The hottest Food Safety Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Food & Drink Topics

Outbreak Outlook - National - Dec 2

Force of Infection • 97 implied HN points • 02 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Food Safety
  1. Flu cases are rising in the U.S., especially among young kids, but overall activity is still below last year's levels. Hospitalizations are very low right now.
  2. COVID-19 levels are quite low nationally, but there's a chance they may increase following the holiday travel period.
  3. RSV is also increasing but is relatively mild compared to past seasons, along with other cold and flu-like illnesses spreading widely.

221 | The Worst and Weirdest Food Frauds of 2025 |

The Rotten Apple • 42 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. A food-safety newsletter grew its audience in 2025 and plans to keep offering more events, resources, podcasts and curated content in 2026.
  2. Food fraud in 2025 was widespread and often disgusting or dangerous. Examples included toxic chemicals on sprouts, heavily contaminated juice, recycled 'saliva oil', meat substitution, reprocessed expired cheese and illegal bushmeat.
  3. Regulators and law enforcement carried out seizures, arrests and large recalls, and ongoing alerts (like a major infant formula recall and stolen green coffee) show that businesses and consumers need to stay vigilant.

Outbreak Outlook - National - Dec 14

Force of Infection • 72 implied HN points • 14 Dec 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Food Safety
  1. Flu season has begun — outpatient ILI is above baseline and test positivity rose to 8.1%, with H3N2 making up about 86% of samples and hotspots in New York, New Jersey, Colorado, and Louisiana. A small Thanksgiving-related dip in pediatric cases looks temporary and activity usually rebounds in the following weeks.
  2. COVID-19 is starting to climb from recent lows, with wastewater and regional indicators rising (especially in the Northeast), though severe illness remains very low and increases in ED visits and hospitalizations are small. Expect a typical winter uptick even if current burden is still low.
  3. RSV is still low nationally but is increasing in most states, with higher wastewater activity in places like DC, Florida, Kentucky, Colorado, and Louisiana, while ED visits and test positivity remain well below last year. Other respiratory viruses (adenovirus, parainfluenza) are still active, rhinoviruses are falling, and human coronaviruses and metapneumovirus are beginning to rise.

The Dose (October 25)

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1299 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Food Safety
  1. Older adults can expect to get a Covid-19 vaccine next spring. Getting two shots a year may provide better protection, especially for those over 65.
  2. There’s a multistate outbreak of E. coli linked to McDonald's hamburgers, caused by slivered onions. It’s important to stay aware of food safety and current health warnings.
  3. Since the Dobbs decision, infant mortality rates have increased, mainly due to birth defects. This shows how political decisions can impact health and wellbeing.

Food Safety News and Resources | January

The Rotten Apple • 31 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. Several unusual and serious recalls are happening right now, including a global infant formula recall for the heat‑stable cereulide toxin that has sickened infants, a sea moss gel pulled over possible botulism risk, and frozen beef patties recalled for E. coli O157:H7.
  2. Surveillance and policy are evolving: French monitoring found low STEC prevalence in beef, and the UK/EU have updated shelf‑life guidance to help keep ready‑to‑eat foods safe from Listeria throughout their shelf life.
  3. Food safety risks are both microbial and chemical, with rare outbreaks like Salmonella from raw oysters and extreme lead contamination found in some spices, highlighting the need for strong supplier controls, proper pH/temperature records, and correct cooking or handling.
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Well Being: The Truth About Raw Milk

Who is Robert Malone • 17 implied HN points • 31 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Food Safety
  1. Children who drink raw or minimally processed cow’s milk early in life tend to have lower rates of asthma, wheeze, allergic rhinitis, colitis, and atopic sensitization.
  2. This protective pattern is strongest in farm communities and is commonly called the “farm milk effect.”
  3. Peer‑reviewed studies report notable evidence for these associations, and there is more extensive literature exploring the potential health benefits of raw milk.

Get ready to eat beans, peas, lentils--as cuts in meat, poultry, and eggs are proposed for next Dietary Guidelines

Unsettled Science • 800 implied HN points • 08 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Food Safety
  1. The new Dietary Guidelines may suggest eating less meat, poultry, and eggs for everyone. This change could encourage more consumption of beans, peas, and lentils.
  2. Changing the guidelines is important because they influence what food programs, like school lunches, serve. The guidelines can also impact health issues like obesity and diabetes in children.
  3. There seems to be a long-standing bias against animal foods in these guidelines, with a focus on vegetarian and vegan diets despite concerns about nutrient deficiencies from those diets.

The Dose (October 18)

Your Local Epidemiologist • 883 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Food Safety
  1. Currently, levels of Covid-19, flu, and RSV are low, which is a good time to get your vaccines.
  2. A recall of over 11.7 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat is happening due to detected Listeria bacteria, so stay cautious.
  3. In California, H5N1 bird flu is spreading among dairy farms, but the overall risk to the public is still low.

Outbreak Outlook: Week 6 of DIY disease surveillance

Force of Infection • 79 implied HN points • 09 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Food Safety
  1. COVID-19 cases are low across the country, but there may be a rise coming soon. Most states report minimal emergency department visits for COVID.
  2. Influenza activity is increasing, especially in the Southern states, while RSV is showing regional variations with more cases among young children in certain areas.
  3. Food recalls are happening due to contamination concerns, including infant formula linked to botulism, which is especially dangerous for babies.

The Final Word on Washing Chicken

Eat Shit and Prosper • 199 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. Washing chicken is debated, but many Americans still do it. It's thought that rinsing meat can lower bacteria, even if cooking also helps.
  2. Some bacteria, like C. perfringens, produce spores that can survive cooking, so rinsing can help remove them. This means washing your chicken might actually be safer.
  3. Washing chicken doesn't spread germs as much as people think if done carefully. Using low water pressure and washing hands after can keep things clean.

How I clean my kitchen at the end of the day

Overthinking Everything • 279 implied HN points • 16 May 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. Cleaning the kitchen will usually take about an hour, so it's good to start early and accept that time. It can be a chance to think or enjoy some music while you work.
  2. You don't need to aim for perfect cleanliness, just make it 'clean enough' for the next day. Focus on a standard that allows the kitchen to be usable.
  3. Have a clear process for cleaning, like tackling the trash first and then washing dishes. This helps you stay on track and makes the task feel more manageable.

Vac Beer Is a Lawful Consumer Product

Viruses Must Die • 26 implied HN points • 24 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. Whether something is a food or a drug depends on how it’s marketed and labeled, not just the ingredient itself, so calling an item a "vaccine" by itself doesn’t automatically make it a drug. Food products can contain bioactive ingredients and still be regulated as foods if no disease-treatment claims are made.
  2. You can legally sell organisms that can produce vaccine antigens as foods (for example, yeast that only makes the antigen when brewed with maltose) to establish prior food marketing and preserve the option to later pursue clinical IND studies. This "vac foods" approach aims to democratize vaccine development while keeping production transparent to consumers.
  3. Safety and regulatory rules matter: GRAS status, IND timing, and ingredient safety (e.g., viral VP1, GFP, residual formaldehyde, yeast strains) are central concerns, and this strategy is legally novel and should be pursued with caution and clear disclosure.

The Thousand Secret Ways the Food is Poison: #3 - Phthalates

Eat Shit and Prosper • 379 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastics flexible, but they can easily leach into food, especially when heated or in contact with fatty foods. This makes it important to be cautious about what food has been in contact with plastic.
  2. High levels of phthalates can mess with brain chemicals, potentially leading to mental health issues and even thoughts of suicide. They affect the way the brain processes important compounds, increasing toxic levels.
  3. It's really hard to avoid phthalates completely in our modern world since they're found in many food products. To minimize exposure, it's good to choose less processed foods, be careful with food packaging, and be aware of how food has been stored or cooked.

219 | What Changed in Food Safety This Year |

The Rotten Apple • 31 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. Big shifts happened in food safety this year — especially staff and resource cuts in the U.S. — while many countries tightened rules on packaging, food-contact materials and traceability, and serious incidents like heat-and-eat Listeria outbreaks and a radioactive shrimp recall show risks still persist.
  2. A wide range of emerging hazards are being tracked globally, from new pathogens and plant toxins to climate-driven mycotoxin changes; one notable rising foodborne threat is Trypanosoma cruzi, which can cause severe illness when contaminated juices or foods are consumed.
  3. Food fraud remains a major problem: honey adulteration has become so tangled that rice syrup is being sold as a honey alternative, and organised crime is relabelling expired products at scale, highlighting the need for better traceability and enforcement.

The Spaza Shop Poisonings

Vittles • 128 implied HN points • 14 Jul 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. A serious food poisoning outbreak in South Africa has affected many children, with spaza shops being blamed, even though they might not be the main cause.
  2. The real issue seems to be about contaminated food from the agricultural sector and poor local government control, leading to the spread of dangerous pesticides.
  3. Xenophobia plays a big role in how people are reacting to the situation, unfairly targeting spaza shop owners, who are often migrants and part of the community.

The Thousand Secret Ways the Food is Poison: #2 - Cry Toxins

Eat Shit and Prosper • 359 implied HN points • 16 Jul 23
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. Cry toxins are proteins made by a bacteria that help kill insects, like mosquitoes, but researchers believe they are safe for humans because our stomach acid breaks them down before they can harm us.
  2. When corn is processed using a method called nixtamalization, the alkaline solution can change the Cry toxins into their harmful form, raising some concerns about potential health effects.
  3. The food system is complex and constantly changing, so it’s important to remain cautious and informed about what we eat, rather than just trusting the system as it is.

214 | Pasta Disaster: Case Study of a Food Safety Train Wreck |

The Rotten Apple • 42 implied HN points • 10 Nov 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. The pasta disaster involved a long-lasting listeria outbreak that started before recalls were issued, showing a lack of urgency in addressing food safety issues.
  2. Mistake-proofing systems in food manufacturing, like poka yoke techniques, can help reduce errors and improve safety and efficiency.
  3. Investigating contamination sources is complex, and food ingredient safety can't be solely based on testing; audits and monitoring systems are crucial.

Checking in on the summer covid season

Force of Infection • 104 implied HN points • 28 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Food Safety
  1. Influenza-like illnesses are currently very low across the country, with almost no hospitalizations. This means fewer people are visiting doctors for flu symptoms right now.
  2. COVID-19 activity is also low, but some states are seeing slight increases in cases and hospitalizations. Hawaii and Florida are the areas to watch as their numbers have been rising.
  3. Norovirus has been active this year, with a new strain causing concern. It's important to stay informed about food recalls and safety alerts, especially regarding unpasteurized milk products.

218 | A Practical Guide to Food Safety Consultants |

The Rotten Apple • 21 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. Food safety consultants can design and fix food safety systems, run audits, train staff and help manage recalls. Define your needs up front, check credentials and references, agree the scope and costs (often US$50–$300/hr) before hiring.
  2. Lawsuits over ultra‑processed foods are growing and could widen legal scrutiny of big food makers. Food safety professionals should watch these cases and review their job responsibilities and contracts since legal actions might try to involve technical staff.
  3. New free food fraud resources — including a public database and a collection of ten case studies — are available to use in training and prevention. Use these curated materials and news to improve fraud detection, supplier checks and staff awareness.

217 | Introduction to an illegal colourant | Tomato paste dramas | Glove safety

The Rotten Apple • 21 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. Illegal food colorants, like Auramine O, can be harmful and are often used to boost food's appearance. They can make spoiled food look better, which is dangerous for consumers.
  2. The tomato paste market is facing a potential fraud crisis due to oversupply from China and a drop in demand from Europe. This can lead to deceptive practices in food labeling and quality.
  3. PVC gloves for food handling may not be safe because they can break easily and contain harmful chemicals. There are calls to ban these gloves in favor of safer alternatives.

IARC: Can't Be Aspar-Tamed

KCKlatt’s Substack • 219 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
🏥 Health Politics Food Safety
  1. Aspartame has been classified as 'possibly carcinogenic' by the IARC, meaning there's some evidence it might cause cancer, but it's not conclusive. This classification can create confusion about actual cancer risks.
  2. It's important to understand the difference between hazard and risk. Just because something is identified as a hazard doesn’t mean it will definitely cause harm in normal consumption amounts.
  3. IARC's ruling stirs up fear without clear guidance on safe consumption levels. Consumers need clear communication about risks when it comes to food additives like aspartame.

Food Safety News and Resources | November

The Rotten Apple • 21 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. There is a troubling outbreak of infant botulism related to a baby formula brand, with 31 babies affected so far. Some unopened cans of the formula have been found to contain the harmful bacteria.
  2. A man in the U.S. has died from an allergy to red meat, linked to a tick bite that caused alpha-gal syndrome. This type of allergy can take hours to trigger an adverse reaction.
  3. Germany is dealing with a mystery outbreak of E. coli that has sickened many people, but health authorities have not yet determined the source of the contamination.

215 | A Case Study With a Happy Ending (for once!) | Intro to Food Irradiation |

The Rotten Apple • 21 implied HN points • 17 Nov 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. Food irradiation uses controlled doses of radiation to kill germs and pests, helping to keep food safe without making it radioactive. It's useful for extending shelf life and preventing spoilage.
  2. A labeling error in almond milk almost caused a serious illness due to botulism because the company didn't clearly state that it needed refrigeration. This shows how important accurate food labeling is for safety.
  3. The presence of harmful chemicals in food packaging can pose health risks, leading to numerous alerts in Europe. It's important for food safety that all materials used in packaging are safe and comply with regulations.

Exposed: The Hoax That Targeted Health Freedom

Who is Robert Malone • 18 implied HN points • 15 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Food Safety
  1. Two men tricked health freedom event attendees by pretending to be activists against fake meat and presenting a fake study that linked it to autism. They wanted to capture misleading interviews for a documentary.
  2. This deception was carefully planned, showing that some groups are using sneaky tactics to undermine health movements and discredit their leaders. It's important for people to stay aware and think critically.
  3. The incident highlights a larger issue where powerful organizations may fund misinformation campaigns to attack those who challenge their narratives. It's a reminder to be cautious about who you trust and what claims you accept.

Outbreak Outlook - National - Feb 24

Force of Infection • 136 implied HN points • 24 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Food Safety
  1. Influenza cases have dropped recently, giving some relief, although numbers are still higher than usual. Improvements were seen across all age groups.
  2. COVID-19 activity varies by state, with some places seeing high case numbers while others have less. Overall hospitalizations are low now compared to past months.
  3. Norovirus remains very high across the country, and it's expected to stay elevated for a while. This season's peak may last longer than usual.

220 | The worst and weirdest food safety moments of 2025 |

The Rotten Apple • 10 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. 2025 saw a string of bizarre and serious food hazards — from frozen snakes and radioactive shrimp to anthrax, infant botulism, and deadly Listeria — showing contamination can be unexpected and severe.
  2. Failures across the supply chain made outbreaks worse: companies and suppliers sometimes had poor sanitation, relied on negative test results, mishandled recalls, and retailers failed to pull dangerous products from shelves.
  3. These events show lasting risks: foodborne exposures can cause long-term health problems, myths and fraud (like thinking hand sanitizer removes allergens) increase danger, and stronger prevention, testing, and communication are needed.

Food Safety News and Resources | December

The Rotten Apple • 10 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. A norovirus outbreak at a French school sickened about 400 students, staff, and teachers and caused multiple hospitalizations for vomiting and dehydration.
  2. A batch of infant formula in Europe was recalled after Bacillus cereus was detected during self-monitoring at a Nestlé production line, raising safety concerns for infants.
  3. Mixed developments in food safety: U.S. overseas food inspections have fallen to historic lows, peanut allergies in children are declining following early‑introduction guidance, and an updated IFS foreign‑body management guideline plus free webinars and resources are being promoted.

Glyphosate - Drying Agent and Herbicide for Soy and Wheat and its Potential Health Impacts

Molecular Spectacular • 168 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Food Safety
  1. Glyphosate, a common herbicide, has been linked to health risks like increased cancer risk and endocrine disruption. Many studies suggest a troubling connection between glyphosate levels in humans and serious health issues.
  2. Soy protein consumption is strongly connected to higher levels of glyphosate's byproduct, AMPA, in urine. This indicates that what we eat can affect how much of these chemicals we accumulate in our bodies.
  3. There are hints that glyphosate might disrupt gut health, which could impact digestion of gluten. This might be related to rising gluten allergies, especially in sensitive populations like infants.

Emerging Issues in Food Safety

The Rotten Apple • 10 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. Food safety threats are rapidly evolving and now include new and growing chemical (both acute and chronic), biological, and allergen hazards identified since 2021.
  2. Climate change and shifting environmental conditions are changing risk profiles, raising mycotoxin risks and enabling novel pathogens, plant toxins, rare viruses, and unusual zoonotic threats.
  3. These emerging hazards will reshape food safety practice and demand updated surveillance, risk assessment, and HACCP-style controls to manage both immediate and long-term risks.

196 | Chocolate Fraud, Chocolate Safety, Chocolate Mysteries |

The Rotten Apple • 52 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. Chocolate is loved for its unique taste and texture, thanks to ingredients like cocoa butter that melt in your mouth. It also contains chemicals that can boost mood and energy.
  2. The supply chain for chocolate faces many challenges, including climate change and ethical issues like child labor. These problems can affect both production and pricing.
  3. Food safety for chocolate is a concern due to risks like contamination and fraud. Issues like undeclared allergens and misleading labeling can put consumers at risk.

173 | Mystery Poisonings Stalk Citizens | 14 Rules for Bad Quality Managers|

The Rotten Apple • 115 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. There have been many mysterious food poisonings, especially in South Africa, affecting children. It's alarming and the actual causes are not clear yet.
  2. Illegal pesticides may be contaminating food sold in local shops, which is a big concern for public health. Experts and authorities are looking into how this is happening.
  3. Food safety regulations are being updated to better control who can sell food and how it's handled. This might help prevent future poisonings and boost food safety.

Red Dye #3 is out, and boosters may get RCTs: Why is the evidence to remove a chemical from food LESS THAN the evidence to recommend a medical interventions?

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 119 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Food Safety
  1. The FDA is banning Red Dye #3 because it could be harmful, but there's a higher standard for proving medical products effective before they're recommended. We should be careful about both but have different rules for food and medicine.
  2. Medical treatments often come with costs and potential side effects, so it's important to run proper studies before suggesting them to healthy people. When making decisions about interventions, we should prioritize safety and benefit.
  3. There's a real difference in how we treat food additives versus medical products. While we question the safety of new medicine, we should also question adding unnecessary chemicals to our food.

198 | Seed Oils: Unsafe or Not? | STEC in flour |

The Rotten Apple • 42 implied HN points • 21 Jul 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. Seed oils are being criticized a lot lately, but the science doesn't strongly support these fears. They're actually common and safe in moderation.
  2. Food fraud is a real issue, where bad ingredients like sand can end up in products like sugar. This can cause big problems for companies.
  3. There's a risk of harmful bacteria, like STEC, in flour. It's important to be careful with raw flour products to avoid foodborne illnesses.

The Thousand Secret Ways the Food is Poison: Part II

Eat Shit and Prosper • 239 implied HN points • 21 Nov 22
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. Glyphosate, a common herbicide, may not be as safe as people think because it harms gut bacteria that help produce key chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. This suggests it might negatively impact our health in ways we don't fully understand.
  2. There are strong correlations between rising glyphosate use in food and the increase in various chronic diseases over the years. While correlation doesn't prove cause, the data shows a troubling link worth investigating.
  3. Certain gut bacteria need substances that glyphosate prevents them from making, which could lead to deficiencies in important vitamins. This disruption in our microbiome may contribute to health issues like depression and other diseases.

194 | Deadly Listeria in Heat-and-Eat Meals |

The Rotten Apple • 42 implied HN points • 23 Jun 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. There was a serious outbreak of Listeria linked to heat-and-eat pasta meals that resulted in multiple illnesses and deaths. It's unusual for such outbreaks to come from foods that are meant to be cooked before eating.
  2. Authorities are investigating why the Listeria was present despite the meals being labeled to be heated thoroughly. We don't know if the problem was in the cooking instructions or if consumers didn't follow them properly.
  3. There are concerns about consumer habits, like cross-contamination and not cooking food enough, which can lead to health risks. Companies may need to ensure their foods are safe even if consumers don't follow instructions.

121 | When Food Fraud Goes (Horribly) Wrong | Sniffing Supplements |

The Rotten Apple • 283 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety
  1. Food fraud perpetrators do not aim to harm consumers, as that increases the risk of getting caught.
  2. Accidental harm can occur from food adulteration, like plaster of Paris being mistakenly used instead of a harmless substance.
  3. Allergen cross-reactivity can lead to serious consequences for allergenic individuals and cause issues in food testing.

Outbreak Outlook - Dec 2

Force of Infection • 108 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Food Safety
  1. Flu cases are increasing, especially among young children, with activity levels hitting the start of flu season.
  2. COVID-19 rates remain low in the U.S., with fewer hospitalizations and a slight rise in emergency visits in some states.
  3. Concerns about H5N1 bird flu continue as officials are unable to find the source of recent infections in humans.

Outbreak Outlook - National - Jan 6

Force of Infection • 90 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Food Safety
  1. Influenza-like illnesses are at a peak, especially affecting young children the most. Parents should be cautious and ensure their kids are staying healthy during this time.
  2. COVID-19 levels are rising again, with some regions seeing more severe cases. It's important to stay vigilant and consider precautions if you're in a high-risk area.
  3. Norovirus is spreading quickly, with test positivity rates very high. It's a good idea to wash hands frequently and be aware of food recalls to avoid sickness.

120 | Heavy Metal Takeaways | King Canute in Food Safety | $5m Food 'Fraud' |

The Rotten Apple • 241 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Food Safety
  1. Contaminated cinnamon had lead levels over 2000 times the safe limit, prompting food fraud vulnerability assessment recommendations
  2. Ecuadorian cinnamon supply chain was affected by contamination, possibly due to adulteration with lead chromate
  3. Understanding verification vs validation in food safety: Check procedures vs. ensuring procedures deliver the required results