An editorial from today’s Bismark Tribune hits the nail squarely on the head–the job of public health departments is to protect and oversee the public’s health. That’s why it is somewhat frustrating that many months after 150 people became ill from Salmonella infections after consuming or being exposed to contaminated food prepared by an unlicensed
FDA Stops Cargill Canola Oil From Canada Due to Salmonella
The FDA refused 19 shipments of Canadian canola meal from Cargill in October after finding they contained the harmful bacteria salmonella, according to Reuters. According to the report:
The shipments all come from Cargill’s Clavet, Saskatchewan canola-crushing plant, according to reports posted on the FDA’s website. The plant was already under shipping restrictions
Antibiotic Resistant Salmonella Isolated in Retail Meats in U.S.
Ok, I admit that even the abstract from this article goes a bit over my head. What I can decipher is scary enough – "Our findings indicate a varied spectrum of co-resistance traits is present in [antibiotic resistant] Salmonella in the U.S. meat supply." The study was conducted on strains of Salmonella detected in retail meat
Report on Turtle Salmonella Outbreak Published in “Pediatrics”
Earlier this week, we reported here on the multi-state outbreak of Salmonella linked to pet turtles. 107 people were sickened in the outbreak, primarily children. A report on the outbreak was published this week in the medical journal "Pediatrics." Here is a link to the abstract of the article.
The basics of the outbreak:
We identified 107 patients with
Salmonella Illnesses Linked to Pet Turtles
According to the AP, 107 people in 34 states were part of an outbreak of Salmonella linked to pet turtles. The outbreak occurred in 2007-2008. Most of those sickened were children, and roughly one-third of those involved required hospitalization.
Few parents recognize the risks posed by pet turtles:
Despite a 1975 ban on selling
Michael Pollan Lists His 20 Favorite Food Rules
After issuing a request for readers of the New York Times to submit their favorite rules about eating well, author Michael Pollan, of The Omnivore’s Dilemma fame, has posted twenty of his favorites. He starts with my personal favorite, "Don’t eat egg salad from a vending machine." No really, please don’t.
Check out the other nineteen
Salmonella and Campylobacter Increase Chances of IBD
A newly published report provides more evidence of the long-term risks associated with foodborne pathogens Salmonella and Campylobacter. Research by Dr. Lyn Sue Kahng was published in the journal "Gastroenterology" looking at the connection between these bacterial infections and Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD). IBD is, according to the Mayo clinic:
"a common disorder
Bacteria in Leafy Greens – Following the Light?
New research conducted in Israel suggests that the method that some bacteria, including Sallmonella, are enetering leafy greens is connected to light exposure, as reported today on an L.A. Times blog.
The new study was published in the journal "Applied and Environmental Microbiology." The findings, as reported by the L.A. Times:
Salmonella penetrates the lettuce leaf’s
Salmonella in Austraila Linked to “Pawpaw”
They say you learn something new everyday, and even though its not lunchtime, I am ahead of that pace today. The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that several Salmonella illnesses in Western Australia have been linked to "pawpaw.":
West Australians have been warned to thoroughly wash pawpaw following several cases of food poisoning, including one
A question about the FDA’s Reportable Food Registry
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On Tuesday, the FDA certainly took a step in the right direction by implementing the Reportable Food Registry, under federal regulations codified at 21 USC 350f. The FDA’s action essentially requires any food producer who knows of a microbial risk (e.g. bacteria or virus that can make you sick) in a food it produced