Amid the ongoing E. coli outbreak, Taylor Farms has been confirmed as the onion supplier to the affected McDonald’s locations. As a result, national restaurant chains are proactively pulling onions from their menus. FDA is still investigating whether onions are the vehicle of illness.
An ongoing study funded by the Center for Produce Safety aims to fill knowledge gaps about the microbial food safety risks posed by wax roller brushes used on fruit and vegetables, as well as identify best cleaning and sanitation practices.
A foodborne illness outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders contaminated with Escherichia coli has caused 49 illnesses, ten hospitalizations, and one death in ten states. Slivered onions used on the sandwiches are the probable vehicle of illness.
In a recent research project, the fortification of rice grains with zinc oxide and magnesium oxide nanoparticles was shown to be effective in inhibiting Escherichia coli growth. The researchers believe that similar nanofortification techniques could be applicable across agriculture to enhance microbial food safety.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Purdue University are launching a multi-year environmental study of Salmonella in the Southwest Indiana agricultural region to answer questions raised by recent outbreaks linked to cantaloupe and to inform food safety strategies.
A new app developed by University of Zurich (UZH) researchers, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), can aid the early detection of contagious outbreaks, such as gastrointestinal (GI) diseases contracted by people traveling abroad.
A recent study of genomic data for Campylobacter from 2009–2019 found a steep increase in human infections attributable to poultry, as well as a concerning rise in the proportion of multidrug-resistant isolates. Campylobacter isolates associated with poultry were found to harbor the most antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
A recent study analyzed U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food product recall data from 2002–2023, drawing conclusions from more than 35,000 product recalls.
Following the history of serious food safety noncompliances at Boar’s Head’s Jarratt, Virginia plant, which led to a fatal listeriosis outbreak, USDA’s Inspector General has launched an internal investigation into the agency’s handling of the repeated sanitary violations found at the facility.