News and Notes

National Food Safety Education Month: The Basics about Pathogens


Posted: 09/12/2024
This year, the theme of National Food Safety Education Month is "Get Smart About Foodborne Illnesses: Understanding, Managing, and Preventing Outbreaks." We'll be highlighting the educational material here because they are great references for everyone in the food service industry. Week 1 at the Food Safety Focus website is a refresh on pathogens, and week 2....

Thank you for the feedback!


Posted: 09/05/2024
We love hearing from our students about how they enjoyed our classes, and once in a while some feedback really stands out. Thank you to one of our recent private classes for sending back this review about their experience with our instructor Simon:   "A couple of the attendees are managers for us and this was their second or....

New reports on the Boar's Head Listeria recall: mold, insects, and dirty walls


Posted: 08/30/2024
Some new updates with the massive listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats and meat products. Currently there are 57 confirmed cases (all requiring hospitalization) and 9 deaths across 18 states. The Virginia plant where the outbreak originated has paused operations, and new reports of dozens of violations at that plant have come to light. Black mold, cobwebs....

Let's Talk Listeria


Posted: 08/15/2024
Listeria is a bacteria that can be found in soil, water and feces. It survives refrigeration, and is easily spread through contaminated equipment. Almost all cases will require hospitalization, and while healthy people most often survive it, listeria is incredibly dangerous to the elderly, young children, and pregnant women (the fetus is at great risk). Recently, listeria has been headlining....

Bird Flu and safety for farm workers


Posted: 07/18/2024
As positive cases in poultry and cows increase across the country, more workers are exposed to the virus when having to cull infected flocks and herds. In Colorado, human cases have doubled in the past week due to increased heat combined with inadequate PPE use -- feathers flying around are one of the ways that avian flu can be transmitted....

Another product recall due to Botulism


Posted: 07/05/2024
Federal regulation and inspection of processing facilities is essential to consumer health and safety – recently we posted about a voluntary recall of items from Snapchill Coffee LLC due to improper processing; there is now yet another company issuing a voluntary recall for improper processing of their products. Urban Spirits LLC produces drink mixers, spritzes, and syrups which are all....

Snapchill Canned Coffee recalled due to potential botulism


Posted: 06/21/2024
Whether it’s hot brewed coffee, iced, or pre-made and purchased, coffee is one of the most popular beverages consumed in the United States. For consumers that rely on pre-made canned coffee, a large nation-wide recall was just announced yesterday by the FDA. Snapchill LLC bottles canned coffee beverages for hundreds of different companies across the country, and it was....

Proper Hand Care


Posted: 06/07/2024
In the food service industry, we rely on our hands -- from prep to dishwashing to service to cleaning, and everything in between, it's our responsibility to take care of them to keep our food and customers safe. Proper Handwashing -- make sure you've got a fully stocked handwashing sink, and ensure all employees are trained on how....

FDA Announcement concerning tara flour


Posted: 05/17/2024
In June 2022, the meal kit company Daily Harvest voluntarily recalled their French Lentil + Leek Crumbles after over 400 reports of gastrointestinal and liver issues in consumers – with a number of complainants having to undergo emergency gallbladder surgery. Some symptoms after ingesting the product included: stomach pains, fever, chills, itching in hands and feet, and even jaundice. As....

Ground beef recall due to potential E. coli contamination


Posted: 05/03/2024
On Wednesday 5/1/24, the USDA announced a ground beef recall affecting over 8 tons of product due to potential E. coli contamination. While there are currently no reports of illness from the ground beef, the Cargill brand packages were sold at Walmart in 11 states on the east coast and Washington DC. E. coli can be found in the intestinal....
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