Recalls happen in the U.S. almost daily. Most consumers know not to eat or drink the recalled products and to throw them out, but one thing that’s easy to forget about is cross-contamination. Products that have been recalled often have been placed in consumers’ refrigerators, on their counters or in their cupboards. This means that…
Lifestyle
The percentage of chicken sold at smaller retailers that is contaminated with high levels of Campylobacter remains above a Food Standards Agency target. A UK-wide survey sampled 1,008 chickens from August 2019 to October 2020. It looked at levels of Campylobacter on whole fresh retail chickens from independent shops, butchers and smaller chains such as…
- Lifestyle
Publisher’s Platform: I still want to go out of business — it’s Salmonella this time
by Sue JonesOpinion Some, I am sure, are a bit tired of my ranting about the FSIS doing its job and deeming Salmonella that causes human illness an adulterant in meat. Fact, after E. coli O157:H7 was deemed an adulterant in ground beef in 1994, it took about a decade for E. coli illness cases to drop.…
Making it through this pandemic has not only been about making good public health choices, like wearing masks, socially distancing, and vaccinations. It’s also been about having tough conversations with our friends and family. But considering some 30% of adults aren’t yet fully vaccinated, there’s a good chance you’re still having some of those tough…
Here’s a rapid-test recall to know about: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recalling more than 2 million at-home COVID-19 tests made by the Australia-based company Ellume and distributed in the U.S. The FDA is describing it as a Class I recall, “the most serious type.”The FDA says this rapid-test recall is a…
Findings of E. coli in lamb and flour has triggered a warning from German authorities. Basic rules of kitchen hygiene, such as using different cutting boards for raw meat and vegetables, should be followed. Proper cooking is one of the best ways to avoid food poisoning from E. coli. As part of zoonosis monitoring in…
Great Lakes Goat Dairy is recalling Great Lakes Goat Dairy brand “Herb & Garlic Goat Cheese” and “Aged Cheddar Goat Cheese” because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. This recall was triggered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s inspection activities, according to the recall notice posted by the agency. There is concern that consumers may have…
Checks on peanuts from the United States are to be increased but controls on pistachios have been relaxed in Europe. The European Commission has updated regulation on the temporary increase of official controls and emergency measures covering the entry into the EU of certain goods from some non-EU countries. Because of non-compliances with EU requirements…
- Lifestyle
These Two States Will Let All Adults Get COVID-19 Boosters—As Long as They’ve Been Vaccinated for This Long
by Sue JonesBoth California and Colorado will allow all adults who are at least six months past their two-dose COVID-19 vaccination or two months past their J&J shot to receive vaccine boosters.Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved booster shots for adults with certain medical conditions, people 65 and older, and adults who are at…
- Lifestyle
EU survey on herbs and spices finds fraud, dyes, extraneous material, allergen risks
by Sue JonesA survey on herb and spice authenticity in Europe has found potential adulteration, illegal dyes and allergens. The work was overseen by DG SANTE, the European Commission’s health and safety body, and carried out in 21 EU member states, Switzerland and Norway. Technical support came from the Joint Research Centre, an agency that provides scientific…