Could your doggie bag lead to food poisoning? Certain leftovers have a higher risk of spreading foodborne bacteria that can make you sick. Eating out is expensive. Probably now, more than ever. We still continue to eat out, albeit at a less rate than historical trends. Many Americans offset this expense by saving some of their meal for a lunch the next day. If handled properly, it can be a great money-saving tip. However, certain frugalities can lead to food disasters. This is not a new trend. In fact, the term “doggy bag” has been around for quite a while. In most cases, however, it has been ..read more

Is the five-second rule real? Germ scientists say it is. On your mark. Get set! Go!!! Your favorite candy falls out of your hand, makes a perfect drop shot onto the counter that would make even Serena Williams proud, and lands on the floor. The race is on! Germs begin racing to the morsel, ever on alert to spoil your fun. But can you get there in time?! 5, 4, 3, 2, and SAVED! Ha! Snacker 1, Germs 0. And the crowd goes wild!!! If this is how you imagine the microscopic race going down, you may be right. To a point. Germ scientists tested the validity of the five-second rule, with surprising res ..read more

A new strain of bacteria discovered in colon cancer patient samples reveals a novel bacteria may contribute to colon cancer, says researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington. These bacteria, found primarily at the other end of the digestive system, appear to play a role in cancer treatment failures. Colon Cancer Statistics Colon cancer cases are on the rise. Particularly in younger people. It is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, with an estimated death toll of more than 53,000 in America in 2024. And rates are rising. According to repor ..read more

Could freezing oysters reduce the risk of Vibrio infections? Scientists say, yes! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that around 80,000 people become sick with vibriosis – the illness associated with Vibrio bacterial infections – in the United States each year. Around 100 of those infections will be fatal. In fact, Vibrio vulnificus is responsible for over 95% of seafood-related deaths in the United States, making it the highest fatality rate of any foodborne pathogen. Oysters are the most associated food when it comes to foodborne Vibrio infections. So, it is no su ..read more

Prepare yourself for this deadly illness by knowing Legionnaires’ disease symptoms and how it is spread. Have you noticed a recent increase of Legionnaires’ disease cases in the news? Scientists have speculated an answer for that, and it has to do with pollution. Legionnaires’ Disease Cases on the Rise, Says CDC With only a brief look at national news, you may notice that the topic of Legionnaires’ disease has come up more often. As Legionnaires’ disease symptoms are often confused with typical pneumonia, it is likely we are only seeing a fraction of cases reported and investigated. Centers fo ..read more

A new article in the Journal of American Medical Association publication, JAMA, warns physicians on how climate change affects foodborne illness rates. Infectious-disease physicians from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of California Davis (UCD) pointed out that the last decade ranked 9 of the 10 warmest years on record. Other environmental impacts such as droughts, severe heat, wildfires, hurricanes, and floods have impacted ecosystems, with a downstream effect of human illness. Things are Heating Up! If it seems like things are getting warmer, you may be onto something ..read more

Plant-based meats are seeing a rise in popularity lately. But are they any safer? Scientists found mixed data. A German study researched plant-based meat consumption in Europe and examined the microbiological status of vegan ground meat products available for sale in Germany. Plant-Based Meats Are Becoming Increasingly Popular As a decrease in meat consumption has become more mainstream, plant-based meats have become increasingly popular. In fact, these meat alternatives have shown a 62.2% increase in German consumptions during the evaluation period (2019 to 2021). People choose to consume pla ..read more

Changes to the Chick-fil-A antibiotic use policy may sound scary, but it isn’t as bad as it may sound. Chick-fil-A, a company synonymous with tasty chicken products, recently announced a changed in their antibiotic use policy. This change is slated for Spring 2024. Essentially, any day now. Here’s what it means. Historically, the Chick-fil-A Antibiotic Use Policy Was No Antibiotics Ever (NAE) In line with what the educated consumer wants and the growing concern for antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, Chick-fil-A and other chicken retailers have made a stand to have a “No Antibiotics Ever ..read more

A recent study out of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign investigated certain plants and conditions that make kale and other leafy greens less susceptible to E. coli than other lettuces. Surprising differences between lettuces and their leafy greens cousins like kale, spinach, and collards make contributed to making them less susceptible to E. coli contamination. Subjects Were Chosen with Human Pathogen Outbreaks in Mind Leafy greens are regularly in the news for outbreaks. E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and more! Romaine and green leaf lettuce have the worst reputation. But you don’t ..read more

Recent reports of bird flu detected in dairy cows in four states so far may explain some herd production losses. But what does this mean for the milk supply? Is it safe? Here’s what we know so far. Bird Flu Detected in Idaho Dairy Cows The Idaho State Department of Agriculture announced that Idaho now joins Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas in detecting highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy cows. Data suggests that the virus may be spreading cow-to-cow. Evidence suggests that this highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza may be spreading from cow-to-cow. A “mysterious illness” in dairy c ..read more