All articles tagged with #food recalls
Infectious Updates reports rising cases of bird flu affecting poultry, a new promising Salmonella vaccine trial, ongoing West Nile virus fatalities, and multiple food recalls due to contamination, highlighting ongoing infectious disease challenges and vaccine developments.
Federal regulators have found radioactive cesium 137 in Indonesian-imported shrimp and spices, prompting recalls and ongoing investigations into the contamination source, which may stem from recycled metal or industrial waste in Indonesia. Consumers are advised to avoid affected products, though current contamination levels are below health concern thresholds.
Several food recalls have been issued nationwide, including over 72,000 pounds of ready-to-eat beef, chicken, and pork products due to Listeria contamination, Kirkland eggs from Costco for potential Salmonella, and vegetable medleys linked to an E. coli outbreak. Cucumbers and bagged salads are also recalled for Salmonella risks. Consumers are advised to check their kitchens and dispose of or return affected products.
Texas Health and Human Services has linked certain food products to a deadly Listeria outbreak, resulting in two deaths and over two dozen illnesses. Recalled items include dairy products, salad kits, and sauces sold at various stores in Texas, with a particular warning for queso fresco and cotija cheese from Rizo Lopez Foods Inc. Consumers are advised to check the FDA website for the full list of recalled items.
Food recalls in the US are often triggered by the presence of foreign objects, such as rocks, insects, plastic, and metal fragments, in packaged goods. These extraneous materials have become one of the top reasons for food recalls, surpassing recalls due to bacterial contamination. While some contamination may be expected and economically impractical to eliminate entirely, detection methods have improved in recent years. However, manufacturers may still miss some unwanted materials, leading to recalls. Companies are becoming more cautious and recalling products more frequently to avoid lawsuits and protect consumers. Recalled food is often discarded, and consumers are advised to notify manufacturers if they find foreign materials in their food.
Food recalls in the US have been on the rise due to contamination with foreign objects such as rocks, insects, and plastic. These extraneous materials, including metal fragments, rubber gaskets, and bugs, are one of the top reasons for food recalls. In 2022, there were nine recalls of over 477,000 pounds of food due to extraneous materials, triple the number of recalls for E. coli contamination. While detection methods have improved, manufacturers still occasionally miss unwanted objects. Recalls are often voluntary, but regulators can request or mandate them. Companies are becoming more cautious due to consumer preferences and the risk of lawsuits. Although actual contamination may be limited, entire batches of food are often recalled as a precaution, resulting in significant waste. Consumers are advised to notify manufacturers if they find foreign materials in their food, but the risk of contamination can never be completely eliminated.