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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.

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

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.

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 ...

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.

Cyclospora Outbreaks Lead to $374 Million Loss in Bagged Salad Sales

Cyclospora Outbreaks Lead to $374 Million Loss in Bagged Salad Sales

Cyclospora Outbreaks Lead to $374 Million Loss in Bagged Salad Sales

Whole Foods Market Recalls Ashwagandha Supplement Due to Salmonella Risk

Whole Foods Market Recalls Ashwagandha Supplement Due to Salmonella Risk

Vitality Works Inc. has initiated a recall of 120-count bottles of 365 Whole Foods Market Ashwagandha in its Standardized and Full Spectrum Blend formulation. The recall, announced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 30, is due to concerns about possible salmonella contamination. The affected product, lot number 2025-26227, has an expiration date of October 13, 2028. Sales of these capsules occurred between November 24, 2025, and October 20, 2026. The supplement was sold nationwide through Amazon and in Whole Foods Market stores across 30 states and Washington, D.C. Routine testing of a retail-purchased unit revealed the potential contamination, though Vitality Works has not reported any illnesses related to the recall.

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.

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.

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.

Blacklegged Tick Activity Persists in Fall and Warmer Winter Days, Posing Continued Risk

Blacklegged Tick Activity Persists in Fall and Warmer Winter Days, Posing Continued Risk

Blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, remain active during the fall months and can re-emerge to seek hosts on warmer winter days, even when temperatures decrease. These ticks become active again in autumn, actively searching for a host before the onset of deep winter. During periods when winter temperatures rise above freezing, blacklegged ticks can also become mobile. This persistent activity means that outdoor activities such as raking leaves, hiking, or hunting can bring individuals into contact with ticks, particularly in regions like the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Upper Midwest. Blacklegged ticks are known carriers of various infections, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using EPA-registered repellents, checking oneself, children, and pets after being outdoors, showering within two hours of coming inside, and drying outdoor clothing on high heat for 10 minutes.

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.