Master Grocer
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Stress and Fear Caused by Hepatitis-A Contamination
Costco, a warehouse store, recalled their frozen berries on the grounds that they could be the cause of Hepatitis A. The recall came a time when many were stressed and fearful of the vaccination process. George Bentley from La Puente, California, received a call from Costco that had worked fast to inform all customers who…
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Shigella Outbreak Caused by Problem at Rhode Island Lake
A few days before the 4th of July, there was a Shigella outbreak in Spring Lake of Rhode Island, which left 16 people sick. Last Sunday, state officials were forced to close the lake following the outbreak and people have been restricted from swimming in the lake. Shigella is a bacterium that is known for…
Filed under: News -
Implications of Shuanghui Takeover of Smithfield to Food Safety
In late May, it was announced that Shuanghui International, a Hong Kong-based company was to take over Smithfield Food. The deal was worth 4.7 billion dollars, currently marking it the biggest takeover by the Chinese government. Smithfield Food Company is based in Virginia and has been known for supplying precooked hams. The acquisition of the…
Filed under: Food Safety -
EU to Ban Dishes of Olive Oil from Restaurants
A common observation in many restaurants is customers holding small bowls containing olive oil. However, this may not go on for long because the European Union is considering banning such olive oil dishes. Starting from next January, all restaurants will be required to replace the little bowls with bottles. The bottles will have a nozzle…
Filed under: Food Safety -
Chutney Leaves 400 People with Food Poisoning at Street Festival
Raw curry leaves in chutney poisoned 400 people that consumed food at a street festival, and they reported symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Investigations linked the symptoms to salmonella poisoning. Experts found out that different forms of bacteria contaminated the leaves, and the confirmed salmonella cases were 29. The street festival took place between…
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Caution on GM Crops Called for by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg
According to Nick Clegg, Britain’s deputy prime minister, people should be cautious of GM (genetically modified) food. He says that his children do not consume GM food. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said that adopting GM crops should be done cautiously despite lacking evidence on their negative effect on the health of consumers. Just prior…
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Different Epidemiology Philosophies on Cyclospora Outbreak
A Cyclospora outbreak that was witnessed in June is still under investigation. The police are still trying to find out the cause of the outbreak that made at least 275 people ill in the Midwest. The effectiveness and speed of the investigation has been criticized by one epidemiologist. CIDRAP’s director, Dr. Michael Osterholm said that…
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Vomiting Could Mean Pesticide Poisoning Rather than Food Poisoning
Dubai residents have been warned by the authorities that there is a high likelihood of confusing signs of pesticide poisoning with those of food poisoning. They urged anyone reporting symptoms such as chest pain and vomiting to contact the pest and food control department immediately. According to the Food Department Control Director, Khalid Sharif, the…