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Results for search "Safety: Food".

31 Jul

Some Dark Chocolate Products Contaminated With Heavy Metals, New Study Finds

Researchers tested dozens of dark chocolate and cocoa products and found excessive levels of lead and cadmium in many of them.

Health News Results - 76

Helene's Aftermath: How to Safely Enter, Clean Flood-Damaged Homes

Following the historic destruction of Hurricane Helene, many Americans must now return to their mangled homes and begin the heartbreaking task of clean-up.

After making landfall in Florida near Tallahassee as a ferocious Cat 4 storm on Thursday, Helene caused record-breaking storm surges in Tampa, flash flooding in Atlanta and power outages, massive flooding and mud slides in the mountai...

Many Toxic Chemicals Leach Into Human Bodies From Food Packaging

That plastic wrap you find around the food you eat is far from benign: A new study shows that more than 3,600 chemicals leach into food during the packaging process.

Of that number, 79 chemicals are known to cause cancer, genetic mutations, and endocrine and reproductive issues, a team of international researchers reported Tuesday in the 

  • Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 17, 2024
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  • Are There Heavy Metals in Your Chocolate?

    Toxic heavy metals are found naturally worldwide in soils that produce the cocoa bean tree -- and those metals are showing up in chocolate, a new report warns.

    “We all love chocolate but it’s important to indulge with moderation as with other foods that contain heavy metals, including large fish like tuna and unwashed brown rice,” explained lead author

  • Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 31, 2024
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  • USDA Toughens Rules on Salmonella in Poultry

    Chicken, turkey and other poultry might get a little safer after new rules to limit salmonella proposed Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

    Poultry companies would be expected to keep salmonella levels below specific thresholds under the new rules and test for six strains of the bacterium that are strongly tied to illness -- three strains in chicken and three in turkeys, ...

    At Least 58 Have Now Been Sickened After Eating Diamond Shruumz Edibles

    Nearly 60 illnesses, including 30 hospitalizations, have now been linked to eating Diamond Shruumz edibles, U.S. health officials reported.

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted in an update issued Tuesday that of the people who got sick after eatin...

    Less Than Half of American Adults Know Dangers of Raw Milk

    Few Americans understand the health risks of drinking raw milk, a new survey shows, so experts are redoubling efforts to get the word out on its dangers.

    The push dovetails with the discovery this spring of bird flu virus in milk from infected cows. The H5N1 virus is widespread in wild birds worldwide and causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows. As of June 21, four human cases of...

    Fourth Dairy Worker Infected With Bird Flu, but CDC Says Public Risk Still Low

    Amid an ongoing outbreak of bird flu in dairy cows, a fourth case of H5N1 avian flu has been confirmed in another dairy worker, U.S. health officials reported Wednesday.

    The latest case was reported in Colorado, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a news release.

    "As with previous cases, the person is a worker on a dairy farm where cows tested positive ...

    FDA Bans Food Additive Found in Sports Drinks, Sodas

    A regulation allowing the use of brominated vegetable oil in food was revoked Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after the agency concluded the additive was unsafe for human consumption.

    Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) contains bromine, which is found in fire retardants. Small quantities of BVO have been used legally in some citrus-flavored drinks in the United States to keep...

    FDA Warns of 48  Illnesses, One Death  Linked to Diamond Shruumz Edibles

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it is now investigating nearly 50 illnesses and one death that may be linked to eating Diamond Shruumz edibles.

    Of the 48 people in 24 states who said they got sick after eating the chocolate bars, cones and gummies, one patient has died and 27 have been hospitalized, the FDA noted in an updated

  • Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 3, 2024
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  • All Diamond Shruumz Edibles Recalled Over High Levels of Mushroom Toxin in Products

    All Diamond Shruumz edibles have been recalled after the company found high levels of a mushroom toxin in them that may have sickened 39 people in 20 states.

    The recall includes Diamond Shruumz cones, chocolate bars and gumm...

    FDA Warns of Paralyzing Poison Danger From Pacific Northwest Shellfish

    Seafood lovers should steer clear of shellfish from Oregon and Washington state because of possible contamination with a paralyzing toxin, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned.

    In an advisory, the FDA told c...

    Cucumbers Sold in 14 States Recalled Over Salmonella Concerns

    A company recall has been issued for cucumbers sold in 14 states because of possible contamination with salmonella.

    In a notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Florida-based Fresh Start Produce recalled t...

    No Sign of Bird Flu in Ground Beef, USDA Says

    After investigation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday that the nation's ground beef supply is so far testing negative for the presence of H5N1 avian flu.

    In a statement, the agency said that its Food Safety and Inspection Service ...

    More Than Half of Cats on Farm Where Bird Flu Infected Cows Died After Drinking Milk

    In yet another sign that bird flu is spreading widely among mammals, a new report finds more than half of cats at the first Texas dairy farm to have cows test positive for bird flu this spring died after drinking raw milk.

    Published Tuesday in the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, the report details the earl...

    USDA Testing Beef Amid Bird Flu Outbreak in Dairy Cows

    As bird flu continues to spread among dairy cows, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday it is now testing ground beef for any presence of the virus.

    The agency said it is sampling ground beef bought in grocery stores in states where dairy cattle have tested positive for the virus, also known as H5N1, CNN reported. Officials are also testing samples of muscle tissue from ...

    Fragments of Bird Flu Virus Found in 1 in 5 Milk Samples

    Bits of bird flu virus have been discovered in roughly 20% of retail milk samples tested in a national survey, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.

    The finding suggests that bird flu has spread far more widely among dairy cows than officials first thou...

    Fragments of Bird Flu Virus Found in U.S. Milk Supply

    Bits of inactive bird flu virus have been discovered in samples of pasteurized milk from across the United States, health officials said Tuesday, although they stressed the viral fragments don't threaten humans.

    However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration did note that testing suggests that bird flu has likely infected far more dairy cows than officials realized.

    Still, "to date,...

    Report Finds High Levels of Pesticides in 20% of  Fruits, Veggies

    Nearly 20% of fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables that Americans eat contain concerning levels of pesticides, a new report finds.

    Pesticides posed significant risks in popular choices such as strawberries, green beans, bell peppers, blueberries and potatoes, the review...

    Cases of Lead Poisoning Linked to Fruit Puree Pouches Reaches 251

    At least 251 cases of lead poisoning linked to tainted fruit puree pouches have now been reported in 34 states, U.S. health officials said.

    That's up from 205 cases reported in the last weekly tally, the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention noted in its latest update

    Blue Ridge Beef Raw Pet Food Recalled Due to Salmonella Risk

    Blue Ridge Beef, a maker of raw pet foods, has announced it is recalling some of its products for kittens and puppies because of possible contamination with salmonella and listeria.

    After being notified earlier this month by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that health officials found salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in certain products, the...

    Over 200 Lead Poisoning Cases Now Linked to Tainted Fruit Puree Pouches

    At least 205 cases of lead poisoning linked to contaminated fruit puree pouches have now been reported in the United States, federal health officials report.

    That's up from 125 cases in the last weekly tally, with 33 states now reporting poisonings, the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention said in its

  • Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
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  • December 21, 2023
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  • Holiday Meals Mean Safety First in Your Kitchen

    Knives, vegetable peelers, blenders: There are plenty of ways to injure yourself in the kitchen during the holidays.

    To keep things merry, cheery and safe, experts at Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH (MOR) in Chicago say there are simple steps you and those who are helping you cook can take to stay safe.

    They point out that every year 350,000 people are seen in U.S. emergency rooms for ...

    Salmonella Illnesses Tied to Cantaloupes Have Doubled: CDC

    FRIDAY, Dec. 8, 2023 (Healthday News) -- A salmonella outbreak tied to tainted cantaloupes keeps expanding, with cases doubling since the last tally, U.S. health officials reported Thursday.

    "Since the last update [on] November 30, 2023, an additional 113 people infected with this outbreak strain of salmonella have been reported from four additional states, resulting in a total case count...

    As Salmonella Outbreak Widens, Avoid Cantaloupes if Brand Is Unknown, CDC Warns

    FRIDAY, Dec. 1, 2023 (Healthday News) -- Shoppers should steer clear of any pre-cut cantaloupe if the brand is unknown, as a salmonella outbreak linked to the fruit continues to widen, U.S. health officials warned Thursday.

    Eighteen more illnesses have been reported since Nov. 24, the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention said in an updated

  • Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
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  • December 1, 2023
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  • After Salmonella Cases Double in a Week, Cantaloupe Recall Expanded

    MONDAY, Nov. 27, 2023 (Healthday News) -- Three more brands of cantaloupe have been recalled by U.S. health officials after salmonella infections linked to the fruit more than doubled in just a week.

    The case count now includes nearly 100 people in 32 states, with Arizona, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio having the highest number of illnesses reported. Two people have died in Minn...

    Solving the Mystery of Why Red Wine Gives Some Folks Headaches

    Countless corks will pop and wine will flow freely during the upcoming holiday season, but some people will pay a price for even the slightest bit of revelry.

    For those unlucky folks, drinking red wine even in small amounts causes a headache, typically within 30 minutes to three hours after imbibing just a small glass.

    But researchers now think they've cracked the mystery of why som...

    FDA Looking at Cinnamon as Source of Lead in Fruit Puree Products

    FRIDAY, Nov. 17, 2023 (Healthday News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday it has found early evidence that cinnamon may be the source of high levels of lead in fruit puree pouches that have now sickened 34 children.

    The agency, in partnership with the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, has been investigating illnesses linked to the consumption of Apple Cinna...

    FDA Will Pull Vet Drug Used in Pork Industry Over Cancer Concerns for Humans

    WEDNESDAY, Nov. 8, 2023 (Healthday News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that it plans to pull a veterinary drug used commonly in the pork industry because it might pose a cancer risk to humans wh...

    FDA Expands Investigation of Pureed Fruit Pouches

    Amid reports of more illnesses and additional product recalls, U.S. health officials have expanded their investigation into potentially lead-tainted pouches of apple cinnamon pureed fruit.

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in an updated alert post...

    Tyson Chicken Nuggets Recalled Over Small Metal Pieces in Product

    Nearly 30,000 pounds of dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets have been recalled by maker Tyson Foods Inc. after customers discovered small bits of metal in some of the nuggets.

    There has been one reported minor oral injury associated with consumption of the nuggets, which were produced on Sept. 5, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said in a

    FDA Warns WananBana Fruit Puree Pouches May Contain Lead

    Certain pureed fruit pouches from WanaBana may contain dangerous levels of lead, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned.

    Parents and caregivers should not buy or serve WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches to children, the agency said in a recent

  • Robin Foster and Cara Murez and Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporters
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  • October 31, 2023
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  • California Becomes First State to Ban Four Additives in Food

    California has become the first state to ban four chemicals commonly added to food that are linked to health issues.

    Although the law, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, only bans the additives in his state, it's possible the ch...

    Pfizer Restarts Production Plant in North Carolina Following Tornado Damage in July

    A Pfizer plant that makes vital drugs, anesthesia and hospital supplies has restarted production after a 10-week shutdown.

    The plant, located in Rocky Mount, N.C., sustained severe tornado damage on July 19, when roofs were ripped off and medications tossed around.

    "This expedited restart is a proud achievement for the Rocky Mount team; however, it is only the first step toward ful...

    California Legislature First to Pass Ban on 4 Food Additives Linked to Health Issues

    California is on track to become the first state to ban four food additives that some experts have linked to health issues ranging from behavioral problems in children to reproductive issues to cancer in lab animals.

    On Tuesday, the legislature passed Assembly Bill 418, which...

    Company Pulls 'One Chip Challenge' From Store Shelves After Teen Dies

    The maker of the "One Chip Challenge"has pulled the product from store shelves after a Massachusetts mom claimed the super spicy chip, packaged in a coffin-shaped container, contributed to the death of her 14-year-old son.

    "The Paqui One Chip Challenge is intended for adults only, with clear and prominent labeling highlighting the chip is not for children or anyone sensitive to spicy food...

    Many Strains of a Dangerous Foodborne Bacteria Are Now Antibiotic-Resistant

    New research on a leading cause of foodborne illness has linked a large share of Michigan infections to antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains.

    More than 100 strains of Campylobacter jejuni circulating in Michigan are resistant to at least one antibiotic, according to researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. More th...

    Three Deaths Linked to Listeria-Tainted Milkshakes From Restaurant in Washington State

    A strain of listeria bacteria found in milkshakes at a restaurant in Washington state has been linked to six hospitalizations and three deaths.

    The milkshakes were sold at Frugals restaurant in Tacoma, Wash.

    Only the Tacoma site of Frugals, a small fast-food chain in Washington and Montana, appears to have been affected, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

    ...

    WHO Experts Take Another Look at Aspartame's Safety

    The artificial sweetener aspartame is in the hot seat once more.

    Two separate committees made up of health experts from around the world will soon offer advice on consuming aspartame, a popular sugar substitute that is added to sodas, cough drops, desserts and gum.

    The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • June 30, 2023
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  • First Chicken Meat Grown in Labs Gets U.S. Approval

    Americans could soon be eating "lab-grown"chicken at upscale restaurants after the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved products made by two companies on Wednesday.

    Upside Foods and

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • June 22, 2023
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  • FDA Finalizes Limit on How Much Arsenic Can Be in Apple Juice

    Federal regulators have finalized new guidance on how much inorganic arsenic can be present in apple juice, in an effort to limit the exposure of infants and young children to this environmental contaminant.

    What is the new limit? 10 parts per billion, a number first proposed in 2013.

    "We are finalizing an action level of 10 ppb because we consider this level achievable with the u...

    Sick Restaurant Workers Fuel Many Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

    Providing sick leave to restaurant workers could help prevent the spread of foodborne illness because ill workers are key drivers of outbreaks at restaurants, a new government report shows.

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published data on Tuesday covering 800 outbreaks of foodborne illness at restaurants between 2017 and 2019.

    The cases were reported by 25 stat...

    Grilling Plant-Based Burgers This Memorial Day? Safe Cooking Temperatures May Change

    The last thing you want to invite to your Memorial Day cookout is foodborne illness.

    An expert from Virginia Tech offers some suggestions for keeping it at bay, even when cooking something you may have less experience with, such as plant-based or turkey burgers instead of beef patties.

    "If you choose the classic ground beef burger, it should be cooked to an internal temperature of...

    Salmonella Infections in 6 States Linked to Papa Murphy's Raw Cookie Dough

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Tuesday that a salmonella outbreak involving 18 people in six states has been linked to Papa Murphy's raw cookie dough

    Two individuals were hospitalized in connection with the infections, the CDC said in its

    Another Infant Formula Recalled Over Bacterial Contamination Concerns

    Another brand of baby formula is a facing a recall.

    Formula manufacturer Reckitt recalled 145,000 cans of Enfamil ProSobee formula on Monday because of possible cross-contamination with Cronoba...

    More Than 400 Snacks, Sandwiches Recalled Over Listeria Concerns

    A variety of sandwiches, salads, wraps, snacks and yogurt made by the company Fresh Ideation Food Group have been recalled because of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

    All of the products have a "Fresh Creative Cuisine"label or an identifier on the bottom of the label with the Fresh Creative Cuisine name, the Baltimore company said in its

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • February 7, 2023
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  • Top FDA Official Involved in Baby Formula Debacle Resigns

    A U.S. Food and Drug Administration official who has led the agency's food policy efforts since 2018 announced his resignation on Wednesday.

    Frank Yiannas was also among the top officials leading the agency response to last year's infant formula shortage.

    "Today, I informed [FDA] Commissioner ...

    Abbott Labs Confirms Justice Department Probe Following Infant Formula Crisis

    Trouble continues for Abbott Laboratories, which shut down an infant formula plant last year amid reported illnesses.

    The U.S. Department of Justice is now investigating the company, though Abbott did not say specifically what the investigation is covering, NBC News reported.

    "DOJ has informed us of its investigation and we're cooperating fully,"an Abbott spokesperson sai...

    New USDA Rules Ramp Up Oversight of Organic Food

    Organic food will soon have to comply with stricter labeling rules under new requirements announced Thursday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

    In what the Organic Trade Organization (OTA) called the biggest change since the USDA's organic program was first founded in 1990, the

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • January 20, 2023
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  • FDA's Food Safety Program Needs a Revamp: Panel

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's foods program is in "constant turmoil"and needs stronger leadership, a panel said Thursday.

    The Reagan-Udall Foundation, a group with close ties to the FDA, released a 51-page report Tuesday noting the need for a clear mission in the program and m...

    Food Allergies & Thanksgiving Dinner Can Mix, Just Follow These Tips

    When loved ones come together for your Thanksgiving feast, keep in mind your those who have food allergies.

    Practice safety in menu planning, food preparation and even serving, urged Courtney Cary, a senior dietitian at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Be aware of the eight...

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