Foodborne Illness News and Research

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Commonly referred to as food poisoning or foodborne disease, foodborne illnesses (FIs) are gastrointestinal (GI) tract infections that arise with the ingestion of contaminated food. The main culprits are usually microorganisms or chemical agents.

Scientists discover mechanism that enables Listeria-infected cells to escape immune responses

Some "hypervirulent" strains of Listeria monocytogenes have a greater capacity to infect the central nervous system.

16 Mar 2022

FDA and Mexican counterparts report accomplishments and set goals for future food safety partnership

As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of food imported from Mexico and advance protections for consumers in both countries, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its regulatory counterparts in Mexico - the Federal Commission for the Protection from Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) and the National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) held the first Food Safety Partnership Annual Meeting on August 20, an important milestone in food safety.

23 Aug 2021

Antibacterial immunity may change in the intestines based on circadian cycle

The body's ability to prevent food poisoning by producing a natural antimicrobial compound increases during the day, when exposure to noxious bacteria is most likely, a new study by UT Southwestern scientists suggests.

28 Jul 2021

New draft guidance addresses FDA’s oversight of foods covered by Systems Recognition Arrangement

In order to fulfill our public health mission and enhance the safety of imported foods in a global world, we must embrace new approaches that take into account the entire supply chain and its complexity.

9 Jul 2021

FDA's new Cyclospora Prevention, Response and Research Action Plan released

As part of our ongoing efforts to combat foodborne illness and aligned with our New Era of Smarter Food Safety initiative, today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released the Cyclospora Prevention, Response and Research Action Plan.

1 Jul 2021

Colorado bill aims to give farmworkers easier access to medical care

A woman with pregnancy complications needed permission from her boss to visit a doctor. Community health volunteers were turned away from delivering food and covid information to worker housing. A farmworker had a serious allergic reaction but was afraid to seek treatment.

11 Jun 2021

Study: Organic-certified meats less likely to be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria

Meat that is certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is less likely to be contaminated with bacteria that can sicken people, including dangerous, multidrug-resistant organisms, compared to conventionally produced meat, according to a study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

12 May 2021

Cognitive biases can help create and worsen foodborne disease outbreaks

In the midst of a pandemic that has claimed more than 2 million lives worldwide and disrupted nearly every facet of society since it appeared more than a year ago, understanding the factors that create and facilitate disease outbreaks is more important than ever.

10 Mar 2021

FDA plans to further reduce toxic elements in foods for babies and young children

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration takes exposure to toxic elements, such as arsenic, mercury, cadmium and lead, in the food supply extremely seriously, especially when it comes to protecting the health and safety of the youngest and most vulnerable in the population.

5 Mar 2021

Researchers study nanoparticle-embedded polymers to extend shelf life of foods and beverages

Antimicrobial packaging is being developed to extend the shelf life and safety of foods and beverages. However, there is concern about the transfer of potentially harmful materials, such as silver nanoparticles, from these types of containers to consumables.

4 Feb 2021

FDA and Mexican regulatory counterparts strengthen partnership on food safety

Today, during a virtual ceremony, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its regulatory counterparts in Mexico - the Federal Commission for the Protection from Sanitary Risks and the National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality - enhanced a partnership to work together on food safety in both countries.

5 Oct 2020

New lactic acid bacteria can be used to make camel milk products safer

A research project headed by the Technical University of Denmark, DTU, has come up with the formula for a freeze-dried starter culture that African camel milk farmers can use to make safe, fermented milk products.

22 Sep 2020

FDA proposes new rule that lays the foundation for end-to-end food traceability

Today, I am excited to announce an important, critical step forward in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's efforts to bring about farm-to-table traceability in our food supply.

22 Sep 2020

Researchers discover both good and bad kitchen habits in different European countries

Every year, 5,000 Europeans die from diseases contracted from food. Researchers visited people's homes and discovered both good and bad kitchen habits in different European countries.

17 Sep 2020

Current poultry food safety guidelines for preventing salmonellosis are inadequate

Current poultry food safety guidelines for Salmonella, the leading cause of foodborne illness outbreaks, are inadequate.

26 Aug 2020

Fresh and frozen food can harbor SARS-CoV-2 for at least 21 days

A recent study published on the preprint server bioRxiv in August 2020 suggests that foodborne contamination may underlie these outbreaks and that this route of transmission should not be overlooked to contain the pandemic.

19 Aug 2020

Edible coating made with green tea extract kills norovirus, bacteria

Infusing prepared foods with an edible coating that contains green tea extract may lower consumers' chances of catching the highly contagious norovirus by eating contaminated food, new research suggests.

21 Jul 2020

UTSW researchers show how vulnerable cells armor themselves against infection

Cells in some of the body's most vulnerable entry routes to bacterial infection buffer themselves when the immune system detects danger by reorganizing the cholesterol on their surfaces, a new study led by UTSW scientists suggests.

13 Apr 2020

SFU researchers help discover potential new drug to kill superbugs

Researchers in Simon Fraser University's Brinkman Laboratory are collaborating with U.S. researchers to test a new drug that can kill a wide range of superbugs - including some bacteria now resistant to all common antibiotics.

3 Mar 2020

Portable device paves way for better detection of foodborne illness

Foodborne illness hits about one in six people in the United States every year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 48 million people in the U.S. get sick due to one or more of 31 recognized pathogens, including E. coli O157:H7, a particularly harsh strain of E. coli.

4 Feb 2020