I asked our AI friends – What are the pros and cons of replacing FDA Commissioner Makary with me – here is the response? This is a very timely question — Makary resigned as FDA Commissioner today, May 12, 2026, amid reports of internal tensions and policy clashes, with the vaping dispute reportedly being a […]
We were proud to be the “Purple Heart Presenting Sponsor” at the Color of Hope Benefit Breakfast on October 25, 2007. Contributions went towards helping children and youth struggling to overcome profound challenges such as serious illness, homelessness, poverty and trauma.
I have been blogging, some would say flogging, about the reason for the increase, or “uptick” in E. coli cases and recalls tied to hamburger products. Just a few days ago I flogged on the “uptick,” and a few weeks ago flogged about how safe or food supply really is, or not. Now it is […]
Matt McKinney of the Minneapolis Star Tribune and I spoke last week when I was in New York working on the Taco Bell E. coli cases that occurred last year in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Mr. McKinney, also has another article featured this morning, “Meat recalls have highlighted an uptick in illnesses. Experts […]
On June 1, 2007, the CDC reported that a total of 628 persons had been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella serotype Tennessee in 47 states since August 1, 2006. Rumor has it that that number has risen and is now in excess of 700 (perhaps 714). Remember, according to AC Voetsch, “FoodNet estimate […]
The Journal Times reported yesterday that Del Rey Tortillas of Chicago has again been implicated in student illnesses: FDA officials again pulled several cases of soft shell flour tortillas from Racine Unified kitchens this week, after an outbreak of illness at three Racine Unified schools last week. A single manufacturer, Del Rey, produced all the […]
More on the Super Bug According to a report I read on All Headline News, A new study published in Veterinary Microbiology found methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is widely common in Canadian pig farms and pig farmers, signaling to some that animal agriculture as a source of the deadly bacteria. The Veterinary Microbiology study (Khanna […]
Marler Clark was proud to sponsor the recent Clear Path International Evening of Hope, which was held at the College Club in Seattle. The event benefits landmine accident survivors – mostly from Vietnam. Imbert Matthee commented on the Evening of Hope on the Clear Path International blog: Our third annual Seattle fundraiser, generously underwritten by […]
I have been pressing everyone I know in food safety and the meat industry about the “uptick" in E. coli cases in 2007. Here are some ideas from recent press reports: USDA says has enough legal authority to do recalls “Raymond said there are several factors USDA is investigating that could be responsible for the […]
Late last night Christopher Doering of Reuters quoted USDA/FSIS head guy, U.S. Agriculture Undersecretary Richard Raymond, in an article entitled – USDA says has enough legal authority to do recalls – Dr. Raymond testified that the U.S. Agriculture Department does not need additional authority to conduct meat recalls and would oppose any move to make […]
I had a long chat with Jeff Alexander of The Gardner News on Tuesday. We talked about ffood safety generally and the Pot Pie case in particular Here is his article (or, at least where I am quoted): The pot pie suit is being handled by Bill Marler; his experience with recalls includes a substantial […]
WOW – what a headline. I almost dropped my laptop as I read CNN MONEY last evening. According to the CNN report, President Bush said he backed tougher product safety measures that would give mandatory recall authority to the Food and Drug Administration and increase penalties on companies that import unsafe products into the United […]
The BBC reported yesterday that a “Superbug,” which kills hundreds of patients a year has been found on 32 farms in England. The discovery raises fears that the infection is spreading to the human population through meat and milk. The bug – ESBL E. coli [Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases Escherichia coli] is estimated to cause 30,000 cases […]
I leave in the morning (a few hours away actually) to NYC in part to meet several new clients from the Topps E. coli outbreak, but also to meet with representatives of YUM Brands to try and resolve several E. coli cases stemming from the Taco Bell E. coli outbreak of 2006. Interestingly, today, YUM […]
I was proud to be asked to be a guest commentator in this month’s Prairie Farmer. Click on the below to download the PDF of my Op-ed.
I missed a call from Josh Funk of Omaha AP and he figures out why our food safety net has so many holes in it without me – go figure. This quote may say it all: "I think the food industry has a very long history of not doing anything on food safety unless it […]