On Aug. 22, a truck carrying potentially volatile airbags made by auto parts company Takata exploded, killing one person and injuring four others. Today, federal safety regulators said that the tragic incident could not be blamed on improper shipping. [More]
Quality & Safety
Diamond Macadamia Nuts Recalled For Possible Salmonella Contamination
By 8.31.16
Nuts are a delicious and filling snack and a tasty addition to a cookie, but they’re a lot less healthy when they come with a generous coating of Salmonella bacteria. That’s the case with macadamia nuts from Diamond, which have been recalled after routine testing turned up bacteria on a bag of nuts. [More]
IKEA Taking Its Time Providing Records Related To Massive Dresser Recall
By 8.30.16
Two months after IKEA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission took the unprecedented step in recalling 29 million top-heavy Malm and other models of dressers and chests linked to the deaths of six children, the retailer has missed a deadline to hand over documents related to the recall. [More]
Chipotle Hopes Freebies For Kids & Students Will Convince Customers To Return
By 8.30.16
In its continuing effort to make everyone forget about all that food-borne illness stuff from last year, Chipotle is trotting out two new promotions in September aimed at the younger set. [More]
Whirlpool Recalls 15K Microwaves After Reports Of Three Fires
By 8.30.16
Microwaves are supposed to heat up your leftovers or make popcorn, not catch fire. So after learning about a handful of Whirlpool microwaves going up in smoke and/or flames, the company says it will recall more than 15,000 of the kitchen appliances. [More]
Pre-Cut Veggies Sold In Walmart, Publix, 6 Other Stores, Recalled Over Listeria Concerns
By 8.29.16
Picking up a package of pre-cut, pre-washed fresh vegetables at the grocery store can make preparing dinner (lunch or breakfast) a bit easier. Unless, of course, you could get sick from those convenient vegetables. Walmart, Publix, and six other retailers have recalled packages of pre-cut veggies over listeria contamination concerns. [More]
McDonald’s Customers Have Been Finding Some Pretty Gross Stuff In Their Food
By 8.26.16
First of all: if you’re getting ready to eat lunch, be warned that we are about to discuss some gross stuff happening to food. Got it? Great. Now that you’ve girded your stomachs, it’s our distinct displeasure to call attention to crawly things that McDonald’s customers have reported finding in their food. [More]
Regardless Of Price, Don’t Buy Your EpiPen On eBay
By 8.26.16
With the price of emergency allergy treatment EpiPen jumping nearly 600% in less than a decade, bringing the out-of-pocket cost for some patients to $600 for a two-pack, it’s perhaps not surprising that sketchy eBay sellers are claiming to offer the prescription medication at a discount, even though it’s against eBay policy, illegal, and just a really, really, really awful idea. [More]
When It Comes To Food, “Generally Recognized As Safe” May Not Mean What It Sounds Like
By 8.24.16
Here in the U.S., we have food safety regulations — a lot of them. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for making sure foods (and a bunch of other stuff) adhere to some basic health and safety rules to reduce the likelihood these products will hit store shelves and make a million people sick. So far, so good… but there’s a major food safety system that the FDA uses that, it turns out, is neither standard nor safe — despite its name. [More]
USDA Buying 11 Million Pounds Of Surplus Cheese For Food Pantries
By 8.23.16
Earlier this year, we shared the news that there’s too much cheese in this country: enough that every person in the United States would have to eat three pounds to get rid of it all. Instead of distributing it that way, the U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to distribute it to people in need of nutritious food through pantries and through its own programs. [More]
McDonald’s Officially Recalls 29 Million Happy Meal Fitness Trackers Over Concerns About Rashes, Burns
By 8.23.16
Nearly a week after pulling them from Happy Meal packages — and subsequently erasing all trace of their existence from stores — McDonald’s has issued a formal recall of all 29 million Step-It fitness trackers over reports of skin irritation and burns. [More]
FDA Confirms Multi-State Recall Of Scallops Linked To Hepatitis A Outbreak In Hawaii
By 8.22.16
Problem scallops linked to a Hepatitis A outbreak in Hawaii that’s prompted the shutdown of several sushi restaurants might not be limited just to that state, as federal officials have confirmed they’re recalling the products in two other states as well. [More]
Food Scientists Working On Edible Alternative To Plastic Wrap
By 8.22.16
In the future, instead of throwing away plastic packaging and film covering our food, we might just eat it. Researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture are working on a few alternatives to plastic wrap, including an edible film that’s also biodegradable. [More]
SuperValu, Key Foods, Better Valu Frozen Corn Recalled For Possible Listeria Contamination
By 8.22.16
Did you think that you were safe from listeria-laden frozen vegetables simply because we haven’t shared news of any in a few months? Not so fast, person who enjoys vegetables! Here’s yet another recall, this one for veggies sold at SuperValu, Key Food, and Better Valu stores under private-label brands. The product in question is frozen cut corn. [More]
Hawaii Health Officials: New Hepatitis A Cases Expected Despite Shutdown Of Sushi Restaurants
By 8.17.16
Even though officials with the Hawaii Department of Health shut down sushi restaurants in the state that served frozen scallops linked to a recent Hepatitis A outbreak, new cases could still pop up, authorities said. [More]
Hawaii Health Officials Order Several Sushi Joints Closed Amid Hepatitis A Outbreak
By 8.16.16
When you think of Hawaii, seafood may come to mind, considering the state is surrounded by water. But hungry folks looking for sushi have a few less options right now, after the state’s department of health ordered several restaurants closed amid an ongoing Hepatitis A outbreak. [More]
The FDA Doesn’t Actually Have The Power To Recall Cosmetics That Harm People
By 8.15.16
Last month, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would be investigating claims from consumers that the “cleansing conditioner” Wen, purportedly developed by celebrity hairstylist Chaz Dean, had caused scalp irritation and even made some users’ hair fall out. The FDA looked into the situation after receiving 127 complaints about the product, but didn’t know that the marketer, Proactiv maker Guthy-Renker, had received more than 21,000 complaints about the product that it wasn’t obligated to report to the FDA. [More]
5 Brands Of Curry Powder Recalled Because Of Lead-Contaminated Turmeric
By 8.15.16
Since turmeric is a key ingredient in curry powder, it was inevitable that the recall of some brands of turmeric for lead contamination would eventually lead to the recall of some curry powder. So far, one company whose powder is sold under five different brands has announced a recall. [More]
