Family · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Recalls

Major Farm Issues Egg Recall Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

Consumers are encouraged to dispose of any contaminated food products immediately

Residents in Sacramento and Davis, Calif., may want to check the eggs in their fridge following a recall from a local distributor.

According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Veg Farms, based in Dixon, Calif., issued a recall on Friday, Dec. 5, due to the potential of Salmonella contamination.

12-count cartons and 30-count flats of eggs with sell-by dates of Dec. 22 and earlier, or Julian dates of 328 and earlier are affected by the recall. Contaminated products with a handler code of 2136 were shipped to both restaurants and farmers’ markets.

Vega Farms Eggs

A Veg Farms spokesperson confirmed with local news outlet KCRA3 that the company’s processing equipment contaminated the roughly 1,515 dozen eggs, not the farm’s flock of chickens.

Veg Farms stated that it disposed of all of the product from the affected store locations. The company also encourages any consumers who have purchased the eggs to throw them away immediately.

According to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), symptoms of Salmonella infection can include stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, headache, nausea and vomiting. While most cases may resolve without medical treatment within a few days, the illness can be more serious (and potentially fatal) for infants, senior adults, people with weakened immune systems and individuals living with sickle cell disease.

Vega Farms Eggs

This is only one of the many recalls reported this year due to potential Salmonella infection. Earlier this month, Wegmans, a popular regional grocery store, recalled two types of mixed nuts.

While the company didn’t specify where the Salmonella contamination originated, it’s important to read labels, wash hands and dispose of potentially affected food items to avoid any bodily harm.

Melinda

Reference:

https://people.com/california-farm-issues-egg-recall-due-to-potential-salmonella-contamination-11865038

Cooking · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Recalls

More Than 60,000 Lbs. of Chicken Recalled Nationwide Due to an ‘Undeclared Allergen’: Here’s What You Need to Know

The product should be thrown away and not consumed, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) 

A food production company in Georgia has issued a nationwide recall for more than 60,000 lbs. of chicken that was shipped to restaurants across the United States.

The company, called Suzanna’s Kitchen, issued the recall on “approximately 62,550 pounds” of its eight-piece cut, fully-cooked, bone-in breaded chicken product “due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen,” per the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The product contains soy, which is a known allergen, but it is not listed on the label, per FSIS.

The chicken was produced on Oct. 16, 2025, and has case code “P-1380 126237 B30851 23:11 K04” printed on the side of the packaging. It is shipped in 18 lb. cases containing four units.

FSIS is currently “concerned that some product may be in restaurant refrigerators or freezers,” and restaurants are urged to throw the chicken away should they have it, per the recall.

FSIS first became aware of the contamination when they were alerted to the issue by Suzanna’s Kitchen, which realized some of the chicken had been mislabeled, per the recall statement.


Melinda

Reference:

https://people.com/more-than-60000-lbs-chicken-recalled-nationwide-what-you-need-to-know-11868792

Children · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Recalls

Nationwide Recall Issued for Thousands of Crayola-Branded Toys Due to Risk of Death or Injury to Children

Around 9,400 of CreateOn’s Crayola-branded pip-cubes have been recalled

This story has been updated to reflect that the manufacturer of the recalled toys is CreateOn, not Crayola. The recalled pip-cubes were Crayola-branded, a representative for Crayola confirmed to PEOPLE.

A recall has been issued for toys that could potentially kill or injure children.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced in a news release on Thursday, Dec. 4, that CreateOn’s Crayola-branded pip-cubes are being recalled after “posing an ingestion hazard to children.”

Around 9,400 units of the toy product are affected, according to the CPSC, as they contain magnetic building cubes “that can become loose if the seams separate.”

CreateOn Recalls Pip-Cubes Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Magnet Ingestion Hazard

“When high-powered magnets are swallowed, the ingested magnets can attract to each other, or other metal objects, and become lodged in the digestive system,” the CPSC said.

This potential hazard can cause perforations, twisting or blockage of the intestines, blood poisoning and death, according to the organization.

The recalled pip-cube sets sold for around $20 at Michael’s Stores across the U.S. and online at Michaels.com and Amazon.com from May to July.

The affected products were sold in sets of 24 or 27 “Bold Colors” packs containing red, green, blue and yellow cubes, and “Glitter “packs containing purple, pink, blue and green cubes.

The brand name “Crayola” is imprinted on the left side of each cube. The model/UPC numbers of the recalled toys can be found on the bottom of the product packaging, according to the CPSC.

Consumers are being advised to “immediately stop using the recalled magnetic building cubes” and return the product using a pre-paid label provided by CreateOn. Replacement pip-cubes are also being offered.

Melinda

Reference:

https://people.com/recall-issued-for-thousands-of-crayola-branded-toys-due-to-risk-of-death-injury-to-children-11863557

Cooking · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Recalls

Hidden Valley Ranch Recalled Due to ‘Foreign Objects’ Inside — Here’s How to See Which Bottles Are Affected

Another recall! Maybe it’s time to grow our own food and make everything from scratch.

Costco, which was among the impacted retailers, previously issued a warning in November

Thousands of cases of salad dressing have been recalled following concerns that a “foreign object” could be inside.

In a newly released exposure report from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the federal agency announced that 3,556 cases of various salad dressings from Ventura Foods had been affected in multiple states across the country.

The California-based company warned the public that “foreign objects (black plastic planting material) in granulated onion” might be found inside its products. 

The alert was assigned a Class II label, which refers to “a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”

Impacted condiments include Creamy Poblano Avocado Ranch Dressing and Dip, Ventura Caesar Dressing, Pepper Mill Regal Caesar Dressing, Pepper Mill Creamy Caesar Dressing and Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch. 

Two Caesar dressings specifically sold at Costco are also impacted.

“Costco and Ventura foods are announcing the recall of select Sell By dates of Item Caesar Salad and Item Chicken Sandwich w/ Caesar Salad due to the possible presence of plastic foreign material in the salad dressing of the items,” the brands said in a joint statement in November. 

After sharing the “sell by” dates of the affected products, customers were urged to “Please stop eating the product and return the item to your local Costco for a full refund.”

In the most recent recall, the FDA said Ventura Foods had distributed the products to seven retail customers across 42 locations.

Affected states include: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. 

Melinda

Reference:

https://people.com/hidden-valley-ranch-recalled-due-to-foreign-objects-inside-here-is-how-to-see-which-bottles-are-affected-11871847

Family · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Recalls

Holiday Chocolate Bark Sold at Aldi Recalled amid Warning Products May Cause ‘Serious or Life-Threatening’ Symptoms

BEWARE, THE PRODUCT CONTAINS NUTS

Food allergies cause 2,000 hospitalizations and 150 deaths in the U.S. annually

Holiday chocolate sold at Aldi recalled - Choceur Cookie Butter Holiday Bark Choceur Cranberry & Cinnamon Holiday Bark

Holiday chocolate sold at Aldi stores across the U.S. have been recalled.

Silvestri Sweets Inc. announced a voluntary recall of its 5-ounce bags of Choceur-branded Holiday Barks sold at the stores, as it may contain “undeclared allergens,” according to a release from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA).

Silvestri Sweets Inc. said the recall was initiated after it was discovered that the Pecan, Cranberry & Cinnamon Holiday Bark had been packaged in Cookie Butter Holiday Bark packages and vice versa. 

A subsequent investigation by the company indicated the problem may have been caused by a “temporary breakdown in the company’s production and packaging process.”

Due to the mixup, the company said its Choceur-branded Cookie Butter Holiday Bark may contain undeclared pecans. This means that anyone who may be allergic to pecans could have a “serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.”

That product comes in a light blue packaging and shows a piece of the light-colored bark surrounded by holiday-inspired illustrations. At the top, the words, “Choceur Cookie Butter Holiday Bark” can be seen. The company noted that the bag had a best buy date of “05/2026,” printed on the back.

The company also noted that its Choceur-branded Pecan, Cranberry and Cinnamon Holiday Bark may contain undeclared wheat, and those who are allergic to it could also run the risk of having a “serious or life-threatening allergic reaction” if they consume the product. 

Those bags are a dark red color and have the words, “Choceur Pecan, Cranberry & Cinnamon Holiday Bark,” above a piece of light brown bark decorated with pecans and cranberries. The bag is framed with holiday decoration illustrations including pieces of cranberry and twigs. These bags have a best by date of “08/2026” printed on the back.

The company said that the products were distributed nationwide through Aldi grocery stores, and noted that as of Nov. 26, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this issue.

Customers who purchased the products are urged to discard them.

Melinda

Reference:

https://people.com/holiday-chocolate-bark-sold-at-aldi-recalled-due-to-undeclared-allergens-11870006

Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Medication · Men & Womens Health · Recalls

How To Track All Recalls & Safety Information On FDA.gov

If you want to stay on top of Recalls, Safety Alerts and Adverse Reporting you can turn to FDA.gov for the most current trusted source for information.

On the FDA.gov website, all recalls are tracked to keep the public safe. Three key sections to look under are:

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts

Major Recall Products 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/major-product-recalls

MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program

https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch-fda-safety-information-and-adverse-event-reporting-program

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.fda.gov/

Cooking · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Recalls

Dietary Supplements Recalled Nationwide After 11 People Got Sick with Salmonella

Several dietary supplements containing the popular moringa leaf powder have been recalled after multiple consumers contracted Salmonella

Products manufactured using a single lot of recalled organic moringa leaf powder from Vallon Farmdirect of Johdpur, India, have been linked to at least 11 illnesses and three hospitalizations included in a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Cases have been reported in Florida, Kansas, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, and the affected products include Food to Live brand’s Organic Moringa Leaf Power (8-ounce, 1-pound, 2-pound, 4-pound, 8-pound, 16-pound, and 44-pound bags) and Organic Supergreens Power Mix (8-ounce, 1-pound, 1.5-pound, 3-pound, 6-pound, and 12-pound bags) with lot codes of SO-69006 through SO-72558.

Africa Import’s Organic Moringa Leaf Power (1-kilogram box) sold after June 5 is also affected, as are all Member’s Mark Super Greens dietary supplement powder products, regardless of lot codes and best by dates. 

Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Moringa Leaf Powder

The supplements were distributed nationwide through both retail and wholesale channels.

The FDA is now encouraging consumers and retailers to refrain from eating, selling or serving the recalled products and is instead urging that the products be thrown away, and that any surfaces or containers they may have touched be sanitized.

Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Moringa Leaf Powder (October 2025)

Salmonella is a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever called salmonellosis, according to the FDA.

Symptoms often begin to develop 12 to 72 hours after infection, and they may include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, high fever, aches, headaches, lethargy, a rash and blood in the urine or stool. In some cases, it may become fatal. 

After illnesses were reported in October, the Virginia Department of Health collected an open sample of Africa Imports moringa leaf powder from an affected individual’s home.

It later tested positive for Salmonella, based on a whole-genome sequencing that matched the strain causing illnesses in the outbreak. 

Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Moringa Leaf Powder (October 2025)

After more products, including an open sample of Member’s Mark Super Greens dietary supplement powder, yielded similar results, retailers ceased distribution and sales of the products and issued the voluntary recall. 

According to the FDA, the investigation is ongoing and authorities are continuing to “determine what additional products were made with the implicated lot of moringa leaf powder.”

As more and more recalls happen, we have to be vigilant with our food safety.

Melinda

Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Recalls

Over 2 Million Pounds of Pork Jerky Recalled for Potential Contamination with ‘Pieces of Wiry Metal’

The Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that multiple consumers reported finding metal in their Golden Island Korean barbecue pork jerky

A South Dakota company is recalling approximately 2.2 million pounds of barbecue pork jerky due to potential contamination with metal fragments.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced in a press release on Friday, Oct. 24, that LSI, Inc., based in Alpena, is recalling 2,277,540 pounds of Golden Island Korean barbecue pork jerky following reports of consumers finding “pieces of wiry metal” in the product. 

“LSI, Inc. determined that the metal originated from the conveyor belt used in production,” FSIS said in the release. “There have been no confirmed reports of injury due to consumption of this product.

“Anyone concerned about an injury should contact a healthcare provider,” they added.

Golden Island Korean Barbecue Pork Jerky,

The recalled product was shipped to Costco and Sam’s Club retail locations across the U.S. and displays “best by” dates ranging from Oct. 23 through Sept. 23, 2026. 

The recall includes 14.5-oz. and 16-oz. plastic pouches of ready-to-eat pork jerky with the label “Golden Island fire-grilled pork jerky Korean barbecue recipe,” per the release. 

Consumers can also identify the products by the establishment number “M279A” on the inside of the USDA mark of inspection.

The FSIS is urging consumers who might have already purchased the product “not to consume it” but to throw it away or return the item to the place of purchase.

“FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify that recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers,” the FSIS said.

Consumers with questions about the recall are advised to contact info@goldenislandjerky.com.

The pork jerky recall comes after more than 1,000 pounds of Ada Valley frozen ground beef were recalled in July after pieces of metal were also reportedly found in the product, according to the FSIS.

Melinda

Reference:

https://people.com/barbecue-pork-jerky-recalled-metal-contamination-11837133

Cooking · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Recalls

Over 6 Million Eggs Have Been Recalled by the FDA amid Ongoing Salmonella Risk

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a nationwide alert, instructing consumers, retailers and distributors not to eat, sell or serve certain eggs after the recall of more than 6 million eggs produced by the Arkansas-based Black Sheep Egg Company due to potential Salmonella contamination.

According to the announcement posted by the FDA on Monday, Oct. 20, the recall includes 12- and 18-count cartons of the company’s Free Range Large Grade A Brown Eggs with Best By dates between August 22 and October 31, 2025, and UPC 860010568507 and 860010568538.

Over 6 Million Eggs Have Been Recalled Due to Salmonella:

The agency also classified the action as a Class I recall, the highest risk level, given that eggs could pose a serious health threat of Salmonella.

The symptoms, which include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps, can usually last four to seven days and can be experienced 12 to 72 hours after ingesting the contaminated food. Vulnerable demographics — children under the age of five years old, those with comparable immune systems and the elderly — are subject to experiencing more severe infections. 

As the notice explains, the alarm was raised after 40 environmental samples collected at the company’s processing facility tested positive for Salmonella, including seven different strains known to cause human illness.

While no illnesses have yet been reported and the FDA has no current evidence linking the firm to an outbreak, the recall is being handled as a precaution.

Over 6 Million Eggs Have Been Recalled Due to Salmonella:

Although the eggs were originally shipped to retail and wholesale locations in Arkansas and Missouri, they may have been further distributed and repackaged before reaching other states.

That broader footprint extends the recall beyond the immediately identified region. A related Oct. 16 recall by the Texas-based brand Kenz Henz, which sold eggs sourced from Black Sheep in Houston, further underscores the distribution reach.

Retailers and food-service operators have been instructed to halt sales and distribution of the suspect eggs immediately. Consumers are advised to check any egg cartons in their refrigerators for the affected codes and dates, and either discard or return them to the location of purchase. Surfaces and containers that came into contact with the contaminated eggs should be thoroughly washed and sanitized. 

Anyone who has consumed the recalled eggs and develops symptoms is encouraged to contact a health-care provider and report the situation to the FDA for further investigation.

Not again?

Melinda

Reference:

https://people.com/over-6-million-eggs-have-been-recalled-by-fda-amid-salmonella-risk-11834683

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Medication · Men & Womens Health · Recalls

Blood Pressure Medicine Recalled After Drug Makers Say It Was Tainted with Cancer-Causing Chemical

The FDA announced that various doses of prazosin hydrochloride have been voluntarily recalled

Drug makers have recalled more than 500,000 bottles of a blood pressure medication over concerns it may include a cancer-causing chemical.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that New Jersey-based Teva Pharmaceuticals USA and drugs distributor Amerisource Health Services issued voluntary nationwide recalls for various doses of prazosin hydrochloride, according to the Associated Press.

The drug makers said the pill capsules may have nitrosamine impurities — or “No-nitroso Prazosin impurity C” — that are considered potentially cancer causing. About 580,000 bottles of various strengths have been recalled for having the impurities.

The FDA classified the recall as having a Class II risk level, “in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”

Blood Pressure Medicine Recalled After Manufacturer Says It Was Tainted With Cancer-Causing Chemical
Pill bottles (stock image).Getty

statement from the California State Board of Pharmacy reads: “According to the Health Hazard Assessment by Teva USA, exposure to the product of concern could lead to severe adverse health consequences, but the likelihood of harm was assessed as remote. The overall risk of harm in the patient population is considered to be medium.’

The recalled bottles included 181,659 of 1 mg bottles, 291,512 of 2 mg bottles and 107,673 of 5 mg bottles. The bottles may have up to 1,000 capsules each with expiration dates ranging from November 2025 to February 2028.

The lot numbers and expiration dates can be found on the FDA’s website.

According to the AARP, anyone who has affected medication should contact their doctor or pharmacy for specific guidance, return their medication to the pharmacy to dispose of it, and to report any side effects or issues to the FDA.

The Mayo Clinic states that prazosin is prescribed to patients to treat high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, which can cause the heart and arteries to not function properly and then damage brain, heart and kidneys. It can also result in a stroke, heart failure or kidney failure.

The medication is also sometimes prescribed for nightmares and other sleep disturbances caused by post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the AP.

Play it safe!

Melinda

Reference:

https://people.com/blood-pressure-medicine-prazosin-hydrochloride-recalled-due-to-cancer-causing-chemical-contamination-11841751

Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Recalls

3 Popular Pet Food Brands Voluntarily Recall Products amid Possible Salmonella Risk: FDA

Best Buy Bones, Raw Bistro Pet Fare, and Foodynamics voluntarily recalled products in October

hree pet food brands are asking owners to check products affected by their voluntary recalls.

This month, three pet food companies recalled various products that may have been exposed to Salmonella. Popular brands Best Buy BonesRaw Bistro Pet Fare, and Foodynamics each voluntarily recalled several lots of product, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported in separate October releases.

Salmonella exposure can affect pets and the humans who feed them.

The FDA shared that pets infected with Salmonella may experience diarrhea, fevers, vomiting, or general lethargy. Less extreme symptoms include decreased appetite and abdominal pain.

According to PetMD, pet parents should take their pet to the vet or an animal hospital if they have diarrhea that “occurs with decreased appetite, lethargy, fever, and blood in the stool.” With supportive care — hydration, rest, antibiotics — most dogs can weather a diagnosed Salmonella infection. PetMD noted that without treatment, diarrhea and illness caused by Salmonella “can lead to dehydration, sepsis, and even death.”

For humans handling contaminated pet food, unwashed hands and surfaces can increase the likelihood of exposure. If infected with Salmonella, people may experience “nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever,” according to the FDA. In rare cases, Salmonella exposure can lead to “arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms,” the agency’s releases added.

The following products were included in the recalls. If your pet has consumed a recalled product and displays any of the above symptoms, consult a veterinarian. If you experience any human-related Salmonella symptoms, it is recommended to seek medical advice from a healthcare professional.

Best Buy Bones 

Nature’s Own Pet Chews Bully Bites in 16 oz. bags 

UPC# 739598900750

  • Four lots recalled with a shared expiration date of September 2027 
  • The lots are 19379, 19380, 19381, and 19382
  • FDA recall release published on Oct. 3. At the time, no illnesses in dogs had been reported

Foodynamics 

Raw Dog Barkery

Two packages of Whole Chicken Hearts in 16 oz. bags

  • In lot and “Use By” sticker date #030527
  • Packages were distributed to SimplyDried Treats, which has notified Magpies Gourmet Dog Treats in Wisconsin
  • Foodynamics traced 100% of product contamination and contacted affected parties

BellePepper Cats

Two packages of Freeze Dried Chicken Heart Slices in 3 oz. bags + Samples

  • In lot and “Use By” sticker date #031627
  • Sold by retailer in New York
  • Retailer samplers may have also included contaminated product from lots #121426 and #011526
  • Foodynamics traced 100% of product contamination and contacted affected parties

Kanu Pets

One package of Freeze Dried Chicken Heart Raw Treats in 3 oz. bag

  • In lot and “Use By” sticker date #031627
  • Foodynamics traced 100% of product contamination and contacted affected parties

What’s In the Bowl

Three packages of Whole Chicken Hearts: Two 3 oz. and one 16 oz. packages

  • In lot and “Use By” sticker date #030527
  • Two of the three packages have been returned by the customers
  • Foodynamics traced 100% of product contamination and contacted affected parties

Raw Bistro Pet Fare 

Two sizes of Raw Bistro Dog Fare Grass-Fed Beef Entrée

3 lb bags

  • UPC #858833002247 from Lot 239, Best By sticker reads 08/27/2026
  • FDA recall release published on Oct. 10. At the time, no illnesses in dogs had been reported

18 lb bags

  • UPC #858833002629 from Lot 239, Best By sticker reads 08/27/2026
  • DA recall release published on Oct. 10. At the time, no illnesses in dogs had been reported

American food safety has me greatly concernred.

Reference:

https://people.com/three-pet-food-brands-recall-products-with-possible-salmonella-contamination-11834952

Cooking · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Recalls

New Study Doubles Down on ‘Troubling’ Presence of Lead in Popular Protein Powders — It’s Gotten ‘Even Worse’

Protein powders and shakes! What’s next? Recall after recall makes me question what is safe to eat. The study is from Consumer Reports which is a highly respected organization.

Earlier this year, a January report also found that protein powders used to build muscle mass can contain harmful heavy metals like cadmium and lead

A new report continues to highlight the “troubling” presence of lead in some protein powders and shakes as the products’ popularity remains high.

Earlier this year, a Clean Label Project report found that well over half of the plant-based protein powders, organic protein powders and chocolate-flavored protein powders tested were over the California Proposition 65 safety thresholds for toxic metals. Now, a study from Consumer Reports reaffirms the high presence of lead in many protein powders, calling the results “troubling.”

Like the Clean Label Project report, Consumer Reports also found that plant-based products were the worst offenders for elevated lead levels.

For testing, Consumer Reports anonymously bought multiple samples of the products over a three-month period starting in November 2024. The purchases were made from online retailers like Amazon, as well as at supermarkets like Whole Foods in New York state. The organization notes that because “the results are based on an average of these samples, which were collected over a specific period of time, they may not mirror current contaminant levels in every product.”

About 70 percent of the 23 products tested by Consumer Reports contained over 120 percent of 0.5 micrograms per day of lead, which is the organization’s “level of concern.”

Consumer Reports outright recommended against consuming two products based on their heavy metal presence — Naked Nutrition’s Mass Gainer powder and Huel’s Black Edition powder.

In response, Naked Nutrition said in a statement that the brand takes “our customers’ health and product transparency extremely seriously and have reviewed the findings closely.” Naked Nutrition said, in part, “While Consumer Reports did not share its complete lab data, we reviewed the available information and verified results through independent third-party testing, which confirmed that no heavy metals exceeded FDA reference intake levels for adults, including for sensitive groups such as women of childbearing age.”

Huel also responded to the claims with a statement and provided further comment to PEOPLE.

“Trace minerals such as lead occur naturally in our planet; crops and plants absorb them from the soil. The levels of lead in the Consumer Reports study is below the amount present in many everyday food items, including fruits and vegetables,” Huel said.

“The Consumer Reports article is based on California’s Proposition 65, which uses an ultra conservative threshold of 0.5 micrograms of lead per day,” a “uniquely cautious regulation rather than an internationally accepted measure of consumer safety.”

The statement continued: “Over the past three years, we have carried out 17 independent tests on Huel Black Edition powder alone, with results consistently showing lead levels between 1.5 and 2.2 micrograms per 90 g serving. These results are well within all recognised safety limits. Huel has also recently been accredited by NSF, the gold standard for product safety and quality, and the most recent NSF report showed undetectable levels of lead.”

Other products Consumer Reports suggested be limited to once a week, or only taken occasionally. See the full list of the 23 products they tested, here.

The FDA said it will be reviewing the findings from Consumer Reports testing, though the administration notably has a higher threshold for daily lead consumption than California (on which Consumer Reports based their recommendations). According to The New York Times, the FDA finds that 2.2 micrograms of lead per day in children, and 8.8 micrograms per day in women of childbearing age, could cause health concerns. In general, dietary supplements live in a “regulatory gray area,” Consumer Reports notes.

Rose Goldman, MD, an associate professor of medicine and physician at Cambridge Health Alliance in Medford, Mass., told Consumer Reports that repeated or continuous exposure to lead causes the greatest risk of danger. Goldman also noted that no amount of lead can technically be considered safe.

Some of the health risks from chronic lead exposure include immune suppression, reproductive problems and kidney damage, among other things.

“It’s very important to overall try to keep lead exposure to the lowest possible based on eating healthy foods and avoiding products like supplements that add unnecessary lead to your diet,” Pieter Cohen, an associate professor at Harvard medical school and a general internist at Cambridge Health Alliance, told CBS News after reviewing the study’s results.

Consumer Reports specified, though, that many of the protein products tested are fine to be consumed occasionally — and even those with the highest lead levels will not cause immediate harm.

Beware!!!!!

Melinda

Reference:

https://people.com/lead-in-popular-protein-powders-new-study-reaffirms-11830994

Cooking · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Recalls

Pasta Dish Sold at Walmart and Kroger Recalled for Possible Listeria Contamination as Outbreak Involves Multiple Deaths

Customers are encouraged to either destroy the product or return it for a full refund

A ready-to-eat pasta dish sold across the United States has been recalled due to possible Listeria contamination.

FreshRealm is voluntarily recalling three of its chicken fettuccine Alfredo products, the brand and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service(FSIS) shared in respective statements on June 17. The recall applies to all products manufactured before the recall date.

The contamination was found by FSIS in a routine sample collection of FreshRealm’s chicken fettuccine Alfredo in March of this year. According to FSIS, the strain of Listeria found in the sample is the same strain linked to three deaths, one fetal loss and 17 instances of illnesses, across 13 states, from August 2024 to May 2025.

FreshRealm determined via purchase records that two ill people had bought chicken fettuccine Alfredo products from the brand, while two other sick individuals “verbally described chicken fettuccine Alfredo products they purchased,” per FSIS.

“Consumption of food contaminated with Lm [Listeria monocytogenes] can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns,” the FSIS announcement states. “Less commonly, people outside these risk groups are affected.”

Listeriosis is often associated with fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, gastrointestinal symptoms and/or convulsions.

FreshRealm states that the investigation into the root source of the contamination is ongoing.

The following products — sold at Walmart and Kroger — are being recalled, per FreshRealm’s announcement:

  • Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine 12.3 oz
  • Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine 32.8 oz
  • Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo 12.5 oz

For those who have any of the three products, either in their refrigerator or freezer, FreshRealm recommends that they either destroy the product or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Fresh Relm is also responsible for recent spinach recalls.

Several products have been recalled recently for Listeria. What concerns me is that no one knows the products are contaminated until there is a recall. It’s unsettling.

Melinda

Reference:

https://people.com/pasta-dish-sold-at-walmart-and-kroger-recalled-for-listeria-contamination-as-outbreak-involves-multiple-deaths-11756988

Cooking · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Recalls

Tru Fru Snacks Recalled for Potential Metal Contamination

Metal can cause ‘traumatic injury including laceration and perforation’ in digestive organs

Tru Fru Fruit snacks recall

Tru Fru snacks are being recalled for a possible presence of metal.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Sept. 29 that Georgia Nut Company, a third party manufacturer for Tru Fru, had issued a voluntary recall of some of its freeze dried products. The product — which is sold nationwide at stores like Albertson’s, CVS, Food Lion, H-E-B, Hungryroot, Ingles Markets, Kroger, Stew Leonard’s and Target — was recalled for a possible metal contamination.

The presence of possible metal could contribute to “traumatic injury including laceration and perforation of tissues” in digestive organs, including in the mouth, stomach and intestine, per the FDA. As of Sept. 29, no injuries or illnesses were reported.

The recall was implemented after a customer notified the company about the possible contamination.

Specific Tru Fru freeze dried products are part of the recall. The FDA lists the products’ names, item numbers, UPCs and the first four digits/letters of the manufacturing code. The affected products are as follows.

  • Tru Fu Freeze Dried Strawberries In Dark & White Chocolate 3.4oz (Item number 10300458; UPC 850048358270)
  • Manufacturing code first four digits/letters: 517B, 517C, 517D, 517E, 517F, 518D, 518E, 518F, 519A, 519B, 524A, 524B, 524C, 529C, 529D, 529E, 530C, 530D, 530E, 531A, 531B, 531C, 531D, 531E, 532A, 532B
  • Tru Fru Freeze Dried Strawberries In Dark & White Chocolate 1.7oz (Item number 10300442; UPC 850048358331)
  • Manufacturing code first four digits/letters: 514A, 514B, 514C, 514D, 525A, 525B, 525C, 526B, 526C, 526D, 526E, 526F, 521C, 521D, 521E, 522B, 522C, 522D, 522E, 524D, 524E, 525A, 525B, 525C, 525D, 525E, 526A
  • Tru Fru Freeze Dried Strawberries In Dark & White Chocolate 13 oz (Item number 10300474; UPC 850048358379)
  • Manufacturing code first four digits/letters: 515A, 516B, 516C
  • Tru Fru Freeze Dried Strawberries & Crème 3.4 oz (Item number 10300455; UPC 850048358249)
  • Manufacturing code first four digits/letters: 520B, 520C, 520D, 520E, 520F, 521A, 524C, 524D, 524E

Consumers with an affected product should dispose of the product and not consume it, and seek reimbursement here. Any questoins should be directed to (888) 293-7748 or contact trufru@rqa-inc.com.

Scary!

Melinda

Reference:

https://people.com/tru-fru-snacks-recalled-for-potential-metal-contamination-11823205

Cooking · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Recalls

Potentially Radioactive Frozen Shrimp Recall Expands to Kroger Stores in 31 States

The announcement comes about a month after Walmart and Southwind Foods of California announced recalls of frozen shrimp products

More frozen shrimp has been recalled for potential radioactive contamination.

On Saturday, Sept. 21, AquaStar Corp recalled nearly 70,000 bags of frozen shrimp from Kroger stores across the United States due to a potential contamination with cesium-137, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

The announcement comes about a month after Walmart and Southwind Foods of California issued recalled frozen shrimp products for the same reason. 

The latest recall affects about 49,920 bags of Kroger Raw Colossal EZ Peel Shrimp and about 18,000 bags of Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp. The company also recalled about 17,264 bags of AquaStar Raw Peeled Tail-on Shrimp Skewers. 

The company stated in the announcement that the frozen shrimp was recalled “because [it] may have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have become contaminated with cesium-137.”

Cesium-137, abbreviated to Cs-137, is a “man-made radioisotope of cesium,” per the FDA.

In addition to Kroger, the affected frozen shrimp products were sold at Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foodsco, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, Jay C, King Soopers, Kroger, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay Less Supermarkets, Pick ‘n Save, Ralphs, Smith’s and QFC stores in 31 states, per the FDA.

Those states include Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming.

The products were sold between June 12 and Sept. 17.  

The recalled Kroger Raw Colossal EZ Peel Shrimp is sold in a clear printed bag with a thick blue band across the top with yellow and red details. The products have a UPC of 20011110643906 with lot codes 10662 5085 10, 10662 5097 11, 10662 5106 11, 10662 5107 10, 10662 5111 11, 10662 5112 10, 10662 5113 10, 10662 5113 11, 10662 5114 10 and 10662 5114 11. The best buy dates on the affected products range from March 26, 2027 to April 24, 2027. 

The Kroger Mercado Cooked Medium Peeled Tail-Off Shrimp, has clear plastic packaging with a white label with green stripes on the top. The products have a UPC of 011110626196 with lot code 10662 5112 11 and a best buy date of Oct. 22, 2027 or 10662 5113 10 with Oct. 23, 2027. 

Additionally, the recalled AquaStar Raw Peeled Tail-on Shrimp Skewers; net wt. 1.25 lbs., has a white bag with a black top and a blue bottom. The bag has a photo of the shrimp skewers. The products have a UPC of 731149390010 with lot codes 10662 5127 10, 10662 5128 11, 10662 5133 11 and 10662 5135 10. The best buy dates range from Nov. 7, 2027 to Nov. 15, 2027. 

Those who purchased the aforementioned frozen shrimp products “should not consume the product and should dispose of or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund,” according to the FDA. 

The agency stated that it is currently investigating reports of Cs-137 contamination in shipping containers and frozen shrimp products processed by Indonesian company PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati.

The FDA previously recalled three lots of frozen raw shrimp sold at Walmart locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia.

Mere days later, Southwind Foods of California issued a recall for 13 shrimp products sold under the brand names Sand Bar, Best Yet, Great American, Arctic Shores and First Street. The bags of frozen shrimp were distributed to retailers, distributors and wholesalers in Alabama, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and Washington. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies Cs-137 as “a soft, flexible, silvery-white metal that becomes liquid near room temperature.”

“Internal exposure to Cs-137 through ingestion or inhalation allows the radioactive material to be distributed in the soft tissues, especially muscle tissue, which increases cancer risk,” the EPA website states.

Radioactive? I haven’t seen a recall for a radioactive food products before. Each recall is more concerning, how do we know our food is safe? Is skipping frozen food the answer?

Melinda

Reference:

https://people.com/potentially-radioactive-frozen-shrimp-recall-expands-to-kroger-stores-in-32-states-11814879