Good morning, it’s Thursday.
If you have a weak stomach, you might want to skip this morning’s missive, which might very well make you think twice before you dine out or purchased pre-cut, bagged salads and/or fruits and vegetables anytime soon.
The US is experiencing a rise in food-borne pathogens. The latest national outbreak of cyclosporiasis – an intestinal infection caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis that results in recurring bouts of diarrhea, cramps, vomiting, and fatigue – is only the latest in a long line of headline-making food-related recalls and illnesses.
According to the FDA, while the American food supply is (so the federal government claims) “among the safest in the world”, an estimated 48 million cases of foodborne illness – roughly one in six people – occur annually, resulting in some 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths.
The numbers are considerably higher around the globe, especially in countries that lack effective sanitation, hygiene, and clean water sources.
Here in the U.S., it’s hard to tell whether incidents of foodborne illness are actually rising (some studies indicate that this is, in fact, the case) due to, according one study, “a national foodborne-disease surveillance system has prevented the study of trends in disease rates.” It is clear, though, that a combination of factors from our changing diet to the commercialization of our food system have left the nation more vulnerable to an increasingly deadly array of pathogens and contaminants.
The so-called “big three” foodborne pathogens that are behind most outbreaks and recalls are Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Listeria. They show up most likely in undercooked or raw meat, unpasteurized dairy, processed foods, and produce. Listeria is particularly problematic because it can thrive at standard refrigeration temperatures.
You can guard against foodborne illness by adopting some basic food safety practices – of which there are quite a few.
Cyclosporiasis is actually not nearly as common as the aforementioned big three. Though large multi-state outbreaks like the one we’re currently experience do occur, experts say that this one is unusually widespread, sickening nearly 7,000 people – that we know of – to date.
It appears that this outbreak has been linked by health officials in Michigan to lettuce or salad greens, which is problematic for the two containers of greens – one lettuce, one baby kale – that I have sitting in the fridge right now. However, this cause is not yet definitive. The CDC has said the investigation is ongoing and may yet implicate other culprit foods.
Experts are suggesting that until this outbreak, which could last through the remainder of the summer, is over, we should avoid all bagged salad greens. Instead, you should opt for whole heads, remove the outer layers of leaves and wash what’s left very thoroughly to get rid of any sneaky parasites.
This is case of truly unfortunate timing for Fresh Spinach Day, which is sad, since spinach is a true nutritional powerhouse. For now, though, perhaps stick to frozen to be on the safe side?
Just in time for the heat to break, we had a new weather-related issue to contend with: Poor air quality caused (yet again) by Canadian wildfires. This is likely to last a few days until wind patterns change. In the meantime, areas of smoke and haze will cause intermittent visibility challenges. We’ll see a mix of sun and clouds and temperatures will peak in the high 80s.
In the headlines…
The House rejected a measure to eliminate U.S. aid to Israel, but almost half of Democrats supported the move, reflecting a rapid and dramatic shift within the party away from decades of unequivocal support for the Jewish state.
The measure, which sought to cut all $3.3 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Israel from a foreign affairs spending bill, failed by a vote of 104 to 314, with 10 voting “present,” and all but one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a sponsor, voting no.
House Democrats’ internal split over a vote to cut off U.S. aid to Israel extended to leadership, with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) voting against the measure and Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) casting her vote in favor.
The fate of Todd Blanche’s nomination as AG remained uncertain after a rocky confirmation hearing in which a Republican senator raised serious questions about his role in creating a $1.8 billion fund for purported victims of Justice Department persecution.
The Trump administration has removed a slavery exhibition at the home of former President George Washington in Philadelphia, replacing it with another version that experts have said isn’t historically accurate.
Erica Schwartz, President Trump’s nominee to run the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), wouldn’t commit to standing up to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., frustrating senators on both sides of the aisle during a confirmation hearing.
The Trump administration said that it would impose a new 25 percent tariff on Brazil next week, arguing that the country had adopted a range of unfair trade practices against the United States.
The tariff will apply to thousands of Brazilian products, but will exempt several major categories of exports, including oil and gas, beef, coffee, oranges, and aircraft parts. The tariff will apply to Brazilian ethanol, and take effect next Wednesday.
The New York Times has filed a motion pushing back against subpoenas issued to its reporters from the Trump administration following a report on the new Air Force One, the paper reported.
According to the Times, the outlet’s top newsroom lawyer, David McCraw, said in a statement that the subpoenas were “abusive and improper,” claiming they were “brought in bad faith to punish The Times for its coverage.”
Hudson Valley GOP Rep. Mike Lawler, who faces a tough re-election fight, disclosed he was arrested on St. Patrick’s Day 2012 on suspicion of drunken driving, an incident that he has not made public in previous campaigns for Congress or the state Legislature.
Lawler, 39, said in an interview with News 12 that the arrest took place one night in 2012, when he was executive director of the state Republican Party. He pleaded guilty in Rockland County to a reduced charge of driving with ability impaired, a violation.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has selected the developers Gotham Organization, Fisher Brothers and Mural Real Estate Group to transform a Hell’s Kitchen parking lot near the Intrepid Museum into a mixed-use development with more than 1,100 new homes.
Hochul’s year-long ban on large data centers statewide is receiving mixed reactions from advocacy groups and state lawmakers.
Trump blasted Hochul’s first-in-the-nation pause on data center construction, calling it “a terrible decision” that will hurt New York’s economy.
“(Hochul) for political reasons, has terminated all Data Centers being built, or to be built, in New York State,” Trump said. “These Companies are now being sought in Alabama, Florida, Texas, Arizona, and many other States. Both the Taxes and the Jobs amount to LIQUID GOLD!”
Hochul announced raising $17 million in the July 2026 filing period. This total includes $5.6 million to her re-election campaign from a record 27,000 unique donors, and $11.4 million raised into the New York State Democratic Party.
A brand new $6 billion cable that was supposed to help power New York City during the blistering heat will likely be offline for the rest of the month, a predicament Hochul called “unacceptable.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security fired back at Hochul after she sent a letter demanding more information about multiple immigration detention projects planned across the state, including one in Newburgh.
A report released by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli warns that the state’s fiscal budget shows signs of instability, with incoming revenue unable to keep up with heavy state spending.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman put the heat on Hochul yesterday, slamming a state law banning natural gas as a “green energy scam” that’s thwarting construction and real estate development.
A growing homeless encampment on Manhattan’s West Side is drawing renewed attention from city and state leaders, with Hochul saying her administration is working behind the scenes with New York City’s mayor on the response.
Hochul insisted that she’s not on board with Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s “tax the rich” crusade — even as her new tax on luxury second homes is driving the well-to-do away from New York City.
New York Republican leaders have launched a targeted ad campaign, trying to persuade Jewish voters to change parties by accusing Mamdani of fostering antisemitism.
“We watch with sadness as the Democratic Party, which alleges to stand for marginalized groups, spirals into that ugliest and oldest hatred, antisemitism,” GOP Chair Ed Cox wrote in a letter that will run online and in Jewish newspapers. “You have a home with us.”
Mamdani has already raised roughly $304,000 from nearly 6,000 donors in his bid for reelection in 2029. All but one donation came within just the last month.
Mamdani appointed New York City’s first-ever “public utility advocate,” a role that will be charged with pushing for clean and affordable energy for New Yorkers.
Mamdani said more must be done to address racial disparities in New York City’s specialized high school admissions after new DOE data showed only three Black students received offers to Stuyvesant High School’s incoming freshman class.
Rent hikes or increased maintenance fees are being considered across nine Mitchell-Lama affordable housing complexes across the city, which are governed by a different regulatory regime than rent stabilization.
More than 100 inmates were rewarded with a special viewing with Mamdani of the World Cup semifinal match Wednesday between England and Argentina because of their model behavior behind bars.
The Mamdani administration issued a roadmap of 23 proposals aimed at changing how New York City renters find apartments, report unsafe conditions, and confront landlords who fail to make repairs.
A state panel is taking over control of labor negotiations between Mamdani’s administration and the NYPD’s largest union because contract talks have hit an impasse.
The City Council held a hearing yesterday to consider a bill, known as Romanch’s Law, that would phase out and eventually ban horse-drawn carriages.
Carriage horse industry supporters charged into City Hall to urge city councilmembers to say “neigh” to a bill that would abolish horse-drawn rides in New York City.
The family of a teenage tourist who was killed last month in an incident involving a runaway carriage horse in Central Park made an emotional plea to New York City lawmakers to end the 167-year-old carriage industry.
State Sen. Steve Chan (R-Brooklyn) bravely stepped in and defused a violent street brawl between three men in South Brooklyn, according to a video posted to Facebook this week.
A hotly contested Democratic Primary for a Queens state Legislature seat was decided by a recount done by hand Wednesday after a prior count had the candidates separated by only two votes.
New York’s overburdened Pennsylvania Station could handle as many as eight additional trains per hour during peak commuting times, if improvements were made at the track level to get passengers on and off trains faster, a federal study found.
An earthquake hit local broadcast journalists across the New York metropolitan area this week as News 12 carried out sweeping layoffs that gutted newsrooms, eliminated dozens of jobs and sharply scaled back hyperlocal coverage.
New York City last night smelled of smoke and the sky turned a faint orange as air polluted by wildfires from Canada and the Great Lakes slipped across the Northeast, prompting alerts about poor air quality.
In the race to succeed Rep. Elise Stefanik in NY-21, Republican Anthony Constantino has garnered a lot of attention for a brash campaign funded entirely by his own $10 million. But his Democratic opponent, Blake Gendebien, isn’t hurting for cash either.
Sheriff Craig D. Apple Sr. is not seeking reelection as county sheriff. In a post on Facebook Wednesday, Apple, a 58-year-old Democrat, said he had made “the difficult decision” not to seek a fifth term as the leader of the Albany County Sheriff’s Office.
Forest rangers have a fire about 70% contained on Sawteeth Mountain in the High Peaks Wilderness Area in the Adirondacks, the state Department of Environmental Conservation said on Wednesday.
More than a year after sharing that she was in stage 4 renal failure and urgently needed a kidney transplant, former WNYT anchor Emily DeVito has received the transplant that could save her life.
The search for a CEO to lead Albany International Airport has been “narrowed down,” an official helping lead the recruitment effort said this week.
Under hazy skies from Canadian wildfire smoke, local elected leaders and veterans gathered Wednesday at the Corning Preserve to urge Hochul to sign a bill renaming the Patroon Island Bridge in honor of Henry Johnson, an Albany World War I hero.
A Stewart’s Shop was evacuated Tuesday after deputies found grenades inside a car they pulled over in the parking lot, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office.
Photo credit: George Fazio.
