I asked our AI friends – What are the pros and cons of replacing FDA Commissioner Makary with me – here is the response? This is a very timely question — Makary resigned as FDA Commissioner today, May 12, 2026, amid reports of internal tensions and policy clashes, with the vaping dispute reportedly being a […]
The Flathead City-County Health Department (FCCHD) and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) continue to work to investigate an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak originating in Flathead County. Copy of Complaint. Illnesses have been reported in Montana residents as well as people who visited Montana over the 4th of July week including Arizona, Oregon, Wyoming, […]
(Seattle) A federal lawsuit has been filed against Boar’s Head Provisions of Sarasota, Florida in the Eastern District of Virginia on behalf of Barbara Schmidt of Virginia, who spent six days in ICU and weeks in recovery after consuming Boar’s Head Liverwurst. She tested positive for Listeria, and it is a match to the outbreak strain. Cause No. […]
Dear Inspector General Fong, I write to request an investigation into the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) handling of repeated sanitary violations found at the Boar’s Head plant in Jarratt, Virginia. I am deeply concerned about the ongoing, nationwide listeria outbreak linked to recalled Boar’s Head deli meat produced at the plant. I am further […]
Fourth District Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan sent a letter today to Larry Helfant, the Chief Operating Officer, and to Jeff Szymanski, the plant manager in Jarratt. The deli meat contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes is responsible for nine deaths and 57 hospitalizations across the country, and health officials continue to monitor for more deaths and hospitalizations linked to Boar’s Head products. Boar’s Head recalled more than 7 million pounds of ready-to-eat […]
Here is the story – Sen. Blumenthal urging lawmakers to investigate USDA following Boar’s Head listeria outbreak Good on ya.
Bill Marler, food safety advocate and foodborne illness attorney since 1993, whose Seattle law firm, Marler Clark’s work was recently profiled in the Netflix documentary “Poisoned,” The Dirty Truth about your Food, is calling on Boar’s Head to pay the medical bills and lost wages of the victims of the deli outbreak in the United States that has so far […]
As of August 27, a total of 57 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria have been reported from 18 states – Including: Arizona 1, Florida 3, Georgia 2, Illinois 1, Indiana 1, Maryland 8, Massachusetts 3, Minnesota 1, Missouri 3, New Jersey 5, New Mexico 1, New York 17, North Carolina 1, Pennsylvania 2, South […]
As of August 27, a total of 57 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria have been reported from 18 states – Including: Arizona 1, Florida 3, Georgia 2, Illinois 1, Indiana 1, Maryland 8, Massachusetts 3, Minnesota 1, Missouri 3, New Jersey 5, New Mexico 1, New York 17, North Carolina 1, Pennsylvania 2, South […]
Publisher’s Platform: What you need to know about the Boar’s Head Listeria Outbreak https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/08/242347/ Boar’s Head plant had dozens of violations, dubbed ‘listeria factory’ by lawyer https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/boars-head-plant-dozens-violations-dubbed-listeria-factory-lawyer The number and breadth of the violations prompted food safety attorney Bill Marler to call the plant a “listeria factory.” “In the 30 years of doing food safety litigation, I […]
While we are enjoying Labot Day weekend, the folks at the FDA are laboring to figure out outbreaks.
Using the CDC’s estimate of the incubation period (from ingestion to onset of symptoms) from 3 to 70 days, Listeria-tainted deli meat could have been produced by Boar’s Head as early as mid-March 2024 (first illness reported May 29th) with possible illnesses occurring at least 70 post-recall (July 30th), or approximately mid-October. According to the […]
CDC Report: https://www.marlerblog.com/files/2024/08/Attachement-No.-2-CDC-Records.pdf FDA Report: https://www.marlerblog.com/files/2024/08/Attachment-No.-1-Gibson-Farms-Inc-E.-coli-OB-FDA-Final-Record.pdf The CDC and FDA have reported that as of April 30, 2024, 12 people infected with E. coli have been reported from Washington and California. Two patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can cause kidney failure. The FDA determined that Gibson Farms, Inc of […]
One would have thought I would have seen it all after 31 years of doing food safety cases. I received the below picture of a rat or mouse well dressed (Italian Vinaigrette I presume) in their airplane salad. I suppose the only good thing was that it was not 1/2 of the rat or mouse. […]
Public Health Warning: Products sold at the deli, especially those sliced or prepared at the deli, can be contaminated with Listeria. Listeria spreads easily among deli equipment, surfaces, hands, and food. Refrigeration does not kill Listeria, but reheating to a high enough temperature before eating will kill any germs that may be on these meats. CDC advises people to not […]
As I said yesterday, years of inspection reports leave little doubt that the Boar’s Head plant’s HACCP must have been either non-existent or used for toilet paper. It is hard to wrap your head around how food could be produced in these conditions by this company and under the un watchful gaze of FSIS inspectors. […]