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Gretchen Goetz
Articles Written by Gretchen Goetz
Subscribe to this author via RSSChorizo Possible Source of Las Vegas’s Firefly Salmonella Outbreak
Illness count jumps to 294
Epidemiologists think they have found the source of a Salmonella outbreak linked to Las Vegas’s Firefly restaurant that is now known to have sickened at least 294 people – almost 100 more illnesses than health officials previously reported. The Southern Nevada Health District announced Wednesday that the outbreak strain of Salmonella had been found in… Continue Reading
Court Extends Deadline for FSMA Rules
The Center for Food Safety’s tug-of-war with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over the agency’s delayed food safety rules continued last week as a judge ruled that FDA had more time to come up with a schedule for releasing the outstanding rules. In a ruling yesterday, Judge Phyllis Hamilton of the Oakland U.S. District… Continue Reading
Institute of Medicine: Low Salt Intake May Be Unhealthy
Health experts have long promoted one simple, consistent message when it comes to salt intake: cut back. Now, a review from the Institute of Medicine suggests that a diet too low in sodium may actually be unhealthy for those at risk for heart problems. This conclusion was drawn by a committee designated by IOM tasked… Continue Reading
Listeria in Onions, Salmonella in Mangoes Topped Last Year’s Reportable Foods List
Onions recalled for potential Listeria contamination and mangoes recalled for the possible presence of Salmonella were the foods most commonly reported by their manufacturers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between September of 2011 and September of 2012, according to a new report from the agency. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released this… Continue Reading
FDA Warns of Botulism Risk from Juice Maker’s Products
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to drink any juice from a New York-based juice maker whose manufacturing processes do not adequately prevent its products from the growth of Clostridium botulinum. According to FDA, carrot and beet juices from Juices Incorporated (aka Juices International and Juices Enterprises) of Brooklyn, N.Y. have the… Continue Reading
Raw Milk Campylobacter Outbreak on Kenai Peninsula Sickened 31
Products from cow-share linked to outbreak still pose risk
At least 31 residents of Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula were sickened early this year in a Campylobacter outbreak linked to raw milk, according to a report from state health officials. While this outbreak, which lasted from early January to mid-February, appears to be over, the farm whose raw milk caused the outbreak could still be serving… Continue Reading
FDA to Investigate Safety of Added Caffeine
Move prompted by release of new caffeinated gum
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Monday that it will reexamine the safety of caffeine added to foods. The decision was prompted by the release of a new caffeinated gum called Alert, manufactured by Wrigley, which hit markets Monday. The last time FDA looked at caffeine as a food additive was in the 1950s… Continue Reading
Ginkgo Biloba Linked to Cancer in Rats and Mice
Ginkgo biloba, the popular dietary supplement purported to have memory-enhancing properties, has been linked to cancer in rats and mice, according to a new government study. After administering ginkgo regularly to rodents over a two-year period, researchers at the National Toxicology Program (NTP) found that the animals were more likely to develop thyroid and liver… Continue Reading
Shellfish Harvest Area in Washington State Closed for Bacteria Hazard
11 other areas "threatened"
A section of water in Washington state’s Grays Harbor County has been closed off to shellfish harvest after high levels of bacteria were discovered in the area. The Washington State Department of Health announced Tuesday that waters near Ocean Shores, WA would be closed permanently for the next year, and 11 other harvest areas have… Continue Reading
Hepatitis A Outbreak in Nordic Countries Linked to Frozen Berries
A hepatitis A outbreak linked to frozen berries has sickened as many as 56 people in 4 of Europe’s Nordic countries, according to health officials. The European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday that 16 hepatitis A infections arising from the same strain of the virus have been reported in Denmark, Finland, Norway… Continue Reading
NSF Lists 5 “Germiest” Items in the Kitchen
Refrigerator's meat and vegetable compartments top the list
When people think of where germs lurk in the kitchen, the blender and can opener are not likely to be the first two places that come to mind. But these two cooking tools, along with the meat and vegetable trays in the refrigerator and rubber spatulas, top the list of the “germiest” items in the… Continue Reading