After 25 years doing food litigation, I am seldom surprised by the announcement of a foodborne illness outbreak. It was no different last Friday when Indiana announced a multi-state Salmonella outbreak linked to cut fruit — mainly melons sold at large retailers in several states. Over the years, people in
Continue Reading Publisher’s Platform: FDA continues its role as Chicken Little
I.M. Healthy soy nut butter
Top food safety stories include regs, recalls, respects this year
Editor’s Note: The Food Safety News list of the year’s most significant news is compiled annually by our writers and editors. The list for 2017 is not led by any one or two blockbuster food safety stories, but it also won’t be quickly forgotten.
It was a year when there…
Continue Reading Top food safety stories include regs, recalls, respects this year
Publisher’s Platform: What the Hell?
After sickening more than 30 people with E. coli O157:H7 – including several kids with acute kidney failure – you would think that all this tainted product would be off the market – but no.
So one must ask, Food and Drug Administration, companies, what are you doing?
I received…
Continue Reading Publisher’s Platform: What the Hell?
SoyNut Butter Co. bankrupt because of E. coli outbreak
The SoyNut Butter Co. has filed for bankruptcy, citing an E. coli outbreak linked to its I.M. Healthy brand peanut butter substitute and manufacturer Dixie Dew Products as the causes for its financial failure.
The Glenview, IL, soy butter company’s president and 90-percent shareholder Stephen Grubb listed some victims of…
Continue Reading SoyNut Butter Co. bankrupt because of E. coli outbreak
CDC says soy nut butter outbreak ‘over’ — but threat continues
Although the government has posted its final update on the E. coli outbreak traced to SoyNut Butter Co. products — reporting 32 people across a dozen states confirmed sick — there is an ongoing threat and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is repeating earlier warnings.
“The recalled SoyNut…
Continue Reading CDC says soy nut butter outbreak ‘over’ — but threat continues
Beach Beat: Public’s right to know should trump trade secrets
ICYMI, as the texters say, the FDA finally came clean about a dirty food production operation, naming Dixie Dew Products Inc. as the manufacturer of soy-based goo marketed as an allergen-free alternative to peanut butter.
The revelation Friday evening came weeks after FDA inspectors found filthy conditions, insect infestation and…
Continue Reading Beach Beat: Public’s right to know should trump trade secrets
FDA shuts down soy nut butter maker linked to E. coli outbreak
The FDA has finally named and shut down the manufacturer of soy nut butter implicated in an ongoing nationwide E. coli outbreak, noting that records and employees at Dixie Dew Products Inc. revealed food safety violations going back at least 15 years.
Federal officials say they believe all of the…
Continue Reading FDA shuts down soy nut butter maker linked to E. coli outbreak
Tainted soy butter spurs recalls one by one; FDA remains mum
As federal officials remain silent on sales and distribution details about a soy-based peanut butter substitute linked to a nationwide E. coli outbreak, secondary recalls of products made with the tainted soy butter have begun, leaving consumers to wonder how long they will have to wait for companies to voluntarily…
Continue Reading Tainted soy butter spurs recalls one by one; FDA remains mum
Dozens sick from soy nut butter; FDA mum on manufacturer

With the victim count at more than two dozen and expected to increase, lab reports show little doubt that I.M. Healthy brand soy nut…
Continue Reading Dozens sick from soy nut butter; FDA mum on manufacturer
Civil suit does what FDA won’t — names soy nut butter maker
No one knows how many more people will become victims of an ongoing E. coli outbreak traced to soy nut butter products, partly because consumers don’t know what foods could be contaminated — and the FDA refuses to name the manufacturer.
However, a civil action filed Monday by an outbreak…
Continue Reading Civil suit does what FDA won’t — names soy nut butter maker