Opinion
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Thursday that a multi-state Salmonella outbreak was likely caused by the consumption of cucumbers imported from Mexico. The announcement came one day after USA Today reporter Liz Szabo reported that the FDA would be conducting 18 percent fewer food inspections this year due to a loss… Continue Reading
Opinion
Consider the following hypothetical scenario: Working together, a public health authority, a health management organization and some major food processors have set up a non-profit food safety monitoring center. This center has created a website that invites members of the public to report possible food-related illnesses, and has widely distributed a free smartphone app for… Continue Reading
The Microbiological Data Program, which used to conduct 80 percent of all federal produce testing for pathogens like Salmonella and Listeria, officially shut down on December 31, a U.S. Department of Agriculture official confirmed. The $4.5 million program had been in shutdown mode since mid-November. State agriculture departments, which tested samples of leafy greens, melons,… Continue Reading
Editor’s Note: We continue today with our look back at what happened in 2012 with the Top Ten Most Important Stories of 2012 as selected by the writers and editors of Food Safety News. Like yesterday’s Reader’s Choices, the stories that drove Food Safety News’ readership to new heights, the Top Ten is a way… Continue Reading
The 1958 science fiction movie “The Blob” remains a classic because it introduced the great Steve McQueen in a leading role. Probably because the horror flick about a giant amoeba-like space alien landing in Pennsylvania continues to entertain audiences on our many movie channels, an academic debate of sorts comes and goes. “What did the… Continue Reading
After months of uncertainty over the future of the program, the Agricultural Marketing Service’s Microbiological Data Program, which tests produce for disease-causing pathogens like E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Listeria, has officially gone into shutdown mode, a U.S. Department of Agriculture official confirmed Tuesday. Department officials told states that participate in the $4.5 million program… Continue Reading
Charlotte, North Carolina-based Fresh Express is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of spinach because it may be contaminated with Salmonella. The problem was discovered after Salmonella was detected in a random sample of the spinach collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “random sample testing program,” according to the company press release. This program is… Continue Reading
Killer cantaloupes could kill the cantaloupe business, and thus something must be done to ensure the safety of these fruits. After Colorado cantaloupes were found to be at the center of the nation’s most deadly foodborne illness outbreak in a century last year, California growers led an intense nationwide campaign to improve practices, especially those… Continue Reading
Fresh Express has recalled an expired produce product because a test on one package came back positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled 9 0z. Leafy Green Romaine Salad carry the expired use-by date of September 16. Consequently, the recalled product is no longer available in stores. Fresh Express issued the recall to cover the unlikely… Continue Reading
As many as one-half million California-grown cantaloupes were recalled Thursday “out of an abundance of caution” by Fresno-based DFI Marketing Inc. Most have already been consumed without any illnesses being associated with them. But a single sample in a test by USDA’ Microbiological Data Program (MDP) did come back positive for Salmonella and that prompted… Continue Reading
Testing conducted by the government’s Microbiological Data Program (MDP) has prompted a recall of cilantro for potential Salmonella contamination, marking the second time this week and the third time this month that the produce testing program – scheduled to be terminated at the end of the year – has sparked a recall. Because of MDP’s… Continue Reading