Monthly Archives August 2018

People who consumed salads from McDonald’s restaurants continue to suffer from Cyclospora infections, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta reports.  As of Thursday (Aug. 23), CDC said there was a total of 507 laboratory-confirmed cases of Cyclospora infections in people who consumed salads from McDonald’s restaurants. The cases were reported... Continue Reading Read More

Smartphones, tablets and other personal electronic devices, known as PEDs, in the past decade have increasingly been found in the kitchen. The only trouble is cell phones are well known for harboring bacteria, including “opportunistic human pathogens.” That raises a question because research on pathogen contamination on smartphones in “nonclinical’ settings, including those involving food... Continue Reading Read More

Opinion Nearly 300 people got sick after eating at a McDonalds in Brevard, NC, in what authorities believe is a case of norovirus spread through human contact. This is different from the other recent widespread foodborne illness outbreak at McDonalds, with 400 people – across 15 states – becoming ill after eating the fast food... Continue Reading Read More

County health officials in Ohio say although food samples from a Chipotle restaurant, as well as stool samples from people who ate there, initially tested negative for Clostridium perfringens bacteria, follow up tests by the CDC show that’s what made the customers sick. Confirmation test results on the food are pending. A specific food has... Continue Reading Read More

Back-to-school season is upon us and there are simple tips and tricks that can help parents and kids alike pack pathogen-free lunches. Number one list? Handwashing It’s the first step in avoiding foodborne illnesses. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, a recent study by the USDA found that 97 percent of the times study participants should... Continue Reading Read More

In the past three weeks the number of people confirmed with Salmonella infections has increased 300 percent in an outbreak traced to raw frozen chicken products. Canadian officials continue to warn consumers to check their freezers for the implicated products. As of Aug. 10, an additional 21 people were confirmed as outbreak victims, bringing the... Continue Reading Read More

Opinion It seems like edible cannabis is available everywhere these days. Dispensaries are popping up around the country, and people can easily purchase edible marijuana online, including on popular e-retail sites like Etsy and Amazon. It’s available in a variety of forms, including capsules, lollipops, gummy bears, cookies, chocolate bars and brownies. All you have to do... Continue Reading Read More

In the past week, another 41 people were confirmed infected by Cyclospora parasites in an outbreak traced to Fresh Express salad mix used in salads sold by McDonald’s. Of the 436 sick people, 20 have had such severe symptoms that they had to be admitted to hospitals, according to this week’s update from the Centers... Continue Reading Read More

I just learned one of my friends is pregnant,  It made me think about food safety during pregnancy and I thought I would share my thoughts. Raw/undercooked meat Meat needs to be cooked to 160 degrees to kill bacteria that could cause coli or Salmonella Imported soft cheeses Imported soft cheeses such as brie, camembert,... Continue Reading Read More

The USDA has given more than $450,000 for a research project designed to increase the safety of certain commercially farmed oysters from the Gulf Coast that are “bound for the premium half-shell market.” A marine scientist at Auburn University, Bill Walton, is known as one of the driving forces behind the Gulf Coast’s up-and-coming, off-bottom... Continue Reading Read More