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FDA Closes Multiple Outbreak Files, Names Romaine and Parsley as Likely Sources in Some Cases

FDA Closes Multiple Outbreak Files, Names Romaine and Parsley as Likely Sources in Some Cases

The FDA has closed six outbreak investigation files, accounting for 540 illnesses, with some cases identifying romaine lettuce and parsley as likely sources. One file, ref #1402, involving 43 *Salmonella* I 4,[5],12:i:- cases, named romaine lettuce as the likely source, though environmental samples were negative and the product was past its shelf life. Another file, ref #1392, closed with 175 *Cyclospora* cases, identifying parsley as the source. A new file, ref #1396, was opened and closed the same day with 66 cases but no food identified. Additionally, the 119-person *Salmonella Newport* file, the 99-person Oranienburg file, and a 38-person *Cyclospora* file were closed without specific food sources being named. The FDA stated that for romaine and parsley, no grower, brand, or state was identified because the products were past their shelf life. Separately, the CDC and FDA closed the Evergreen Fresh Sprouts outbreak, which sickened 34 people in six states, tracing the seed to New Zealand but not naming t...
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Lidl US Gelato Recall Upgraded to Highest Risk Level Over Listeria Concerns

Lidl US Gelato Recall Upgraded to Highest Risk Level Over Listeria Concerns

Lidl US has upgraded the recall of its Gelatelli Coffee & Vanille Gelato with Coffee Sauce & Cookie Pieces to a Class 1 recall, the highest risk level designated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This upgrade occurred on November 3, following routine testing that detected the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in a lab sample of the product. The recall, initially initiated by Lidl US on October 16, involves 1-pint containers with UPC 4 0564897 22458, lot number 085261, and a 'best by' date of March 26, 2028. The affected gelato was distributed to all Lidl US retail stores across Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia between July 19 and October 15 of this year.
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Taylor Farms Mexico Linked to Cyclospora Outbreak, Raising Food Safety Concerns

Taylor Farms Mexico Linked to Cyclospora Outbreak, Raising Food Safety Concerns

A multistate Cyclospora outbreak has sickened 11,458 people across 20 U.S. states, linked to imported iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms Mexico in Guanajuato, Mexico. This incident has brought the U.S. food safety system under intense scrutiny, highlighting challenges in real-time regulatory oversight, foreign facility inspections, and international supply chain traceability. Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite, is spread through feces-contaminated food or water and is difficult to detect and trace due to its unique characteristics, such as not growing easily in laboratory cultures and requiring specialized testing. The outbreak has prompted questions about the effectiveness of current food safety measures, particularly concerning imported produce. The FDA's Food Traceability Rule, designed to enhance traceability for high-risk foods, saw a 30-month enforcement delay in 2025, a decision that has drawn political scrutiny due to campaign contributions from agricultural industry figures, including Taylor Farms ...
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SLR Food Distribution Inc. Recalls Ground Cinnamon in 14 States Due to Lead Contamination

SLR Food Distribution Inc. Recalls Ground Cinnamon in 14 States Due to Lead Contamination

SLR Food Distribution Inc. has announced a recall of its Wise Wife Brand Ground Cinnamon across 14 U.S. states. This action follows testing by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, which detected elevated levels of lead in the product. The recalled cinnamon, packaged in 3.88-ounce clear plastic containers with black screw-top caps, has a UPC of 0688474302754 and a best-before date of April 25, 2027. It was distributed to retail and grocery stores in Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin between September 8, 2025, and June 28, 2026. No illnesses related to this contamination have been reported to date. Consumers are advised to discard the product or return it for a refund.
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Dallas County Investigates Potential E. coli Outbreak Linked to State Fair of Texas Petting Zoo

Dallas County Investigates Potential E. coli Outbreak Linked to State Fair of Texas Petting Zoo

Dallas County health officials are investigating nine suspected cases of E. coli infection in children and families who visited the State Fair of Texas. The common link among these cases appears to be exposure to the livestock and petting zoo areas at Fair Park. Doctors initially noted a pattern of sick children whose parents mentioned recent visits to the fair. This investigation follows a broader concern regarding animal-contact illnesses, with a new CDC study estimating approximately one million illnesses annually in the U.S. linked to animal contact, resulting in nearly 9,600 hospitalizations and 236 deaths. The study highlights that Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), which can cause severe kidney failure (hemolytic uremic syndrome), accounts for an estimated 134,738 animal-contact illnesses, 960 hospitalizations, and 19 deaths per year. This incident in Texas is one of three recent E. coli investigations across different states, including Illinois and California, all linked to animal exhibits.
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FDA Recommends Avoiding Fridge Door Storage for Perishable Foods to Prevent Spoilage

FDA Recommends Avoiding Fridge Door Storage for Perishable Foods to Prevent Spoilage

FDA Recommends Avoiding Fridge Door Storage for Perishable Foods to Prevent Spoilage
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FDA Closes Investigation into Romaine Lettuce Salmonella Outbreak, Leaving Key Questions Unanswered

FDA Closes Investigation into Romaine Lettuce Salmonella Outbreak, Leaving Key Questions Unanswered

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded its investigation into a Salmonella outbreak linked to romaine lettuce that sickened 43 people in the U.S. The agency closed the investigation with a brief 102-word notice, without disclosing the brand or grower of the implicated lettuce, nor the ages or locations of the affected patients. According to Food Safety News, by the time the FDA confirmed romaine lettuce as the source of the outbreak, the contaminated products were past their shelf life and no longer available for sale. No samples tested positive for the outbreak strain, despite the FDA's investigation including supply chain tracing, site visits, and sample testing.
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FDA Elevates Lidl Gelatelli Gelato Recall to Class I Due to Listeria Contamination Risk

FDA Elevates Lidl Gelatelli Gelato Recall to Class I Due to Listeria Contamination Risk

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has upgraded the recall of Lidl's Gelatelli Coffee and Vanilla Gelato to a Class I recall, its highest risk classification. This decision follows confirmed positive test results for *Listeria monocytogenes*, a dangerous foodborne bacterium. Lidl US initially issued a voluntary recall for 1,122 pints of Naturally Flavored Gelatelli Coffee & Vanilla Gelato with Coffee Sauce & Cookie Pieces on October 16, 2026. The FDA's enforcement alert, issued on November 3, confirmed the presence of Listeria, prompting the elevated classification. The affected product is the 16-ounce size with UPC 4 056489 722458 and an expiration date of March 26, 2028. It was sold in Lidl stores across Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and the District of Columbia between July 19 and October 15, 2026. Consumers are advised to check their freezers for this specific product and avoid consumption.
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ASTHO's 'Public Health Review Morning Edition' Podcast Receives Anthem Award for Timely Health News

ASTHO's 'Public Health Review Morning Edition' Podcast Receives Anthem Award for Timely Health News

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) podcast, 'Public Health Review Morning Edition,' has been honored with a Bronze Anthem Award in the Public Health, Health category. This award recognizes the podcast's significant role in delivering timely public health news, expert perspectives, and practical lessons to health professionals across the United States. Since its launch in 2021, the podcast has produced over 1,200 episodes and garners nearly 10,000 monthly listens. It covers a wide array of critical public health issues, including policy, funding, workforce development, emergency preparedness, and infectious diseases. The podcast has featured prominent figures such as former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams and former CDC directors Mandy Cohen and Robert Redfield.
ReutersReuters
Wisconsin reports infant death linked to measles outbreak

Wisconsin reports infant death linked to measles outbreak

By Siddhi Mahatole Nov 5 (Reuters) - The Wisconsin Department of Health Services said on Thursday that an infant had died in connection with the ongoing measles outbreak in the state.
ReutersReuters
US measles cases climb above 5,000 for first time since 1991

US measles cases climb above 5,000 for first time since 1991

Nov 6 (Reuters) - US measles cases have surged to 5,182 so far this year, the highest annual total recorded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 35 years, as the disease continues to spread across the country.
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Virginia Braces for Uncertain Winter Amid Strong El Niño

Virginia Braces for Uncertain Winter Amid Strong El Niño

Meteorologist George Flickinger has released his Winter Weather Outlook for Virginia, highlighting the potential impacts of one of the strongest El Niño events on record. This weather pattern is expected to bring heavy rain to the Southwest and Gulf Coast states, with significant snowfall in the Colorado mountains. However, its effects on Virginia remain uncertain. Historical analysis of similar El Niño events suggests snowfall totals could range from 10 to 35 inches across various cities, including Lynchburg, Roanoke, and Blacksburg. The drought persisting since 2025 may influence precipitation patterns, with wetter conditions anticipated later in the winter. Temperature trends are also unclear, with potential variability from month to month. Seasonal forecasts remain challenging, and individual storms will provide more accurate predictions as they develop. (Source time: 2026-11-05 23:50:37 UTC)