A Boston University study has shown that Escherichia coli exposed to microplastics form strong biofilms and develop increased levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multi-drug resistance.
Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EHEC) infections can occur after eating contaminated food, such as meat that has not been properly cooked or contaminated vegetables. The illness can lead to kidney failure via hemolytic uremic syndrome, and conventional antibiotic therapy can worsen the severity of the infection.
According to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group’s (PIRG’s) Food for Thought 2025 report, hospitalizations and deaths linked to foodborne illnesses doubled in 2024. Illnesses also increased, 98 percent of which were attributed to just 13 outbreaks. The number of USDA and FDA recalls decreased by 5 percent.
Uncovered through a FOIA request, an FDA Form 483 sent to Taylor Farms’ Colorado Springs facility documented questionable food safety and hygiene observations. The release of the FOIA-requested form comes from increased scrutiny following the facility's implication as the supplier of McDonald’s onions that caused an E. coli outbreak in late 2024.
A study of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) data for four important foodborne pathogens isolated from U.S. chicken and turkey revealed trends over time and by region that suggest the potential influence of local agricultural practices on AMR patterns and pathogen distribution.
A new study led by USDA-ARS and Oklahoma State University showed that oregano and cinnamon essential oils can be reused multiple times to effectively wash organic leafy greens contaminated with E. coli without losing antimicrobial activity.
In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we discuss the top food safety stories of 2024 and their implications, including high-profile foodborne illness outbreaks, the ongoing avian flu outbreak in poultry and dairy cattle, FDA’s Human Foods Program restructuring, rising concerns and evolving legislation around food additives and chemical contaminants, and other topics.
In this bonus episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to two MilliporeSigma food safety regulatory experts about the significance of Escherichia coli and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) to food safety, as well as the importance of testing and the advanced testing solutions available for E. coli/STEC.
FDA has declared the outbreak of Escherichia coli infections linked to Grimmway Farms carrots to be over. Although the outbreak strain of E. coli did not match the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strain found in environmental samples, traceback evidence implicates the recalled carrots as the vehicle of illness.
Development of a new microbiological risk assessment model, led by researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, could help the produce industry determine the best risk management strategies for a diverse range of production scenarios.
