According to the CDC’s Escherichia Coli General Information webpage, there are different forms of E. coli bacteria. Some are harmless, others can be potentially fatal. E. coli O157:H7 is a unique form of E. coli bacteria.  This form of E. coli is capable of generating Shiga toxin.  When the toxin are produced from E. coli bacteria, complications can result. The E. coli bacteria itself can cause... [more]

As the 2010 Winter Olympic Games come to a close, I must admit, it has been very exciting watching these competitions. Millions of people world-wide cheered as these athletes sought to fulfill a life-long dream of winning a gold medal. A fortunate few were able to visit Vancouver and watch the games in person. With people from all over the world descending on Vancouver, scientists prepared for these... [more]

The Wall Street Journal just published an article that notes the FDA has concluded that food poisoning is becoming more prevalent. According to the article, yearly over 75 million cases of foodborne illnesses are reported. Additionally, over 300,000 people each year are hospitalized for some type of food poisoning and 5,000 people die as a result of these illnesses. What is causing this increase in... [more]

A Montebello, California meat packing plant is under criminal investigation. According to the Food Safety Inspection Service, Huntington Meat Packing, Inc., which has previously had to recall beef products due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination is in violation of certain Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. Because of these violations, an added 4.9 million pounds of beef and veal products are... [more]

The OzarksFirst.com just reported on an interesting new tool the FDA is utilizing to detect potential foodborne illnesses…it’s a mobile food lab. Currently situated along the Mexican border, the food lab is inspecting fruits and vegetables as they cross the border for food poisoning agents including Salmonella and E. coli. By detecting Salmonella and E. coli before they enter the marketplace, the... [more]

West Missouri Beef, LLC, a Rockville, Mo., establishment, is recalling approximately 14,000 pounds of fresh boneless beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The following products are subject to recall: One combo bin containing approximately 2,000 pounds of fresh boneless beef... [more]

Two companies, Ecolab and AvidBiotics, are cooperating to develop new food safety techniques associated with preventing foodborne illness bacteria in red meat. The companies are currently working specifically with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. E. coli bacteria is a foodborne illness which can cause diarrhea, nausea, and other food poisoning symptoms. E. coli prevention is especially important as it can... [more]

Since 2007, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture has been working in conjunction with the USDA on implementation of a Radio Frequency ID (RFID) pilot program. According to the department’s website, this research project, aimed at developing practical food tracking methods, links the Hawaii Department of Agriculture with local farmers. The farmers place RFID tags in containers of food products. The... [more]

Yesterday’s issue of the SheboyganPress.com discussed a recent Wisconsin E. coli outbreak.  According to the newspaper, several children living in very close proximity to each other contracted E. coli.  Unfortunately, one child developed a potentially fatal complication known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome or HUS, which resulted in several surgeries, transfusions, and dialysis.  HUS, often linked... [more]

A press release from Giant Eagle announced a recall of Giant Eagle and Food Club frozen loose hash browns due to possible Listeria contamination.  Below is this Gaint Eagle’s press release.     The independent and unrelated manufacturer of Giant Eagle and Food Club frozen loose hash browns has been informed of the presence of a bacterium in products made in the same facility as these items. Upon... [more]