According to US PIRG Education Fund, hospitalizations and deaths from contaminated food doubled in 2024. Food recalls for Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli jumped by 41% across the United States. 98% of all illnesses were linked to just 13 outbreaks. In September, McDonald’s faced an E. Coli outbreak that sickened 104 people across 14 states, leading to 34 hospitalizations, four instances of serious illness, and one death. The outbreak was traced back to fresh slivered onions from Taylor Farms, which voluntarily recalled the product on October 22. In the week of October 21, visits to McDonald's restaurants decreased by 6.31%.
Nara Organics recalled all of its Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula on June 13, 2026, after a botulism outbreak. Three babies were hospitalized and treated with BabyBIG antitoxin. This is the second outbreak of infant-formula-botulism in seven months. In November 2025, ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant formula was linked to a similar outbreak.
The war in Iran has increased the price of fertilizers by over 50 percent since March of this year. Many farmers in the region are considering replacing expensive synthetic fertilizers with organic ones. U.N. chief economist Máximo Torero predicts a global food crisis in the short to medium term.
French study found that common food preservatives may contribute to higher risks of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Researchers analyzed data from 112,395 adults averaging 42 years of age and followed them for 8 years. They found that high consumption of non-antioxidant preservatives was associated with a 29% greater risk of hypertension and a 16% higher risk of cardiovascular disease, but only ascorbic acid was significantly associated with higher cardiovascular disease risk.
Women with higher levels of per- and polyfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) in their blood could be more likely to have multiple sclerosis (MS) than those with lower levels. MS is a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system. An estimated 1 million Americans are living with MS.
Local media reported that a toxic irritant had been found in nappies from Huggies, Babycare and Bibabebe. The three diaper makers said over the weekend that no formamide had been detected after third-party retesting. A probe has been launched with national health authorities.
There are more than six million feral hogs in the US and they cause $3bn of damage to agriculture each year. They kill more people than sharks in the last 20 years. They eat farmers crops, destroy seedlings, break up irrigation lines and cause holes in fields. They have few natural predators and they are resourceful, having complex social relationships.
Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons of oil into Alaska’s Prince William Sound in 1989. Lee Raymond oversaw the cleanup and a US$1 billion federal settlement for the damage to the coastline and wildlife. Raymond died on June 9, 2026, at the age of 87. Raymond's legacy will be his role in spreading doubt about climate change.
DEA allowed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to hit the streets of New Mexico between 2023 and 2025, according to current and former DEA agents and government records reviewed by The Associated Press. DEA agents monitored shipments of the pills, but did not seize them as federal prosecutors sought to bring bigger criminal cases against traffickers of the synthetic opioid. DEA has long contended it would not be plausible to seize every shipment of every drug.
Asbestos has been found in brake components used in 1,000 wind turbines in the UK. The parts were imported from China and contain chrysotile, a banned substance. The GMB trade union has contacted the UK government and the Health and Safety Executive to demand an investigation into the issue. The Energy Institute has confirmed its awareness of the issue and provided details about the current status of the contamination. There is no indication of worker health risk.