Editor’s note: This is the companion story of a two-piece news package we are presenting today. The main story describes the ongoing, multi-state outbreak of Hepatitis A and how states are addressing it. Most case counts in both stories are as of April 30. However, some of the main outbreak states have since updated their …
Hepatitis A outbreak definitely involves mainstream population
Editor’s note: This is the main story of a two-piece news package we are presenting today. The companion story includes additional information about Hepatitis A and a state-by-state breakdown of Hepatitis A cases. Most case counts in both stories are as of April 30. However, some of the main outbreak states have since updated their …
Officials in Michigan, Utah warn about new hepatitis A cases
Public health officials in Utah and Michigan are alerting people to possible exposure to the hepatitis A virus after confirmation of infected foodservice workers.
The illnesses are part of a multi-state outbreak that has sickened about 1,200 people and killed almost 50. Infected people are usually contagious before they develop symptoms. The highly contagious virus…
Utah adopts a Food Freedom-lite bill; Maine town takes a bite
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has less than one week to sign or veto the “Home-Consumption and Homemade Food Act” that sailed through the state legislature with only seven dissenting votes.
The Utah Food Act is not another “Food Freedom” law because its protections do not apply to raw milk or raw dairy products, meat or…
County requires hepatitis A vaccines for some food workers
Earlier this week the Salt Lake County Board of Health amended “Health Regulation #5: Food Sanitation” to require hepatitis A vaccination for all food workers in an establishment when anyone working in that establishment has been in contact with someone infected with hepatitis A.
The amendment is in response to Salt Lake County’s ongoing hepatitis…
State legislative season underway with food bills on the table
At least 30 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, are already open for new legislative business. Most others will join the legislative season by next month.
They are essential to food safety if for no other reason than state legislatures provide all or partial funding for many of the nation’s nearly 3,000…
Two more Utah restaurants’ customers exposed to hepatitis A
Two restaurants in Utah are linked to a hepatitis A outbreak in the state that has been ongoing since August. The report from state health authorities comes almost too late for the restaurant’s customers to seek post-exposure treatment to avoid infection.
Earlier this month Utah officials reported that a 7-Eleven employee could have exposed thousands…
Allergic reaction prompts Royal Asia to recall soup from Costco
Tai Foong USA of Seattle is recalling Royal Asia branded frozen “Shrimp Wonton Noodle Soup” — sold exclusively at Costco stores in six states — because it contains egg that is not declared on the label and has caused a confirmed reaction in at least one person.
Costco began selling the soup in January at…
Utah isn’t appealing the demise of its 2012 “Ag-Gag” law
Utah will not appeal a federal court ruling that the state’s 2012 law against agricultural operation interference violates the U.S. Constitution. It is the only one of several state “Ag-Gag” laws which resulted in someone’s arrest and brief jailing.
A spokesman for Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes Thursday told Food Safety News there would be…
CDC joins E. coli investigation along Utah-Arizona border
In the last couple weeks, the posse has gotten bigger, but the source of a troubling E. coli O157:H7 outbreak on the Utah-Arizona border still has not been identified.
Now joined in the ongoing investigation into the Hildale,UT/Colorado City, AZ, area outbreak are the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, Mohave County Department of Health, Utah…