The USDA has announced that it is addressing the powdered infant formula shortage and is asking states to take advantage of flexibility in the WIC (Women Infants and Children) program. The shortage was caused by pandemic-related supply chain issues and by the closure of Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, Michigan plant, where Cronobacter was found in environmental samples … Read more
The USDA is investigating a possible chicken Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak, according to their outbreak investigations response table. This is the first outbreak of a USDA-regulated food for 2022. The table did not give us any more information. We do not know if chicken is the definitive source or what type of chicken it may be, … Read more
Agricultural Research Scientists have found that fall harvested romaine is more likely to contain more E. coli bacteria and cause more outbreaks, according to the USDA. Between 1998 and 2019, there were 36 outbreaks traced back to lettuce, particularly romaine lettuce, that was harvested in the fall on the California Central Coast, and in late … Read more
The USDA tries to facilitate traceability during E. coli outbreaks by studying how the DNA of a specific population of this pathogen evolves within its natural environment, according to scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). The findings from scientists at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center at Clay Center, Nebraska is giving outbreak investigators … Read more
Learn about slow cooker food safety with tips from the USDA. Slow cookers are appliances that cook food at lower, but still safe, temperatures, for long periods of time. The food heats up quickly enough to stay safe, but cooks long enough to make tougher ingredients such as cheaper cuts of meat and root vegetables … Read more
The Super Bowl is February 13, 2021. If you are hosting guests, make your Super Bowl party a safe one with these tips from the USDA. Whether you choose cold snacks or hot ones or a combination, since the event will last at least four hours, you’ll need to keep an eye on the clock. … Read more
APHIS seized prohibited pork sourced from China, along with poultry and ruminant products from New York City retailers in the last three months of 2021, according to a press release from the USDA. APHIS is the Animal and Plant Protection Service branch of that agency. More than 1900 pounds of prohibited products were seized. The … Read more
Where are all the recalls? This year could see the lowest food recall levels in ten years. In the third quarter alone, FDA food recalls dropped more than 10%, according to Food Safety Tech. In 2020, food recalls hit an all-time low, partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There was an average of 128 recalls … Read more
It’s Thanksgiving. One of the best parts of this holiday is leftovers. So you should know how to keep Thanksgiving leftovers safe with these tips from the USDA. When you take foods out of the oven or refrigerator, set a timer and follow the two hour rule. That means that all perishable items such as … Read more
The USDA announced a new effort to reduce poultry Salmonella Illnesses, to try to achieve a national target of a 25% reduction in those illnesses. Several “key activities” are being launched to gather data and information that is needed to support future action. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement, “Far too many consumers … Read more