Salmonella is perhaps the most common cause of food poisoning. It has the advantage of being able to infect a wide range of hosts and survive in habitats ranging from animal fur to lettuce leaves. However, a rising trend of drug-resistant Salmonella cases (pdf), as indicated in a review published in the journal Foods, points…

Foodborne illnesses, also known as food poisoning, are a serious public health issue. Each year, they make 48 million people get sick, hospitalize 128,000, and cause the death of 3,000. Pathogenic E. coli is one of the most common known foodborne pathogens. However, the severity of various E. coli strains varies tremendously and the public…

Federal investigators have identified flour as the source of a salmonella outbreak that caused a dozen people to fall ill over the past four months. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Thursday that a collaborative investigation has confirmed that the salmonella outbreak was linked…

An Australian child has been admitted to hospital after eating a toxic batch of spinach.  The Queensland child is one of more than 100 people across Australia who have reported a possible food-related toxic reaction after eating the “Riviera Farms” branded baby spinach. NSW Health on Dec. 17 said that 88 people in the state have…

A recall has been issued for Mr. Right brand Kaempferia Galanga Powder due to aconitine contamination. The aconitine toxin comes from the roots of the poisonous Monkshood plant, which is also known as Wolfsbane, or Keampfeira. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the recalled product, which is a common spice in Asian cuisine and is…

The spice implicated in the food poisoning of 12 diners at a Markham, Ont., restaurant has been recalled across Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said a recall had been issued for Mr. Right brand Keampferia Galanga Powder due to aconitine contamination. The aconitine toxin comes from the roots of the poisonous Monkshood plant, which…

Poison control experts have advice for how to avoid food poisoning at your Memorial Day BBQs and picnics. “Forgetting about food safety is a recipe for disaster,” says Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. “Don’t prepare food if you have any kind…