Many people are concerned about what kinds of microorganisms
might be lurking in their cannabis products. Growers and cultivators are trying
their best to understand how these contaminants, or “bugs,” may be getting into
their products. Testing labs are working hard to properly screen and identify
the worst offenders, even when they are not required to by the local
...

We know that cannabis can
make people sick. We know that the pathogens present in this medicine, like
many others, have killed patients[i].
We know that our most vulnerable and desperate cannabis patients are immunocompromised,
terminal, and/or pediatric. WE, US, YOU AND I, must address patient safety in
an informed and rational way. We do not...

Kombucha, an effervescent beverage originating in Asia, has received much attention lately in the neutraceutical and alternative health industries as being an anti-carcinogenic, fermented tea. It is believed to help regulate the gut microbiome, aid in metabolism and cell proliferation, increase detoxification, and help protect the liver.

Kombucha originated in China over 2,000 years ago and...

Dietary sugar and Clostridium difficile are not usually two things you hear of in one sentence, but it was recently discovered that a sugar additive, trehalose, may encourage the virulence of Clostridium difficile.

Marijuana legalization has been a hot topic in the news across the United States over the past few years.  In 2012, Colorado was the first state to pass legalization of recreational marijuana use. Prior to this, many states had legal medical prescription marijuana sales and usage on the books. However, Colorado’s move to legalize recreational cannabis use is a sign that the overarching public view of...

In late April of this year, there was an outbreak of botulism due to contaminated nacho cheese at a gas station outside of Sacramento, California. The issue is no longer a threat, as the lot of cheese has been recalled and was discarded on May 5, 2017. However, the outbreak took its toll on nine people which were hospitalized, and one person died. Incidents such as these remind us of the importance...

In the past year, there have been ongoing concerns that sanitizers commonly used to reduce pathogens on poultry carcasses can lead to false-negative test results for Salmonella.  Salmonella are bacteria that can make people sick with an infection called salmonellosis.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that Salmonella causes approximately...

Listeriosis or Listeria monocytogenes food poisoning is an infection which could be fairly mild or debilitating depending on the person infected. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly, or anyone with a compromised immune system are the most susceptible to Listeriosis. When a person is infected, symptoms of ...

Since 1947, when the first drive-through restaurant was opened by Sheldon “Red” Chaney in Springfield, Missouri[1], the term “fast food” has become a staple of the American vocabulary.  McDonalds, Burger King, White Castle, In & Out, and Taco Bell: all of these have become so monolithically important to everyday life, that many can recite the menus by hear...

Well...oysters to be more accurate.

On October 1st, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) have announced a 14-day closure of oyster beds located in Duxbury Bay, Kingston Bay, Bluefish R...

In 2008, a deadly Salmonella outbreak in peanut butter ran unbridled across 46 states. Its deadly rampage was responsible for nine deaths as well 714 confirmed cases of illness. This number is considered extremely conservative as the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) often state that for every reported case of Salmonella another 38 go unreported. This could put the potential affected...

There are a few things you definitely want with your cucumbers. Ranch (obviously), Hummus (alternatively awesome), a cheesy artichoke dip (ok now I'm just hungry), but there is one thing you definitely do not want in your vegetable snack.... Salmonella.