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United States Department of Agriculture

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Feds Issue Order For National Milk Testing To Monitor Bird Flu Feds Issue Order For National Milk Testing To Monitor Bird Flu
Feds Issue Order For National Milk Testing To Monitor Bird Flu The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is stepping up efforts to monitor avian influenza (better known as bird flu) with a new federal order mandating national testing of raw milk for the H5N1 virus. The order requires all producers of raw, unpasteurized milk across the US to provide samples for testing as part of a broad initiative to prevent the spread of bird flu from potentially infected dairy cattle to humans.  The move follows recent detections of the virus in dairy herds in several states, underscoring the importance of controlling outbreaks at the source. While pas…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
These Areas In NY Under Severe Drought Conditions These Areas In NY Under Severe Drought Conditions
These Areas In NY Under Severe Drought Conditions Long Island and parts of the Hudson Valley are currently experiencing severe drought conditions, according to the US Drought Monitor. The map of drought conditions across the country, which is released every Thursday, classified a number of New York counties as experiencing severe drought conditions as of Thursday, Sept. 1. The website reported that drought persisted or expanded across much of the Northeast since the previous update, with increases in severe drought conditions in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. According to the update, the following areas are experiencing sever…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Dangerous Strain Of Bird Flu Found In Flock At Downstate NY Home Dangerous Strain Of Bird Flu Found In Flock At Downstate NY Home
Dangerous Strain Of Bird Flu Found In Flock At Downstate NY Home State officials announced that a highly contagious, dangerous strain of bird flu was found in a non-commercial flock on Long Island. Samples collected from a flock of eight birds tested positive for highly-pathogenic avian influenza, according to an announcement from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets on Saturday, Feb. 19. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the disease is serious "and requires rapid response because it is highly contagious and often fatal to chickens." The samples were tested at the Cornell University Animal Health Diagnost…

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by Nicole Valinote
Business
US Spat With Mexico Sparks Fears Of Avocado Shortage US Spat With Mexico Sparks Fears Of Avocado Shortage
US Spat With Mexico Sparks Fears Of Avocado Shortage The United States Department of Agriculture has suspended avocado imports from Michoacán, Mexico, leading to concerns that prices may soon increase, The Washington Post reported. The agency suspended the avocado imports after a USDA inspector in Michoacán received a threatening message, the news outlet reported. “In a few days, the current inventory will be sold out and there will be a lack of product in almost any supermarket,” Raul Lopez, Mexico manager of Agtools, told the Washington Post. Lopez told the news outlet that with few avocados available, prices "will rise dras…

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by Nicole Valinote
Lifestyle
This Christmas-Time Staple Is In Short Supply, New Report Says This Christmas-Time Staple Is In Short Supply, New Report Says
This Christmas-Time Staple Is In Short Supply, New Report Says Lower peppermint production has led some businesses to receive a smaller supply of candy canes this holiday season, according to a recent report. The owner of Economy Candy, located in New York City, told the New York Post that global shortages impacted the store, with the business only receiving half of its candy cane order for the holidays. The news outlet said a survey of other businesses in the area saw some having trouble keeping candy canes in stock, while others did not. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, has declined in recent years, and fell from 5.45 millio…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
NY Man Accused Of Keeping Exotic Animals In Unsafe Conditions NY Man Accused Of Keeping Exotic Animals In Unsafe Conditions
NY Man Accused Of Keeping Exotic Animals In Unsafe Conditions A man has been accused of keeping a sloth and a wallaby in unsafe and unsatisfactory conditions in his New York home. The United States Department of Agriculture cited Long Island resident Larry Wallach after searching his East Rockaway home and allegedly found a sloth living in an enclosure in his garage during the June 2021 inspection. "Hanging from the ceiling in the interior of the sloth enclosure, is a light fixture and on the floor of the interior is a portable electric humidifier with the cord exposed," the USDA complaint said. "The sloth has access to the exposed ligh…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
Food Safety During Power Outages: Here's When To Save It, When To Throw It Out, USDA Says Food Safety During Power Outages: Here's When To Save It, When To Throw It Out, USDA Says
Food Safety During Power Outages: Here's When To Save It, When To Throw It Out, USDA Says After Tropical Depression Ida brought power outages to the region, some may be wondering what to do with the food stored in the refrigerator.  United States Department of Agriculture said fridges keep food safe for up to four hours during a power outage.  The department said people should keep the fridge door closed as much as possible, and discard perishable foods after four hours without power. This means discarding foods such as meat, poultry, fish and eggs. US agencies said individuals should never taste food to try to determine if it has gone bad.  Find a chart showing…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Tyson Chicken Recall Expands To Nearly 9 Million Pounds, USDA Says Tyson Chicken Recall Expands To Nearly 9 Million Pounds, USDA Says
Tyson Chicken Recall Expands To Nearly 9 Million Pounds, USDA Says A Tyson Foods recall of ready-to-eat frozen chicken has expanded, now including an additional 500,000 pounds of the products.  The company is now recalling 8,955,296 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products that could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The United States Department of Agriculture announced the update on Thursday, July 8. The recall was initially announced on July 3. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that three illnesses have been linked to the products, and one person has died. The products were produced between D…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: Tiger At Bronx Zoo Tests Positive, Becoming First US Case In An Animal COVID-19: Tiger At Bronx Zoo Tests Positive, Becoming First US Case In An Animal
Covid-19: Tiger At Bronx Zoo Tests Positive, Becoming First US Case In An Animal The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is now proving to be a foe of man and beast alike. A tiger at the Bronx Zoo has just tested COVID-19 positive, the Wildlife Conservation Society announced Sunday, April 5. It's believed to be the first known infection in an animal in the United States or a tiger anywhere,  The positive case for Nadia, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger, was confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, based in Ames, Iowa, the society said. Nadia, her sister, Azul, and two Amur tigers, who all live in the zoo’s Tiger Mountain exhibit, and three African l…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Fries With That? Maybe Not, As US Faces Potential Potato Shortage Fries With That? Maybe Not, As US Faces Potential Potato Shortage
Fries With That? Maybe Not, As US Faces Potential Potato Shortage A new report says Americans may soon face a shortage of everyone's favorite form of potato - the French fry, Bloomberg.com says.  Unfavorable growing conditions have damaged crops at producers in both the United States and Canada, prompting processors to purchase supplies and send them across the continent, according to the report. Industry experts say the likelihood of potato price hikes is high for the coming year, Bloomberg.com says. The United States Department of Agriculture expects this year's domestic output to decrease by 6.1 percent, the lowest rate since 2010. …

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by Valerie Musson
News
Recall Issued For 97K Pounds Of Salad Products Due To E. Coli Scare Recall Issued For 97K Pounds Of Salad Products Due To E. Coli Scare
Recall Issued For 97K Pounds Of Salad Products Due To E. Coli Scare An area company is recalling nearly 100,000 pounds of salad products that may be contaminated with E. coli. Missa Bay, LLC, a Swedesboro, New Jersey, company, is recalling approximately 97,272 pounds of salad products that contain meat or poultry because the lettuce ingredient may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced. The recalled items have the establishment number “EST. 18502B” inside the USDA mark of inspection. They were shipped to locations in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illi…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Here's Why Summer Is Peak Time For Foodborne Illness: What You Should Know Here's Why Summer Is Peak Time For Foodborne Illness: What You Should Know
Here's Why Summer Is Peak Time For Foodborne Illness: What You Should Know The official start of summer is now here, making it the perfect time to give yourself a quick lesson about staying safe and avoiding foodborne illnesses during upcoming cookouts and other outdoor gatherings with food. Unfortunately, experts say summertime, which started on Friday, June 21, is the most common season for foodborne illnesses. In fact, in the United States, an estimated 48 million illnesses and 3,000 deaths are caused each year from the ingestion of contaminated food. Identifying risks for foodborne illnesses is also difficult because while some people experience symptoms almos…

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by Valerie Musson
Lifestyle
91,000 Pounds Of Ground Turkey Recalled Amid Salmonella Fears 91,000 Pounds Of Ground Turkey Recalled Amid Salmonella Fears
91,000 Pounds Of Ground Turkey Recalled Amid Salmonella Fears Related story: First Death Reported In Ongoing Turkey Salmonella Outbreak Check your refrigerator. There’s been a recall of more than 91,000 pounds of ground turkey by the FDA as part of the ongoing monthslong salmonella outbreak involving turkey products. Jenni-O Turkey has recalled 91,388 pounds of raw ground turkey products that may be associated with an illness outbreak of Salmonella. The outbreak has resulted in one death and 164 reported illnesses in 35 states. Approximately half of those who got sick were hospitalized. According to the United States Department of Agricultu…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Warning Issued After New Tick Species Discovered In Westchester Warning Issued After New Tick Species Discovered In Westchester
Warning Issued After New Tick Species Discovered In Westchester There's a new tick in town. State officials are warning New York residents, visitors and farmers about the continued importance of taking measures to protect against ticks, as a new tick species has been found in the state. The Haemaphysalis longicornis tick, commonly known as the "longhorned tick," was recently discovered in multiple locations in Westchester County, according to the New York State Departments of Health and Agriculture & Markets. New York State Department of Health research scientists collaborated with researchers at Fordham University and at the Lyme Disease…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
Recall Alert: These Pork Products May Have Ingredients Not On Labels Recall Alert: These Pork Products May Have Ingredients Not On Labels
Recall Alert: These Pork Products May Have Ingredients Not On Labels Did you buy them?Nearly 13,000 pounds of pork products were recalled by the United States Department of Agriculture. Nueske’s Meat Products, which is based out of Wisconsin, has announced a recall of 12,946 pounds of pork products due to misbranding, according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which announced the recall on Monday. The recall was necessitated because some of the products may contain brown rice flour and glycerin, ingredients that are not declared on the product label. The items were packaged on various dates between Feb. 24 last year and May 23 this ye…

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by Zak Failla