The headlines about Shigella have taken a sharp turn. For most of my career the bug showed up in the news the way I knew it best — a daycare outbreak, a sick restaurant worker, a batch of contaminated produce. Lately the headlines read more like something out of an STI clinic: “sexually transmitted superbug,” “drug-resistant Shigella spreading among […]
Here is the full letter The Honorable Brett Guthrie, Chairman The Honorable Frank Pallone, Jr., Ranking Member Committee on Energy and Commerce U.S. House of Representatives 2125 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Re: Support for H.R. 7867, the Infant Formula Safety Modernization Act of 2026 Dear Chairman Guthrie, Ranking Member Pallone, and Members of […]
Thank goodness for Helena Bottemiller. Full Story at https://foodfix.co/federal-court-halts-snap-restriction-pilots-in-five-states/ Here is her story that just broke. Nara Organics, the formula company that recently recalled its entire production history after three infant botulism cases were linked to its products, used the same whole milk powder supplier as ByHeart – the formula company linked to dozens of infant […]
Second infant-formula botulism outbreak in seven months; Marler Clark says the danger in whole-milk powder was documented and public long before three babies were hospitalized SEATTLE, WA — Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, has filed suit on behalf of an infant who was hospitalized with botulism after consuming Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered […]
Clostridium botulinum is an obligate anaerobic, spore-forming, Gram-positive bacillus whose primary, native habitat is the soil.[1] The bacterium that thrives in low-oxygen environments and produces botulinum neurotoxin, one of the most lethal biological substances known. While the bacteria themselves are usually harmless, the toxin they create attacks the nervous system and causes botulism, a severe paralytic illness. […]
Three babies — in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington — were hospitalized with botulism after being fed Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered Infant Formula. All three were between two and five months old. All three were treated with BabyBIG. On June 13, 2026, Nara recalled every lot. I represent families in cases like these, and […]
I asked our AI friends – What are the pros and cons of replacing FDA Commissioner Makary with me – here is the response? This is a very timely question — Makary resigned as FDA Commissioner today, May 12, 2026, amid reports of internal tensions and policy clashes, with the vaping dispute reportedly being a […]
A. The Prevalence of Listeria in Food and the Environment Listeriosis is one of the most important bacterial infections worldwide that arises mainly from the consumption of contaminated food.[1] The disease is caused by Listeria monocytogenes, which is considered an opportunistic pathogen that affects mainly those with underlying immune conditions, such as pregnant women, neonates, and elders, resulting in septicemia, […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for headcheese that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm). A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase. Headcheese is a ready-to-eat (RTE), pork deli meat product typically made from meat and seasonings that […]
The list keeps getting longer—and the regulators keep getting slower. I have spent more than thirty years representing the people the food system failed. Children on dialysis after eating a hamburger. Grandparents who never came home from a hospital after a scoop of ice cream. Pregnant women who lost babies to a sandwich. After all […]
Shining Sea Fish Co. of Detroit MI, is recalling its catch weight packages of “Ma Cohen’s Kippered Herring” smoked fish because this product consists of, uneviscerated fish longer than five inches, which has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use the […]
Stoltzfus Family Dairy recalls Sour Cream & Onion cheese curds (8 oz bags; Best by 03/25/2026, 04/23/2026, 04/29/2026, and 05/06/2026) due to potential Salmonella contamination. JCB Flavors, LLC recalls Wildlife Seasoning brand Popping Topping – Sour Cream & Onion (1.6 oz; Lot 057596; Best by 5/18/2027) due to potential Salmonella contamination. Albrights Raw Pet Foods […]
As of May 4, 2026, a total of 5 children infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Woodinville were reported from 4 states – Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma and Iowa. Illnesses started on dates ranging from February 12, 2026, to April 10, 2026. Two of these children (40%) have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
I am putting Emmy stickers on books to be sent to the Food Safety Summit in Chicago for the Food Safety News booth. Stop by and get one. I also got this email tonight – and, folks ask why I do not retire: Yesterday, I had the opportunity to watch the Netflix documentary on food […]
Summary. Generally speaking, per FDA regulations, processors of low-acid, uncanned juices must either include a warning label concerning the presence of harmful bacteria or utilize a 5-log reduction in microorganisms as part of their HACCP control measures. Since botulism operates through spores, these regulations do not directly address the risk of botulism in low-acid, uncanned juices. […]
The a2 Milk Company (“a2MC”) has voluntarily recalled three specific batches of its imported a2 Platinum Premium USA label infant formula 0-12 months (“Product”) due to the presence of cereulide. The Product is sold only in the United States. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced by some strains of the bacterium Bacillus cereus. Illness occurs […]