Hospitalizations for three common waterborne diseases cost the health care system as much as $539 million annually, according to research presented today at the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases. “These cost data highlight that water-related diseases pose not only a physical burden to the thousands of people sickened by them each year, but also a substantial burden in health... [more]

By Magdalena Kendall, surveillance epidemiologist with the CDC Last week, my colleagues and I presented our research on foodborne outbreaks linked to salsa and guacamole. Recently, the number of these reported outbreaks has increased. Between 1998 and 2008, nearly 1 of every 25 outbreaks associated with restaurants or delis may have been caused by contaminated salsa or guacamole. We received a lot... [more]

Feline’s Pride is expanding its July 1, 2010 voluntary recall of Feline’s Pride Raw food with ground bone for cats and kittens, Natural Chicken Formula, Net Wt. 2.5 lbs. (1.13 kg., 40 oz.) produced on 6/10/10 to include the product produced on 6/21/10, because it may be contaminated with Salmonella. People handling raw pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly... [more]

D & M Smoked Fish, Inc. located in Queens, New York, is recalling Haifa brand vacuum packaged Schmaltz Herring with the lot number 168, because the product was found to be uneviscerated. The lot being recalled is a product of Norway, individually vacuum-packed in clear plastic pouches with lot # 168 & Sell by date of 7/20/10 indicated on the label and distributed through food retailers in the... [more]

Nearly 1 out of every 25 restaurant-associated foodborne outbreaks with identified food sources between 1998 and 2008 can be traced back to contaminated salsa or guacamole, more than double the rate during the previous decade, according to research released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today at the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases. “Fresh salsa and... [more]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that as many as 79,000 illnesses and 30 deaths due to consumption of eggs contaminated with the bacterium Salmonella enteritidis may be avoided each year with new food safety requirements for large-scale egg producers. The new food safety requirements will become effective on July 9, 2010, through a rule for egg producers having 50,000 or more laying hens... [more]

Marjon Specialty Foods, Inc., Plant City, FL voluntarily recalled 119 cases of sliced apples as a result of a positive test result for Listeria monocytogenes that came from the company’s routine sampling program. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause listeriosis, a serious and sometimes fatal infection in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune... [more]

K. Heeps, Inc., an Allentown, Pa., establishment, is recalling approximately 17.5 pounds of fully cooked turkey breast products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The products subject to recall include: 17.5-pound package of “K. Heeps Inc. Fully Cooked, Sliced Turkey, Boneless... [more]

Ready Pac Foods, Inc. Irwindale, California is recalling 702 cases of the Baby Spinach variety of Spinach Temptations 6 oz. bagged salads with Useby Dates of July 4 with Product Code 11707B, IR127121 and July 8 with Product Code 12007B, IR130373 because they could be contaminated by Escherichia coli 0157:H7 (E. coli 0157.H7). The recall extends only to products with this Use-by Date or Product Code... [more]

Merrick Pet Care, Inc. of Amarillo, Texas is recalling 86 cases of its 10oz “Beef Filet Squares for Dogs” pet treats (ITEM # 60016 LOT # 10084TL7 BEST BY MARCH 24, 2012) because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling the treats can become infected with Salmonella,... [more]