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Food Safety Advocate Proposes 'Project 2027' to Revitalize U.S. Food Safety Standards

Food Safety Advocate Proposes 'Project 2027' to Revitalize U.S. Food Safety Standards

A prominent food safety advocate has introduced 'Project 2027,' a comprehensive agenda aimed at revitalizing U.S. food safety. The advocate highlights a series of setbacks in federal food safety oversight over the past two years. These include the USDA withdrawing its Salmonella framework for raw poultry in April 2025, the CDC cutting its FoodNet pathogen surveillance system from eight to two pathogens in July 2025, and the Justice Department eliminating its Consumer Protection Branch in September 2025. Additionally, a law in November 2025 barred the FDA from enforcing its traceability rule before July 2028. These changes have coincided with significant outbreaks, such as the largest Cyclospora outbreak in U.S. history and botulism cases in infants linked to powdered formula, which federal rules do not require testing for. The advocate argues that many of these rollbacks were administrative and can be reversed.

FDA Researchers Develop Hydrologic Model to Assess Leafy Greens' Exposure to Livestock Runoff

FDA Researchers Develop Hydrologic Model to Assess Leafy Greens' Exposure to Livestock Runoff

Researchers from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have created a new hydrologic modeling framework designed to identify leafy greens farms at risk of contamination from upstream livestock operations during rainfall events. This model, detailed in a study accepted for publication in the Journal of Food Protection, focuses on California’s Salinas Valley, a significant region for leafy greens production that has been linked to multiple outbreaks of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). The framework combines rainfall-derived runoff estimates with mapped surface-water drainage networks to connect livestock operations with downstream produce farms. It incorporates characteristics such as estimated cattle capacity and the distance runoff travels along drainage pathways. The study analyzed 48 rainfall events between 2018 and 2021 across a 1,239-square-kilometer area of the Salinas Valley, identifying 1,818 hydrologic connections between 58 livestock pastures and 277 downstream farms. The findi...

Montgomery County Health Department Launches 'No Vape November' to Combat Youth Vaping Epidemic

Montgomery County Health Department Launches 'No Vape November' to Combat Youth Vaping Epidemic

The Montgomery County Health Department in Clarksville, Tennessee, has initiated 'No Vape November,' a campaign designed to raise public awareness about the youth vaping epidemic in the state and to promote available resources for prevention and cessation. According to Director Joey Smith, tobacco use remains a leading cause of death in Tennessee, and this initiative aims to empower the current generation to end nicotine addiction. The U.S. Surgeon General has declared youth e-cigarette use an epidemic, with a 2022 study by the FDA and CDC estimating that over 2.5 million U.S. middle and high school students currently use electronic cigarettes. In Tennessee specifically, nearly one in five high school students reported vaping within the past 30 days. The Tennessee Department of Health, through its TNSTRONG program, has provided 'No Vape November' toolkits to local health departments to support these efforts.

Breakfast sandwiches sold to employee break rooms, cafes recalled

Breakfast sandwiches sold to employee break rooms, cafes recalled

The potentially contaminated sandwiches could lead to serious illness for some consumers. Here's what to to know about the recall.

Interval Training Offers Versatile Approach to Fitness Routines

Interval Training Offers Versatile Approach to Fitness Routines

Interval Training Offers Versatile Approach to Fitness Routines

Food Safety Advocate Calls for Congressional Action to Restore Food Safety Programs Amid Cuts

Food Safety Advocate Calls for Congressional Action to Restore Food Safety Programs Amid Cuts

A prominent food safety advocate, Sarah Sorscher, Director of Regulatory Affairs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), has outlined a series of urgent actions for the next Congress to address what she describes as a broken food system. Her recommendations include restoring FoodNet, a program that tracks foodborne infections, which was quietly cut by the CDC in July 2025. The cuts reduced monitoring from eight pathogens to two, making Campylobacter, Cyclospora, Listeria, Shigella, Vibrio, and Yersinia optional to track. Additionally, she highlighted the March 2025 HHS announcement to cut 3,500 people from the FDA, including approximately 170 inspectors, and the withdrawal of the USDA's proposed Salmonella framework for raw poultry in April 2025. Sorscher also calls for closing the 'GRAS loophole' which allows companies to self-certify new food chemical uses as safe without premarket review.

USDA Recommends 7-Day Refrigeration Limit for Hard-Boiled Eggs to Ensure Safety

USDA Recommends 7-Day Refrigeration Limit for Hard-Boiled Eggs to Ensure Safety

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) advises that hard-boiled eggs, whether peeled or unpeeled, should be consumed within seven days of cooking and stored in the refrigerator. This guideline is crucial for preventing foodborne illnesses, as cooking eggs creates a thin layer of moisture under the shell, which can foster bacterial growth. The clock for this seven-day period begins the moment the eggs are cooked, not when they are peeled. Furthermore, cooked eggs must be refrigerated within two hours of coming out of the pot, or within one hour if the ambient temperature is above 90°F (32°C). Failure to adhere to this two-hour rule invalidates the seven-day storage recommendation. The USDA emphasizes that while cooking kills initial bacteria, it does not protect the egg from spoilage indefinitely, making proper and timely refrigeration essential.

Whole Foods Market Recalls Ashwagandha Capsules Nationwide Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

Whole Foods Market Recalls Ashwagandha Capsules Nationwide Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

Whole Foods Market, in collaboration with Vitality Works Inc., has issued a nationwide recall for one lot of its 365 Whole Foods Market Standardized + Full Spectrum Blend Ashwagandha Capsules. The recall, announced on October 30, 2026, affects 120-count bottles of the supplement due to potential Salmonella contamination. The affected products, identified by batch number 2025-26227, UPC 9948252099, and an expiration date of October 13, 2028, were sold at Whole Foods Market stores across the U.S. and on Amazon.com between November 24, 2025, and October 20, 2026. The potential contamination was discovered during routine testing of a retail sample. As of the recall announcement, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this product. Consumers are advised not to consume the recalled capsules.

Virginia Officials Extend Oyster Harvesting Ban on Little Wicomico River Due to Salmonella Outbreak

Virginia Officials Extend Oyster Harvesting Ban on Little Wicomico River Due to Salmonella Outbreak

Virginia health officials have extended the closure of oyster harvesting on the Little Wicomico River following the confirmation of additional positive Salmonella test results in oysters from the waterway. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced the extension, effective November 8, after samples collected on October 13 and October 21 tested positive for Salmonella. This closure is linked to a multistate Salmonella outbreak that health officials believe originated from raw oysters harvested in the river. The investigation, involving state and federal public health agencies like the CDC and FDA, has identified 28 cases across 13 states with a genetically related strain of Salmonella Telelkebir. Of these, 11 individuals reported consuming raw oysters, with the Little Wicomico River identified as the probable source. Three Virginia residents are among the reported cases. The affected oysters were harvested by Little Wicomico Oyster Company (VA-1421-SP) between September 18 and October 8, leading to a...

UPSIDE Foods Faces Setback in Florida Cultivated Chicken Ban Appeal

UPSIDE Foods Faces Setback in Florida Cultivated Chicken Ban Appeal

UPSIDE Foods Faces Setback in Florida Cultivated Chicken Ban Appeal

Vegetarian Resource Group Advocates for Clear Definition of Ultra-Processed Foods and Elimination of Animal Industry Subsidies

Vegetarian Resource Group Advocates for Clear Definition of Ultra-Processed Foods and Elimination of Animal Industry Subsidies

The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) has submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the development of a definition for 'ultra-processed' foods. The organization emphasized the importance of an accurate definition based on scientific papers. Additionally, a correspondent, Nick K., encouraged the USDA, FDA, and Congress to eliminate all subsidies to animal industries in the upcoming Farm Bill. This move, according to Nick K., would likely make animal products more expensive, potentially leading more people to adopt vegetarian diets out of economic necessity. The VRG also addressed consumer inquiries, including requests for sources of cloth vegan belts and recommendations for vegan kibble brands for dogs, suggesting llbean.com for belts and Wild Earth, Halo, and Petaluma for dog food.

U.S. Measles Cases Exceed 5,000, Raising Concerns Ahead of Holidays

U.S. Measles Cases Exceed 5,000, Raising Concerns Ahead of Holidays

More than 5,000 measles cases have been reported across the United States this year, marking a significant surge in the infectious disease. This increase has prompted growing concerns, particularly as the holiday season approaches, a period often associated with increased travel and social gatherings. The current figures indicate a dangerous high for measles cases in the U.S., as reported by NBC News’ Aaron Gilchrist on November 8, 2026. The rapid spread of the disease highlights ongoing public health challenges and the importance of vaccination efforts to control outbreaks. The situation suggests a potential for further escalation if preventative measures are not effectively reinforced.