Marler Blog
Snohomish County Woman Hospitalized after consuming Listeria tainted Pasta
Snohomish County Health Department officials have confirmed that a Snohomish County resident is among those affected in a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes, a serious bacterial infection linked to contaminated food products. The woman, whose identity is being withheld for privacy, was hospitalized earlier this month and is now recovering. She is the first person in […]
Super Greens Supplement link in multi-state Salmonella Outbreak
As of October 31, 2025, 11 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 7 states – Florida 2, Kansas 2, Michigan 1, North Carolina 1, New York 1, South Carolina 1, Virginia 3. Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 12, 2025 to September 4, 2025. Of 11 people with […]
Salmonella and Chicken – Bad Mix
“The fact is, if you make salmonella contamination expensive, if recalls exist and people feel embarrassed that they’re producing food that is making people sick or killing them, they’ll want to change their behavior,” Marler said. Susanne Rust of the LA Times writes: “Poultry industry pushes back as food safety group cites salmonella contamination” • A […]
Salmonella and Chicken – Bad Mix
“The fact is, if you make salmonella contamination expensive, if recalls exist and people feel embarrassed that they’re producing food that is making people sick or killing them, they’ll want to change their behavior,” Marler said. Susanne Rust of the LA Times writes: “Poultry industry pushes back as food safety group cites salmonella contamination” • A […]
More Listeria Illnesses and Deaths linked to Pasta – 27 sick, 6 dead
Note: Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data show that certain meals produced by FreshRealm are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and are making people sick. Pasta from Nate’s Fine Foods was an ingredient in FreshRealm beef meatball marinara linguine meals. This pasta tested positive for Listeria and whole genome sequencing Pasta used in the meal tested positive for Listeria. Whole genome sequencing […]
More Listeria Illnesses and Deaths linked to Pasta – 27 sick, 6 dead
Note: Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data show that certain meals produced by FreshRealm are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and are making people sick. Pasta from Nate’s Fine Foods was an ingredient in FreshRealm beef meatball marinara linguine meals. This pasta tested positive for Listeria and whole genome sequencing Pasta used in the meal tested positive for Listeria. Whole genome sequencing […]
Good on Maple Leaf – learning from the past is a good way of preventing a bad future
Years ago – it might have been its first Symposium (never invited back), I was a speaker on the topic of “why it is a bad idea to poison your customers.” The Maple Leaf Listeria outbreak occurred in 2008, causing 23 deaths and 57 confirmed illnesses. The outbreak was linked to deli meats produced at the company’s […]
We really should get Salmonella out of Chicken
Petitioners, Rick Schiller, Steven Romes, The Porter Family, Food & Water Watch, Consumer Federation of America and Consumer Reports. Each year, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica causes 1.35 million illnesses, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the United States.[1] However, for every diagnosed and reported case of Salmonella, scientists estimate that 38 similar cases go unreported.[2] If these scientific predictions are accurate, Salmonellacauses […]
FDA – it was Romaine Lettuce – Sickened 89 with E. coli, hospitalized 1/2 – several with HUS – 1 dead – but that is all we will say
That sure is “radical transparency.” On November 25, 2024, PulseNet coded an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 2411MOEXH-2. At the time of closing, this investigation included 89 cases across 15 states: AR (2), CO (1), IL (7), IN (8), KS (1), KY (1), MO (50), MT (1), ND (2), NE (3), OH (8), PA (1), […]
E. coli O103 as an adulterant in Cheese and other foods
According to Washington State Health, two Whatcom County residents are known to have been sickened by cheese tainted with E. coli O103, and test results showed a genetic link between their illness and Twin Sisters Creamery products. An additional case in Oregon has also been genetically linked. One is a child under five years old, […]
A bit(e) of History of E. coli and Cheeses
E. coli Cheese 2025: Washington State Department of Health is working with local, state, Oregon Health Authority and federal public health partners to investigate Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli (STEC) infections linked to consumption of aged, raw milk cheese. Two Washington residents and one Oregon resident have developed STEC infections caused by E. coli O103. Molecular fingerprinting […]
German E. coli Outbreak sickens 255
As of October 2025, the German Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and public health officials have confirmed an E. coli O45:H2 outbreak that has sickened hundreds of people. The outbreak originated in the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania region in August and later spread to Nordrhein-Westfalen. Key details of the outbreak: • Case numbers: As of early October, there were […]
Twin Sisters Cheese recalled over E. coli
Two Whatcom County residents are known to have been sickened, and test results showed a genetic link between their illness and Twin Sisters Creamery products. An additional case in Oregon has also been genetically linked. One is a child under five years old, and two are adults. One person was hospitalized. All illnesses occurred between […]
Why I’m changing Food Safety News (a personal note from Bill Marler)
I am 68 years young, and no, I am not about to retire. I know that many receiving this email have been my adversaries, friends and colleagues. One thing we all have been – is committed to the safety of our food supply. I am writing to you today because Food Safety News is changing […]
Nearly 1 in 5 Urinary Tract Infections Linked to Contaminated Meat
New GW study finds people in underserved neighborhoods face the highest risk of foodborne infections A new study estimates that nearly one in five urinary tract infections in Southern California may be caused by E. coli strains transmitted through contaminated meat – and pose a hidden foodborne risk to millions of people not just in California […]