Food Safety News

Massive Recall due to Rodent and Bird Feces

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that the facility was operating under insanitary conditions, including the presence of rodent excreta, rodent urine, and bird droppings in areas where medical devices, drugs, human food, pet food, and cosmetic products were held.

Ground Beef recalled over E. coli O26

No illnesses reported to date.

Publisher's Platform: 2025 Outbreaks we will follow in 2026

I think many are looking forward to leaving 2025 and hope for a better food safety future in 2026.

Investigations target meat, honey and wine sectors in Portugal

The Portuguese Economic and Food Safety Authority (ASAE) conducted several inspections covering animal origin products to verify compliance with legal requirements regarding traceability, freezing procedures and packaging in meat product cutting rooms around Faro.

Advances in diagnostics improve food safety when interventions keep pace

Dr. Keith Warriner and Dr. Cristina Chaippe

FDA increases enforcement of import laws for seafood, candy and more

The Food and Drug Administration uses import alerts to enforce U.S. food safety regulations for food from foreign countries. The agency updates and modifies the alerts as needed.

Recent modifications to FDA’s import alerts, as posted by the agency, are listed below.

South Africa reports Listeria and Salmonella data

Listeria infections fell but Salmonella cases climbed in South Africa in 2024, according to recently released statistics.

Data comes from the Germs-SA annual review, which is compiled by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).

Lead poisoning linked to imported spices

Consumers are being warned about the risks of buying spices abroad after a case of lead poisoning in England.

The alert comes after a Northolt resident fell ill with high levels of lead in their blood. An investigation by Ealing Council and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) traced

Modest fines and water quality master ends Oklahoma v Tyson

Twenty years later, the State of Oklahoma is coming away with the win, but without as much as it sought over the years to clean up waters polluted by poultry waste.

RIVM reports rise in Salmonella and E. coli

Dutch health officials have flagged an increase in Salmonella infections and high levels of E. coli.

Figures come from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment’s (RIVM) State of Infectious Diseases, an annual report that provides an overview of notable epidemiological developments.

Oysters are likely source of Salmonella outbreak

Public health officials believe raw oysters are behind an outbreak of Salmonella infections that has sickened people from coast to coast.

Publisher's Platform: Food Safety Naughty List

My same Food Safety Elves helped weigh in on the Naughty List.  Honestly, during the joyous season, I tend to think more nice thoughts, but these on the Naughty List were hard to ignore.

Publisher's Platform: Food Safety Nice List

I reached out to many food safety elves around the world and the below was the clear consensus of who should be on the Nice List -- there were many left off the list -- but, you are still nice in my book - Happy Holidays.

Publisher's Platform: Is ByHeart formula still on store shelves? Have kids become infected with botulism AFTER the recall?

Rumor has it that cans of ByHeart are still being found on store shelves.

Here are some facts. The incubation period for infant botulism is 3-30 days. The first recall was Nov. 8 when only 13 children were confirmed ill.  As late as Dec. 3 (possibly later) FDA and

FDA letter to infant formula industry regarding safety was sent more than 2 years ago

The agency outlined specific requirements after inspecting production plants.