Food Poisoning News & Features

Specifically, the researchers found that towels used for a variety of tasks -- such as wiping utensils, drying hands, holding hot utensils  or cleaning surfaces -- had more bacteria than towels used for one task. In addition, damp towels had more bacteria than dry ones, the investigators found.

This is the biggest Shiga-toxin producing E. coli outbreak since a 2006 outbreak linked to spinach grown in the Salinas Valley in California.

One study that tested samples over 6 months in the deli departments of chain supermarkets in three states found listeria in almost 10 percent of samples.

Other places where kids got sick from bad food were school (21 percent), a friend's home (14 percent) and potlucks (11 percent).

Some people infected with this type of E. coli develop severe, watery diarrhea. For others, the infection causes only mild symptoms or none at all.

Thirty-five people who ate eggs traced back to the farm have been sickened since November, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of the cases were in New York and Virginia.

But there was potential good news: The outbreak, tied to lettuce grown near Yuma, Ariz., might be nearing its end.

Twenty-eight more illnesses caused by an E. coli outbreak tied to tainted romaine lettuce were reported by U.S. health officials on Wednesday.

Utz Quality Foods is recalling several brands of tortilla chips—including Golden Flake, Utz and Weis, and Good Health—because they may contain milk that isn’t listed as an ingredient on the label.

A North Carolina company is recalling more than 17 tons of ground beef sold at Kroger stores because they may be contaminated with pieces of plastic.

As of April 27, about 100 people in California have become ill after eating the oysters sold in restaurants and stores, state health officials say.

The first death from an ongoing outbreak of E. coli tied to romaine lettuce has been reported in California, federal health officials said Wednesday.

New cases were reported in the last few days Mississippi, Tennessee and Wisconsin—three states that had previously been unaffected, according to the CDC.

Any food can be infected with more than 250 foodborne diseases. Bacteria, parasites, viruses, chemicals, and toxins can contaminate food.

Illnesses include 18 cases in Pennsylvania, 13 cases in California, 10 in Idaho, seven cases each in Montana and New Jersey, five cases each in Alaska and Arizona, three in Ohio, two cases each in Colorado, Connecticut, Michigan, New York and Washington, and a single case each in Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, South Dakota and Virginia.

The sweeping advisory came after information tied to some new illnesses prompted health officials to caution against eating all kinds of romaine lettuce that came from the city of Yuma, Ariz., where the outbreak began.

Nearly 207 million eggs produced at a farm in Hyde County, N.C., are being voluntarily recalled because of concerns of contamination with the salmonella bacteria.

The frozen biscuits were sold under a variety of brand names in several major national retail chains.

There has been one death and nine people have been hospitalized, including two with kidney failure, CNN reported.

U.S. officials are investigating whether the outbreak, which has killed two people, is tied to a similar case in Canada.

The company voluntarily recalled the products and said it has removed them from shelves.

Spicely Organics is recalling jars of organic tarragon after routine sampling found salmonella bacteria in the leaves.

Ground turkey sold at Publix, Aldi and Weis may have metal shavings in the meat.

Iowa officials warn drinkers that popular cocktails like the Moscow Mule can be dangerous if consumed from an all-copper mug.

Macaroni and cheese mixes made with powdered cheese contain high levels of potentially harmful chemicals called phthalates, according to a new study.