Today, The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) released the results of a survey of 1,710 federal food safety workers aimed at gauging their independence from business interests, and even interference from officials within their own agencies. In the wake of Wright County Egg’s salmonella outbreak, the FDA and USDA have been criticized for perceived failures
CDC Reports 1,519 Salmonella Illnesses linked to Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms
The CDC reports that from May 1 to August 31, 2010, approximately 1,519 illnesses were reported that are likely to be associated with this outbreak.
In addition, the FDA is nearing completion of initial investigations at both of these firms in Iowa. The investigations involve sampling, records review and looking for potential sources of contamination
Correction on Huron County, Michigan E. coli O157:H7 infections
We reported on Labor day weekend that health authorities in Michigan were investigating a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses that appeared to match each other, and were thus thought to have come from the same source. In fact, Michigan state and local health officials recently announced their conclusion that the three confirmed cases are
“What we’ve got here is [a] failure to communicate”
The Wall Street Journal today lambasted the USDA and FDA, though less specifically, for failure to communicate about many sanitation problems at Wright County Egg in the months during the current Salmonella debacle (a/k/a outbreak).
In written remarks, the USDA graders repeatedly noted problems with bugs, trash and egg residue. "The scanning equip[ment] had
Two Illnesses In Maine Confirmed Linked to E. coli O26 Outbreak
A report today confirms the link of two E. coli O26 infections in Maine to the Cargill outbreak and recall.
The Maine CDC has identified two adults with a matching strain of E. coli O26. The date of onset of illness for the two patients, who live in Androscoggin and Oxford counties, was July 8
More about conditions at Wright County Egg
Jens Manuel Krogstad and Phil Brasher at the Des Moines Register this morning published another article on the conditions at Wright County Egg during the egg outbreak . . . and, for some, extending back a decade or more. The reports came from past and present workers at the company.
- Dozens of chickens died
Milk recall due to failure to properly pasteurize
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today alerted consumers that Midland Farms, located in Menands, New York, is voluntarily recalling certain milk products due to the potential of improper pasteurization.
The recalled milk products are all sold in plastic containers and are marketed under the brand names Midland Farms, Corrado’s Market, Jersey Dairy Farms
US PIRG issues report on food recalls; more support for Food Safety Modernization Act
US PIRG, the federation of state public interest groups, released a report today on outbreaks and illnesses since the House’s passage of HR 2749, a/k/a the Food Safety Enhancement Act, known in its current iteration before the Senate as the Food Safety Modernization Act. The report, stamped with a red label that reads "Recipe for Disaster,"
Colorado E. coli O157 Infections a Reminder of Raw Milk’s Huge Risks
A recent raw milk outbreak of E. coli O157 among 30 plus folks in Colorado serves as an important reminder of the enormous risks associated with consumption of raw milk and raw milk products, especially for kids and the elderly.
Jennifer Brown at the Denver Post has written an excellent article on one family’s horrific
Marler Food Safety Speeches 2010 and 2011
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In between my day job as managing partner at Marler Clark, my evening job as blogger at Marler Blog and my middle of the night job as publisher at Food Safety News, I spend some time traveling the world pitching “why it is a bad idea to poison your customers.” Here are some upcoming trips: