A series of mysterious cat deaths was caused by the government-mandated practice of irradiating imported pet food.

Chang Farm, River Road, Whatley, MA is issuing a voluntary recall of Bean and Soy sprouts produced from Chang Farms, with specific expired date codes because of the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes (L. Monocytogenes) contamination.

A senior official of the American Meat Institute (AMI) has told the Canadian House of Commons that the US and Canadian meat and poultry industries have made great progress on food safety.

A 38-year-old food allergy sufferer died after a severe reaction apparently caused by something he ate or drank in a South Auckland restaurant, the Auckland coroner has found. However, exactly what triggered the anaphylactic shock that resulted in Grant Freeman, of Stanmore Bay, suffering heart failure and brain damage, from which he died two days after the meal, remains a puzzle.

Editor’s note: The Courier each week runs a summary of reports on area restaurant inspections by the Montgomery County Health Department Environmental Health Services. The department routinely performs food establishment inspections twice per year, or more often if the inspection report was bad resulting in numerous demerits or a complaint was filed.

Amanda Brazee of Albany writes to say, as a devotee of pastured meat, I feel compelled to comment on Steve Barnes' May 21 article ("Grass-fed beef faces taste test'') on the informal tasting conducted at the Albany Pump Station.

L. monocytogenes exists everywhere in nature what is not a problem for individuals with healthy immune systems capable of keep the bacteria at bay, but a real danger for immunocompromised or pregnant hosts, in which case Listeriosis (the infection) can result in a mortality rate  as high as 30%.

Vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) have been found in sewage sludge, a by-product of waste-water treatment frequently used as a fertilizer. Researchers writing in the open access journal Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica point out the danger of antibiotic resistance genes passing into the human food chain.

Scientists from St George's, University of London achieved a major advance by developing a protein that can kill the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) when used as a microbicide. What's more, the researchers have devised a way to produce the protein in plants in quantities enough to make it affordable for people in developing countries.