this product last year. And the state of California banned BVO along with other compounds before the FDA announced their decision. Brominated vegetable oil was removed from the Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) list in 1970. It was used in small amounts to keep the citrus flavoring from floating to the top in some beverages. Few beverages in the United States contain … [Read more...]
Do Not Eat Certain Shellfish From OR and WA Because of PSP
The FDA says consumers should not eat certain shellfish harvested from Oregon and Washington waters because they may be contaminated with paralytic shellfish poison (PSP). Restaurants and retailers should not sell these products. Retailers and restaurants in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New York, Oregon, and Washington may have purchased oysters and bay clams from growing areas in Netarts Bay and Tillamook bay, Oregon harvested on or after May 28, 2024. All shellfish from growing areas in Willapa Bay, Washington Stony Point, harvested between May 26, 2024 and May 30, 2024;5/26/24; from Bay Center, harvested between May 29, 2024 and May 30, 2024; and Bruceport, harvested between May 29, 2024 and May 30, 2024 are included. Consumers in Arizona, California, … [Read more...]
New Salmonella Outbreak on FDA Core Table Sickens 100
A new Salmonella outbreak on the FDA's Core Outbreak Investigation Table has sickened at least 100 people, according to the latest update. There are only two other outbreaks on the Table at this time: The E. coli O157:H7 outbreak allegedly linked to walnuts, and the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak that is allegedly linked to organic fresh basil. The new Salmonella outbreak is caused by Salmonella Africana, a variant that has not caused any illnesses in the United States since at least 2011. There are 100 people sick. The FDA has initiated traceback, but has not started inspections, and has not collected or tested samples. The E. coli O157:H7 outbreak allegedly linked to organic Gibson Farms walnuts remains unchanged since the last update was issued on May 1, 2024. There are 12 … [Read more...]
FDA Updates Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak
The FDA has updated information about the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak (HPAI), which has spread to dairy cows. The virus can be transmitted by wild birds of domestic poultry and other animal species. Sporadic human infections have also occurs. The "highly pathogenic" definition revers to the effect on birds, not necessarily in people. The infection in cows is causing decreased lactation, low appetite, and other symptoms in cattle. Based on information that is currently available, the commercial milk supply is still safe, according to the FDA, because of the pasteurization process and the diversion of destruction of milk from sick cows. WebMD has stated that particles of the bird flu virus have been detected in pasteurized milk, but particles of the pathogen will not … [Read more...]
New E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak on FDA CORE Table
A new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has been announced on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. There are only two active investigations on that table. The new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has sickened at least nine people. We do not know the states where the ill persons live, the patient age range, illness onset dates, or what type of food is linked to this outbreak. The FDA has started conducted traceback. The second outbreak on the table is the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak that is linked to Infinite Herbs fresh organic basil. There are at least 12 people in seven states sick in that outbreak. Two recalls have been issued in relation to that outbreak. The Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to Rizo-Lopez queso fresco and cotija cheese has ended and that investigation was … [Read more...]
FDA Updates PFAS Testing Info in the General Food Supply
The FDA is updating information on PFAS testing in the general food supply. The agency is estimating dietary exposure to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) for American consumers. The FDA has been testing fresh and processed foods for these chemicals since 2019. Nearly 1300 samples from a wide range of foods have been tested. PFAS include chemicals that resist grease, oil, water, and heat. They were first used in the 1940s and are now in hundreds of products. Some PFAS are authorized by the FDA for limited use in food packaging, cookware, and food processing equipment. Accumulation of some PFAS does occur in humans and animals. And some types of PFAS have been associated with serious health problems. Of 95 samples tested, the FDA detected PFAS in eight samples. They … [Read more...]
FDA On End of Raw Farm Raw Cheddar E. coli Outbreak
FDA on end of Raw Farm raw Cheddar cheese E. coli outbreak states that at least 11 people in five states were sickened. Five people were hospitalized, and two people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. The case count by state is: California (4), Colorado (3), New Jersey (1), Texas (1), and Utah (2). This case count has not changed since the last update was issued by the FDA and CDC on February 28, 2024. Illness onset dates ranged from October 18, 2023 to February 5, 2024. No deaths were reported. Public health officials collected various Raw Farm branded products for testing, and all samples tested negative for E. coli. But epidemiologic evidence shows that Raw Farm raw Cheddar cheese is the likely source of this outbreak. Most of the patients … [Read more...]
FDA Issues Import Alert For Foods with Chemical Contaminants
The FDA issues import alert for foods with chemical contaminants including PFAS, benzene, dioxins, and PCBs. PFAS are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, while PCBs are polychlorinated biphenyls. PFAS in the environment can get into the food supply through plants and animals that are grown or raised or processed in contaminated areas. Very small amounts of some types of PFAS can get into foods through food packaging, processing, and cookware. Exposure to high levels of PFAS can affect the immune system. Other health effects may include increases in cholesterol levels, pregnancy-induced hypertension, lower antibody response to some vaccines, and kidney and testicular cancer. Studies to confirm these effects are ongoing. PCBs are synthetic organochlorine chemicals that used to … [Read more...]
More FDA Warnings About Yellow Oleander in Supplements
The FDA is issuing more warnings about yellow oleander in supplements. So far, 18 dietary supplements have been identified as problematic. Yellow oleander is a toxic plant and can cause serious health problems that can be fatal. One of the issues is that some of the firms that produce and/or distribute these products are refusing to issue recalls. The agency is still communicating with those firms about this issue. And the FDA is evaluating any regulatory pathways they have to remove these products from the marketplace. The FDA has found that some products marketed as tejocote root, which can be identified as Crataegus mexicana, Raiz de Tejocote, and Mexican Hawthorn, may contain yellow oleander. The plant can cause serious problems with the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and … [Read more...]
