It turns out that feces contaminated food can lead not only to the usual array of foodborne illnesses, like E. coli or salmonella, but also to something much more unexpected. Rosemary Alvarez found that out first hand when a surgeon operating on her brain for what was initially believed to be a tumor instead found…drum roll please…a worm!
WHO’s Foodborne Disease Counting and Tracking System
I wanted to follow-up to my previous post regarding the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recent announcement that much more research is needed into foodborne pathogens and their overall impact on humans.
Today I received some additional information from James R. Hollyer, Project Manager for the Agricultural Development in the American Pacific (ADAP) Project, regarding steps the WHO is already
Foodborne disease research needed
As you know, we have repeatedly made calls for more research into the public health risk known as foodborne pathogens. Yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) unequivocally agreed (although the question of funding still remains).
At a conference in Geneva, WHO’s direct of food safety, Jorgen Schlundt, announced that more research is needed to determine how much sickness and death stems from
Muskrat feces: Salmonella fighter?
You can file this entry under the "DO NOT TRY AT HOME" category. According to a new report out of South Korea, scientists have found that the excrement of muskrats – the semi-aquatic rodents prized for their musk – contains an antibiotic that can treat food poisoning.
Ki Keun Kim and colleagues at Pusan National University, South Korea
Turkey + Holidays = Foodborne Illness
While most of my postings here on the food poison blog tend to be less than joyous (but necessary given the serious nature of our business), I thought I’d take a moment and post a somewhat lighter article.
The next month and a half will bring many folks together to celebrate the holidays with family and friends. I
China’s Melamine Poisoning Problem – The Gift That Keeps Giving
As if the poisoning of tens of thousands of China’s babies was not enough, now the problem of how to get rid of the nasty, toxic chemical is causing further headache.
Disposal techniques so far have ranged from having it burned, buried and mixed into coal. The most astounding method used thus far? One trash-hauling
What’s the Best Way to Deal with the Next E. coli or Salmonella Outbreak?
Not have an outbreak in the first place!
That was the theme at the recent Fresh Summit 2008 conference, "Food Safety: Keeping Your Business Healthy," where attendees heard from panelists about the latest in regulations and safety initiatives as well as how to consider food safety investments in a return-on-investment perspective.
Bob Whitaker
Investigation Into Melamine Contamination of China’s Food Supply
As I was sitting at my desk enjoying a berry protein smoothy this morning, I logged into the Seattle Times and discovered a new article, "How toxic chemical melamine got into China’s food supply," by Maureen Fan and Ariana Eunjung Cha.
As I read, it became terrifyingly apparent how easy it was for this toxic industrial chemical to be introduced into China’s food supply, including baby formula that caused over 90,000 babies to become ill and killed at least four others.
Melamine was used because it is cheap and can mimic protein in nutrition tests for milk and in products such as wheat gluten and chicken feed. It could also be added to protein powder supplements like the kind I just consumed. But that couldn’t happen to food products sold in the US…right?
Continue Reading Investigation Into Melamine Contamination of China’s Food Supply
Rise of Recent E. coli O157:H7 Infections Tied to Biofuel?
Last year we saw a huge rise in the number of beef recalls due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination. While there were eight beef recalls in the US in 2006, the number jumped to an astounding 21 beef recalls in 2007, including the second largest beef recall in US history from Tops Meat Company. About a third of the