Late this summer, growing concerns for the quality of food in the U.S. began. With listeria found in produce and deli products, salmonella in store bought eggs, and lead in cinnamon, people have begun to worry about the safety of their food.
Listeria
On July 19, the CDC started an investigation on a listeria outbreak associated with the deli meat company Boar’s Head. The company recalled their liverwurst products, and then expanded the recall to every product on July 30.
This did not stop tragedy from striking. According to USA Today, nine deaths occurred, including a Holocaust survivor. Boar’s Head is still in an ongoing lawsuit, and on Sept. 13 the company shut down their Virginia plant tied to the outbreak.
So, how can a massive “high-quality” brand like Boar’s Head be subject to an outbreak like this? The Virginia plant, mentioned above, had many issues.
Government inspectors found nearly 69 instances of noncompliance over the past year, according to an article in AP. Some cases included sightings of mold, insects and fat residue on floors and equipment.
This information coming out about a brand known for being high-end is rattling to consumers everywhere. It has people wondering if any food they buy is safe.
Salmonella
As the summer began to die-down, food-borne diseases did not get the memo. On Sept. 9, recalls for eggs with salmonella spanned the U.S. NBC Chicago reports that people became sick and even hospitalized from these eggs.
This outbreak spans multiple states, especially the Midwest. The infected eggs came from the packing facility of eggs labeled with “Milo’s Poultry Farms” and “Tony’s Fresh Market”.
While no one has died from this outbreak, there have been 65 total illnesses and 24 hospitalizations as a result, according to the FDA.
Lead
Twelve brands of cinnamon were recalled with high levels of lead, causing food safety concerns to continue to grow. According to USA Today, all twelve brands have over one part per million (ppm) of lead, which is the minimum amount for a product to be recalled.
Other popular cinnamon brands like McCormicks and Kirkland also have traces of lead in them, though under one ppm. This is concerning as these brands seem to brush health concerns under the rug if it saves them money.
Staying Safe
With these food concerns and recent recalls having many cases located in Illinois, it is a topic of concern for residents of the state. Although many knew about these food concerns, most people were not aware that these recalls happened.
A senior at North Central College, Emma Schmalz, ’25, worked at Jewel-Osco over the summer and witnessed the way the grocery store had handled the deli meat recall. However, she did not know of other recalls that happened over the summer.
“I did not know about the vegetables and the eggs, which I eat a lot of, but I was not too concerned about the deli meat, as it was brands I did not eat,” said Schmalz, ’25.
Staying vigilant about food recalls and becoming more aware of the quality of food in the U.S. is falling to the consumer. While media outlets report on major outbreaks, more can be done in this area. It is up to each individual to ensure they are aware of the latest food safety alerts and make informed decisions on the food and brands they select.
