At least 12 people – primarily children – have likely fallen ill after visiting a petting zoo at a fair in Brisbane, Australia. Four people, including three girls between the ages of six and 13, have tested positive for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in connection with the Ekka, an annual fair-like agricultural show in Queensland. Health officials in Queensland announced on Monday that another eight visitors had fallen ill with symptoms of E. coli infection. They are still awaiting test results to confirm their infections. At least one patient, a 68-year-old man, has been hospitalized. The state’s chief health officer advised anyone who visited the farm-animal petting area at the Ekka and then experienced bloody or persistent diarrhea to seek medical attention. Health investigators are working to determine which animals at the exhibit may have been carrying the bacteria. Last year, a toddler died after contracting an E. coli infection at a state fair in North Carolina. Food Safety News published an in-depth report this past November on related illness outbreaks: “The Petting Zoo Problem.”
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Authorities in Lithuania are investigating two cases of foodborne botulism linked to fish sold at a market.
The State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) conducted an inspection at a market
Parents in Arizona are reporting that their children became infected with E. coli after interaction with animals at the Arizona State Fair petting zoo.
A non-profit group that works with
A Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak traced to eggs that sickened more than 100 people has been declared over by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There were 105 confirmed patients
Rwanda has lifted a ban on some South African food products that was put in place in 2017 because of a Listeria outbreak that sickened more than 1,000 people.
Mahrousa brand tahini is being recalled in Canada because of Salmonella contamination.
The implicated tahini is sold in jars with Arabic writing on the labels. The labels do not have
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded a warning about oysters from Canada because of contamination with norovirus.
Previously the FDA warned of oysters harvested only on Dec.
As part of its enforcement activities, the Food and Drug Administration sends warning letters to entities under its jurisdiction. Some letters are not posted for public view until weeks or
Registration is now open for the 2026 Food Safety Summit, taking place May 11–14 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.
Recognized as one of the
