Tenino, WA’s Cozy Vale Creamery is advising consumers to discontinue consumption of their retail raw milk and cream products with the best by dates of 3-1 through 3-9 and dispose of or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. These products, which were bottled in one gallon, half-gallon, quart, and pint containers, were sold to customers, including retail stores, in Western Washington. The advisory was initiated after routine sampling conducted by…

Swedish health officials are investigating a national outbreak of Salmonella that has affected a dozen people. Twelve Salmonella enteritidis cases have been linked by whole genome sequencing (WGS). Eight of the patients are children younger than 10. The patients live in 10 different regions of the country. The same number of males and females have fallen ill. The first patient was reported in December 2020 but all the others became ill after Jan. 20, 2021.…

Opinion X-ray inspection of food products is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. This is likely due to two factors. First and foremost are the high costs associated with a food recall caused by foreign body contamination. Second, studies performed by the FDA and other organizations have concluded scanning food with X-ray scanners does not pose a health risk – putting to rest any lingering concerns on that front.  During this uptick, recognition is building that this…

El Abuelito Cheese of Paterson, NJ has expanded its original recall of Feb. 19,  recalling all Queso Fresco (Fresh, soft cheese), Quesillo (Oaxaca, string cheese), and Requeson (Ricotta) products, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. All Queso Fresco products with sell-by dates through 032821; all Quesillo (Oaxaca, string cheese) products with sell-by dates through 041621; and all Requeson (Ricotta) products with sell-by dates through 031421 have been recalled. The products…

The number of people getting sick and dying in foodborne outbreaks in Europe went up in 2019, based on figures from the annual report on zoonoses. Salmonella was behind the majority of outbreaks followed by norovirus, according to data published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). During 2019, 27 member states reported 5,175 foodborne outbreaks involving 49,463 illnesses, 3,859 hospitalizations and 60 deaths. Slovakia did…

St. Paul, MN-based J&J Distributing has recalled approximately 33 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry salads and wrap products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The fully cooked, not shelf stable salads and wraps were produced and packaged on Feb. 23, 2021, and list a “Sell-by” date of Feb. 28, 2021, on the packaging label. The following products are subject…

Since Feb. 15, at least 40 people have reported becoming ill after eating at an Arby’s restaurant in Springfield, IL. Health officials are investigating and an inspection on Feb. 25 still showed a food temperature violation. Officials have not yet found the cause of the illnesses. The Sangamon County restaurant inspection records show the original complaint about the Arby’s on Dirksen Parkway came in and was investigated on Feb. 23. Inspectors have gone back for…