The Louisiana Department of Health has closed a molluscan shellfish harvesting area in Area 3 and ordered a recall of all oysters harvested from that area since Jan. 10 because of an outbreak of norovirus-like illnesses. 

The recall includes frozen, shucked, breaded, post-harvest processed and oysters for the half-shell market.

Continue Reading Norovirus outbreak linked to oysters; health officials order recall and harvest area closure

Louisana’s “Truth in Labeling of Food Products Act” adopted in 2019 does not violate any constitutional guarantees. It is also no threat to the business practice of the Hood River, OR-based Turtle Island Foods or its Tofurky brands.

A ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit

Continue Reading The Tofurky brand and Louisana are both winners in the labeling law challenge

The “Truth in Labeling of Food Products Act” passed by the Louisiana Legislature in 2019 violates the commercial free speech rights of Turtle Island Foods, which produces and packages plant-based meat products marketed and sold in the state and nationwide.

Turtle Island Foods was founded in 1980 and is headquartered
Continue Reading Federal judge strikes down Louisiana labeling law for plant-based meat

A second pathogen is in play in a northeast Louisiana outbreak thought to be caused by jambalaya served at a softball fundraising event Monday.

By Friday afternoon, 125 people were confirmed sick and investigators found some of them are positive for the bacterium Clostridium perfringens. Thursday state health officials said
Continue Reading 2nd pathogen in fundraiser outbreak; jambalaya still suspect

Office building owners on Poydras Street in New Orleans are worried about losing tenants and lease payments over Louisiana’s worst state budget crisis in 30 years. Like nearby Mississippi, where some state restaurant inspectors have already lost their offices and are working from their personal cars and homes, state government
Continue Reading Another state could put its restaurant inspectors on the streets

State legislatures remain in session from Alabama to Wyoming, with food safety mostly getting only a light touch from lawmakers who seem largely focused on budgets and education in this non-election year. In Alabama, where a new cottage food bill took effect last June 1, Extension services are getting
Continue Reading Legislatures Weigh Bills on Soda Labels, Microbeads, Marijuana, Powdered Alcohol, Among Others