Foodborne illnesses kill more than 900 Americans each year, researchers find

Foodborne illness kills hundreds of Americans a year, sickens tens of millions annually, and costs billions in medical care, lost productivity and premature deaths, federal researchers said in a report.  Roughly 10 million cases of foodborne illness each year in the U.S. are caused by six pathogens — salmonella, listeria monocytogenes, campylobacter, clostridium perfringens, shiga…

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More than 1 million Igloo coolers recalled after reports of injuries including fingertip amputations

More than 1 million Igloo rolling coolers sold nationwide by retailers including Amazon, Costco and Target are being recalled after a dozen reports of fingertip injuries, including amputations, according to a notice posted Thursday by a federal regulator. The tow handle on the Igloo 90-quart Flip & Tow rolling coolers can pinch users’ fingertips, posing…

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Cows infected by lethal bird flu strain never before seen in the animal showing respiratory symptoms, Nevada says

At least four cattle herds in Nevada have tested positive for a strain of H5N1 bird flu never before seen in cows, state agriculture officials confirmed Wednesday, and respiratory symptoms like coughing and sneezing have been reported. That bird flu strain, called D1.1 by scientists, was also linked to a fatal human case in Louisiana…

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2 million baked goods, including some sold at Dunkin’, recalled in January over listeria concerns

About 2 million baked goods sold nationwide — including some doughnuts and coffee rolls purchased at Dunkin’ — were recalled last month due to concerns the products might be contaminated with listeria, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturer FGF Brands issued the recall involving products products before December 13, 2024, the FDA…

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Judge orders HHS, CDC and FDA to restore deleted webpages with health information

Washington — A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration to restore webpages and data that had been scrubbed in compliance with President Trump’s executive order on gender ideology while litigation moves forward. U.S. District Judge John Bates agreed to…

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LG Electronics recalls ranges after dozens of fires burn people, property and pets

About 500,000 ranges sold nationwide are being recalled after dozens of fires burned property, people and pets, LG Electronics said Wednesday in a notice posted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The recall involves ranges with front-mounted knobs that can be turned accidentally, with CPSC receiving at least 86 reports of unintentional activation. The…

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Trump officials exerting unprecedented control over CDC scientific journal

Trump administration political appointees have taken steps in recent weeks to exert unprecedented influence over the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s flagship medical research publication, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, multiple federal health officials tell CBS News. The interference included dictating what to cover and withholding studies on the growing bird flu outbreak….

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Trump taps Gerald Parker to be new head of pandemic office as bird flu threat grows

President Trump has selected Gerald Parker, a veterinarian and former top-ranking federal health official, to head the White House’s pandemic office, two U.S. officials tell CBS News.  Congress created the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy after the COVID-19 pandemic.  As part of one of the lessons learned from the outbreak, the…

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As Trump shuts down USAID missions, officials warn Ebola outbreak in Uganda will spread

Some health officials in the U.S. fear the shutdown of U.S. Agency for International Development missions may have disastrous results, as the stalling of foreign aid has forced delays in what they said was the “chaotic” early U.S. response to Uganda’s swelling Ebola outbreak.  The outbreak marks Uganda’s eighth from an Ebola virus. The first confirmed…

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Caroline Kennedy calls RFK Jr. a “predator” in letter to senators a day before his confirmation hearings

Washington — Caroline Kennedy, the cousin of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., sent a blistering letter to senators on Tuesday — a day before his confirmation hearings — that described him as a “predator” whose actions “have cost lives.”  In the letter to committee leaders, the former ambassador to Australia urged senators to reject his nomination…

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White House blames “outage” for locking out Medicaid, Head Start, health centers from funding site

The White House blamed an “outage” for locking out a wide range of organizations and agencies on Tuesday from the online systems responsible for drawing down federal health dollars.  Multiple state Medicaid programs reported late Tuesday they have been able to resume accessing their payment systems after the nationwide lockout.  The interruption had sparked outcry…

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CDC purges STD and vaccine recommendations after Trump gender order

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took offline recommendations on how doctors should treat sexually transmitted infections and vaccinate adults Friday, as part of a sweeping purge of all mentions of “gender” from federal websites ordered by the Trump administration this week. “Doctors in every community in America rely on these treatment guidelines to…

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FDA OK’s painkiller designed to end opioids’ addiction and overdose risk

Washington — Federal officials on Thursday approved a new type of pain drug designed to eliminate the risks of addiction and overdose associated with opioid medications like Vicodin and OxyContin. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it approved Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ pill, Journavx, for short-term pain that often follows surgery or injuries. It’s the first…

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Ebola kills nurse in Uganda’s capital Kampala, first death from virus since last outbreak ended in 2023

Kampala, Uganda — A nurse in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, has died of Ebola, a health official said Thursday, in the first recorded fatality since the last outbreak ended in 2023. Diana Atwine, permanent secretary of the health ministry, told reporters the 32-year-old male patient was an employee of Mulago Hospital, the main referral facility in…

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Taquitos sold at Aldi stores are recalled due to reports of metal pieces and a dental injury

Pulitzer winner Michael Moss on food safety Pulitzer winner Michael Moss on food safety, recalls and ultra-processed foods 06:24 Taquitos sold at Aldi stores nationwide are being recalled because they may contain pieces of metal, Bestway Sandwiches said in a notice posted Saturday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Shipped to Aldi stores across the…

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Tim Noel named next CEO of UnitedHealthcare

Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder and terrorism charges in CEO killing case 03:11 MINNEAPOLIS — UnitedHealth Group on Thursday announced that a longtime employee in the company has been named the new leader of its health insurance arm, nearly two months after the killing of former CEO Brian Thompson. …

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Alabama woman who is the only person in the world with a functioning pig organ is thriving after a record 2 months

An Alabama woman passed a major milestone Saturday to become the longest-living recipient of a pig organ transplant – healthy and full of energy with her new kidney for 61 days and counting. “I’m superwoman,” Towana Looney told The Associated Press, laughing about outpacing family members on long walks around New York City as she…

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RFK Jr.’s financial disclosures reveal millions in both debt and income as he awaits HHS confirmation

As Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary nominee, awaits his confirmation hearing, financial disclosures released Wednesday show that he is saddled with millions in debt, but is positioned to earn millions from book deals. In financial disclosure forms filed with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, Kennedy reported debts of…

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FDA pauses updates on foodborne outbreak probes as health agencies regroup on communications

Multiple federal health agencies have stopped releasing some key health information — including updates on some outbreak investigations — amid a department-wide communications “pause” ordered by the Trump administration, though many other “mission critical” updates are still being released, CBS News has learned. The Department of Health and Human Services “has issued a pause on…

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Google-owned Fitbit to pay $12.2 million after consumers were burned by smartwatches

More than two years after recalling about 1.7 million Ionic smartwatches sold globally, Google-owned Fitbit will pay a $12.2 million penalty for failing to alert consumers that the products can overheat and cause burns, federal regulators said Thursday. Fitbit received numerous reports of the lithium-ion batteries in the watches overheating during 2018, 2019 and continuing…

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Consumers who bought phony Zephyr N95 masks to get more than $1 million in refunds

The Federal Trade Commission is sending a total of more than $1 million to fully refund people who bought deceptively marketed face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency announced on Monday. The FTC in April 2024 took action against Razer and several affiliates over their production and sale of a “wearable air purifier” face mask called…

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New Maryland law requires coverage for special prosthetics used for physical activities

New Maryland law helps amputees cover special prosthetics New Maryland law helps amputees cover special prosthetics 02:08 BALTIMORE — A new Maryland Law, the “So Everybody Can Move Act,” requires the Maryland Medical Assistance Program and state commercial plans to cover prosthetics designed for physical activities, including running, biking or swimming.  The new law was…

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3 Boar’s Head plants also had unsanitary conditions, including mold and insects, USDA says

Three Boar’s Head deli meat plants were cited for unsanitary conditions, including insects, mold, and “unidentified slime,” according to newly released federal records. The new findings suggest that sanitation problems were not limited to the company’s factory that was shut down last year following a deadly listeria outbreak. The inspection records, released in response to Freedom…

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New report reveals rising cancer rates among women

New report reveals rising cancer rates among women – CBS News Watch CBS News The American Cancer Society finds cancer rates are increasing in women, surpassing men in some cases. Dr. Celine Gounder, CBS News medical contributor, joins “CBS Mornings” to discuss these troubling trends and their implications. Be the first to know Get browser…

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FDA moves to cut nicotine from cigarettes, in plan first floated under Trump

The Food and Drug Administration is moving to cut out addictive nicotine from cigarettes, according to a long-awaited proposed regulation released Wednesday. The rule aims to force the nearly 12% of Americans still using combustible tobacco products to switch to less dangerous alternatives, like vaping electronic cigarettes or using nicotine lozenges, or quit altogether while…

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Abbott accused of deceiving parents with potentially harmful formula for toddlers

A year after the American Academy of Pediatrics flagged what it described as “questionable marketing practices” by makers of formulas for older infants and toddlers, Abbott Laboratories is being sued over how it pitches such products.  Abbott, a health care products conglomerate based in Illinois, is misleading parents and other caregivers about the nutritional value…

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FDA sets limits on lead in some baby foods

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is for the first time setting guidelines for levels of lead in processed baby foods such as jarred fruits and vegetables. Part of an effort to reduce exposure to a toxic metal that causes developmental and neurological issues in children, the action announced on Monday offers only voluntary —…

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It feels like everyone has a stomach bug. A new norovirus strain might be to blame, CDC data suggests

A new strain of norovirus now makes up a majority of outbreaks nationwide, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new strain’s emergence, found spreading throughout the country and on cruise ships, offers a possible explanation for the past month’s steep wave of infections from the stomach bug.  Scientists call…

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India’s first human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases confirmed, but officials say “no reason to worry”

New Delhi — Indian officials have confirmed the vast nation’s first cases of human metapneumovirus, often called HMPV, with seven people said to have contracted the virus as of Tuesday, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research. Two of the HMPV infections were reported in the central Indian city of Nagpur on Tuesday, while two…

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Tree nuts prompt Cappuccino Meltaway Bars’ recall — holiday candy sold nationwide

Gardners Candies is recalling Cappuccino Meltaway Bars sold nationwide because they may contain undeclared cashews, which can pose serious or life-threatening reactions in people with tree nut allergies.  The Tyrone, Pennsylvania-based candy maker initiated its recall after discovering the “tree nut-containing product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of tree nuts,”…

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Frito-Lay recalls some Lay’s Classic Potato Chips over “life-threatening” allergy risk

Pulitzer winner Michael Moss on food safety Pulitzer winner Michael Moss on food safety, recalls and ultra-processed foods 06:24 Frito-Lay is recalling a limited number of 13 oz. bags of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration citing the risk that some consumers could experience a “life-theatening allergic reaction” due to…

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Congo says mystery disease behind dozens of deaths of women and children finally identified as severe malaria

Johannesburg — For weeks it was dubbed simply “Disease X.” But the mysterious flu-like disease that has killed more than 143 people — mainly women and young children — in the Democratic Republic of Congo has finally been identified. “The mystery has finally been solved,” Congo’s health ministry declared in a statement on Tuesday. “It’s a…

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Another infant dies in listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat meat and poultry products

A second infant has died in an 8-state listeria outbreak related to recalled Yu Shang Food ready-to-eat meat and poultry products, according to federal health officials. The products were sold online and at retail locations nationwide, according to federal health officials. Nineteen cases are confirmed, with 17 hospitalized, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…

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University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus receives grant to help restore vision to blind patients

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus could be close to cure for blindness University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus could be close to cure for blindness 00:39 Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus received up to $46 million in a grant to help develop an innovative treatment to cure blindness. The Advanced Research…

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Sanders says RFK Jr. “exactly correct” on food issues, has not decided on Trump pick for HHS secretary

Sen. Bernie Sanders praised Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s message on food issues Thursday, and said he had not made up his mind on whether he would oppose President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of Kennedy to head the nation’s health agencies. In an interview with CBS News correspondent Natalie Brand, the independent Vermont senator said that he…

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Mystery flu-like disease in Congo kills dozens, puts authorities “on general alert” as cases investigated

Kinshasa, Congo – Congo’s health minister said Thursday the country’s government was on alert over a mystery flu-like disease that has killed dozens of people in recent weeks, nearly half of whom were children. Authorities have so far confirmed 71 deaths, including 27 people who died in hospitals and 44 in the community in the southern…

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Children illegally worked dangerous overnight shifts at pork processing plant, feds find

Florida considering overhaul of child labor laws Florida considering overhaul of child labor laws 02:17 Federal investigators found nearly a dozen children to be working dangerous, overnight shifts at Seaboard Triumph Foods’ pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, Iowa, the Department of Labor announced. Employed by Guymon, Oklahoma-based sanitation contractor Qvest, 11 kids allegedly used…

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Jane Fonda with a secret of aging well

Jane Fonda with a secret of aging well – CBS News Watch CBS News A Yale study showed that older people with more positive beliefs about aging lived an average of 7.5 longer than people who equated aging with disease and decline. Actress and activist Jane Fonda and anti-ageism advocate Ashton Applewhite present “Sunday Morning”…

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What is “Make America Healthy Again”? What to know about Trump and RFK Jr.’s wide-ranging platform

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has outlined a number of promises to “Make America Healthy Again” under President-elect Donald Trump, vowing to combat an “epidemic” of chronic diseases that he has described as an “existential” threat to America’s future. All are under the banner of fighting what Kennedy sees as a common thread behind a broad…

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As Canada delays medically assisted dying in mental illness cases, some find relief, others fear consequences

When Savannah Meadows had lunch last October with her mother, Sharon Turcott, Meadows was “all smiles,” the mother told CBS News.  “Maybe she’s turned a corner,” Turcott recalled thinking about her daughter, who had been struggling with serious mental illness. The next morning, she received a scheduled email: “Mom, if you’re reading this, I’m probably…

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Tom’s of Maine toothpaste made with bacteria-tainted water, FDA warns. Here are details.

Tom’s of Maine toothpaste was manufactured with water containing bacteria, while a “black mold-like substance” was found in a factory where the product was made, according to a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  The November 5 letter stated that Tom’s Simply White Clean Mint toothpaste contained Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a germ that…

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As “walking pneumonia” spreads, ER visits surge for sick babies

Nationwide rates of emergency room visits for babies with Mycoplasma pneumoniae are on track to surpass rates for school-age children, data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows, as doctors nationwide are grappling with a surge of “walking pneumonia” cases.  The new figures come from the CDC’s National Syndromic Surveillance Program, which…

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Combating Parkinson’s with rock climbing

We were amazed at what we were seeing on a sweltering summer’s day, when a group of people with Parkinson’s Disease began rock-climbing on the Carderock Cliffs of Maryland. Yes, rock-climbing! It’s all part of their therapy, says Molly Cupka, the no-nonsense instructor and cheerleader for this community of courageous climbers. People with Parkinson’s Disease…

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DOJ sues UnitedHealth amid $3.3 billion bid to buy home care giant Amedisys

Man’s family awarded millions in lawsuit over Hennepin County jail death, and more headlines Man’s family awarded millions in lawsuit over Hennepin County jail death, and more headlines 04:25 MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group Inc. is the focus of an antitrust lawsuit filed on Tuesday by the United States Department of Justice. A UnitedHealth spokesperson confirmed…

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With ACA subsidies set to expire in 2025, millions of Americans stand to lose health insurance

With Republicans edging closer to gaining control of Congress, millions of Americans may be at risk of losing enhanced subsidies that currently underwrite the cost of health insurance bought through the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces, according to industry experts and the Congressional Budget Office.  The November 5 election gave control of the Senate to Republicans,…

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A promising new treatment for PTSD

Idit Negrin would try anything to beat the trauma haunting her since attending the Nova Music Festival on October 7th, when Hamas massacred hundreds of civilians. “We saw the terrorists, and they started shooting at us,” she said. She ran for her life.  Afterwards, “I woke up every night, every night around 3 o’clock screaming…

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Electric space heaters sold on Amazon, TikTok recalled after 7 fires

11/7: CBS Morning News 20:45 Nearly 600,000 GoveeLife and Govee smart electric space heaters sold online by retailers including Amazon and TikTok Shop are being recalled because they can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards, federal safety officials said Thursday. The recall follows 113 reports of the made-in-China products overheating, including seven fires and one…

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USDA ban on school lunch fees for low-income families begins in 2027

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that students eligible for free or reduced-price school meals cannot be charged processing fees, also known as junk fees, beginning in 2027. School districts currently work with processing companies to offer cashless payment systems for families. But the companies can charge “processing fees” for each transaction. By law, students…

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Walmart plans to deliver prescriptions nationwide in as little as 30 minutes

Walmart will begin delivering prescriptions across the U.S. early next year, as the retailing giant strives to keep pace with rival Amazon in competing for health care dollars.  Walmart’s new service includes new prescriptions and refills, which customers can receive along with groceries and other products, the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company announced on Tuesday. Prescriptions will…

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Threat of foodborne pathogens is growing with climate change, experts warn

Climate change has ramifications for food safety, experts warn Climate change has ramifications for food safety, experts warn 02:35 CHICAGO (CBS) — Warmer temperatures are impacting the food supply and its safety, experts warned amid an outbreak of E. coli that has struck McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. Experts said pathogens—the bacteria that can make us sick—are…

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McDonald’s beef patties test negative for E. coli in Colorado, Department of Agriculture says

McDonald’s beef patties test negative for E. coli in Colorado McDonald’s beef patties test negative for E. coli in Colorado 00:43 Colorado has seemingly eliminated one ingredient as a cause for death and illness, as states continue to investigate the source of an E. coli outbreak involving the Quarter Pounder hamburger at dozens of McDonald’s…

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Biden highlights drug price reductions with New Hampshire visit

President Biden visits Democratic Party Headquarters in Manchester, NH President Biden visits Democratic Party Headquarters in Manchester, NH 00:33 Concord, New Hampshire – President Biden touted his administration’s progress in bringing down medication costs during a visit to New Hampshire on Tuesday alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders, as the president seeks to cement his policy legacy. …

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McDonald’s takes Quarter Pounder off the menu at 1 in 5 restaurants due to E. coli outbreak

McDonald’s has stopped selling Quarter Pounder hamburgers at about one-fifth of its U.S. restaurants as federal health officials investigate an outbreak of E. coli that has sickened nearly 50 people in 10 states, killing one. The fast-food chain sold about 1 million Quarter Pounders in the timeframe that the illnesses occurred, a McDonald’s spokesperson said…

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McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers linked to deadly E. coli outbreak, CDC says

McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers are being linked to an outbreak of E. coli that has sickened nearly 50 people in 10 states, killing one person, federal health officials said Tuesday.  Most sick people reported eating Quarter Pounders from McDonald’s, and investigators are working to confirm which food ingredient is contaminated, according to the U.S. Centers…

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Harris backs slashing medical debt. Trump’s “concepts” worry advocates.

Patient and consumer advocates are looking to Kamala Harris to accelerate federal efforts to help people struggling with medical debt if she prevails in next month’s presidential election. And they see the vice president and Democratic nominee as the best hope for preserving Americans’ access to health insurance. Comprehensive coverage that limits patients’ out-of-pocket costs…

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Harris asks if Trump is “fit to do the job,” highlighting questions about his health

Washington — Vice President Kamala Harris has increasingly questioned former President Donald Trump’s ability to handle the demands of another four years in the White House as she seeks to contrast her age with Trump’s.  “I’m seeing that his team at least is saying he’s suffering from exhaustion,” Harris, who turns 60 on Sunday, told…

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Colsen tabletop fire pits sold nationwide recalled after 19 people burned, some quite seriously

Nearly 90,000 Colsen-branded tabletop fire pits sold by major retailers nationwide are being recalled after dozens of alarming incidents left 19 people with burn injuries, some requiring surgery and others permanently disfigured.  The products are a burn and fire hazard in that alcohol flames can be invisible and lead to flame jetting when the pit…

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Boar’s Head recall triggers USDA watchdog probe into agency’s handling of deadly listeria outbreak

Conn. lawmakers want accountability in listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head products Conn. lawmakers want accountability in listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head products 00:46 The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s inspector general has started an internal investigation into the agency’s handling of the deadly Boar’s Head outbreak, Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, said…

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As IV shortage continues after hurricane, U.S. invokes wartime power to speed recovery

IV fluid shortage caused by Hurricane Helene cancels elective surgeries at Mass General Brigham IV fluid shortage caused by Hurricane Helene cancels elective surgeries at Mass General Brigham 02:34 The Biden administration says it has invoked the wartime powers of the Defense Production Act to speed rebuilding of a major American factory of intravenous fluids…

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Consumer Reports calls for federal ban on baby walkers. Here are the risks.

Consumer Reports is calling for a federal ban of infant walkers, saying the products injure thousands of babies every year despite federal safety standards that have slowed — but not stopped — heartbreaking incidents for parents. The consumer advocacy group’s stark warning, along with its newly published report detailing injuries and deaths caused by baby walkers,…

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Florida fire marshal calls electric vehicles “ticking time bombs” as Hurricane Milton nears

Storm surges from Hurricane Milton could turn electric vehicles and other products containing lithium-ion batteries into “ticking time bombs,” Florida’s fire marshal is warning. Residents and first responders are being cautioned about “an alarming fire hazard with lithium-ion batteries, EVs, as well as hybrid and fuel cell vehicles in preparation of Hurricane Milton,” according to a…

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