Author: Weston Pierre

The jars resemble any specialized food item you might order online or find at an Indian grocery store. They are tiny, eight-ounce glass containers with a unique typeface on the label that contain what looks to be pickled pork. At a look, nothing on the packaging would indicate that the product had never been viewed by federal inspectors. This is the main issue with the August 17 recall of Gangothri Foods, which raises concerns about more than just one Austin, Texas company. About 1,626 pounds of ready-to-eat pickled goat and chicken products were recalled by Indus Foods LLC, doing business…

In coastal towns, seasoned surfers learn to sense a rhythm that has nothing to do with tide charts or swell direction. It is the hue of the water following a downpour. Spreading from the mouths of streams are brown plumes. The lineup along the storm drain has a greasy sheen. The subtle but distinct smell of something that has no place in the water. The majority of paddlers are aware of its meaning. How many people still paddle out is the question. In water quality science, the phenomena is known as the “first flush,” and it refers to something that…

In late summer, a certain uneasiness permeates the vegetable sections of grocery stores; people hesitate before grabbing a bag of salad mix or take a second look at the label before putting lettuce in a cart. That worry has been more justified than most this summer. Over 15,700 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis have been recorded in 47 states since May 1; this figure does not include the approximately 11,800 more probable cases that investigators are still working through. For background, the average number of confirmed cyclospora infections in the US is between 2,000 and 3,000 per year. This summer has…

The routine of an intensive care unit, such as the hiss of ventilators, the cautious way nurses go from patient to patient, and the ongoing practice of handwashing at the sink beside the door, might seem almost comforting when you walk into it on a quiet weekday morning. The first item that most people see as proof of good cleanliness is that sink. It turns out to be a contributing factor in an increasing number of documented outbreaks. Over the past few years, infection control researchers have been documenting this process with greater specificity. It doesn’t require any unique protocol…

A food recall involving ice cream in August is a little startling. It’s the kind of news that arrives in a different way in the middle of summer, when freezers are loaded throughout New England and it seems almost like homework to check a lot code on a dessert container. Nevertheless, the check is worthwhile for anyone who recently purchased a quart of Gifford’s Power Play Fudge from a Hannaford or Shaws. On August 14, Gifford’s Dairy, a fifth-generation family-owned business in Skowhegan, Maine, voluntarily recalled 3,585 one-quart containers of its HomeMaine Power Play Fudge ice cream. Five days later,…

Like these things always do, it happened in the background. There was no big news or press conference—just a notice from the FDA, a complaint from a customer, and lab results that proved what no one wanted to hear. Two different dog food brands recalled their products within days of each other. As a result, pet owners in more than 12 states had to check the lot codes on bags that they had been feeding their dogs for months. People are interested in the Fromm and Oma’s Pride recalls, which came out very close together in August 2026. This isn’t…

There’s a certain tension in the air if you go into any big grocery store this summer. Not dramatic and not clear. It’s there, though. You might use your phone to check the FDA website between the produce section and the deli counter before putting something in your cart. Lettuce. Eggs and blueberries. Peppers. Salsas. The list is now long enough that the events on it no longer seem like a coincidence. What is really going on? In short, it’s a lot of things at once, and not all of them are new. The most obvious change is that public…

Top Food Recalls 2026 ⚠ Top food recalls — 2026 FDA · USDA FSIS · CDC · Updated August 2026 FDA ACTIVE 8+ Major recalls 3 Class I alerts 5 Pathogens 40+ States affected All recalls Salmonella E. coli Listeria Other 🥚 Midwest Poultry Services — 1.6M egg cartons CLASS I Nearly 1.6 million dozen eggs recalled over potential Salmonella contamination. FDA upgraded to highest risk level. Sold at Kroger, Brookshire’s and other retailers across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Sell-by dates through Aug. 17. ⚠ Salmonella 📅 July 22, 2026 📍 6 states 🚑 FDA Class…

A piece of fruit that appears perfectly healthy and is quietly stored in a refrigerator while harboring a pathogen that has already seriously sickened people all over the nation is unsettling. That’s essentially what happened in the fall of 2023 when, before anyone realized what was going on, Salmonella-contaminated cantaloupes spread through American grocery stores, long-term care facilities, and childcare facilities. 407 individuals from 44 states had contracted the virus by the time the outbreak was deemed to be over in January 2024. Six of them perished. At least 158 people were admitted to hospitals, a figure that is nearly…

On the Gulf Coast, summertime somehow causes people to become less guarded. The crowds are boisterous, the water is warm, and the salt air has a certain weight that makes you feel like you’re on vacation. All season long, Galveston attracts families, couples, and lone travelers, the majority of whom wade in mindlessly. However, health officials in the Gulf are urging people to reconsider this summer, particularly regarding the consequences of an open wound coming into contact with brackish water. Vibrio vulnificus, a naturally occurring bacterium found in warm coastal and estuarine waters, is the main cause for concern. It’s…