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Public Health

'Gas Station Heroin' Killed Toms River Man, Family Says In Lawsuit 'Gas Station Heroin' Killed Toms River Man, Family Says In Lawsuit
'Gas Station Heroin' Killed Toms River Man, Family Says In Lawsuit The family of a Toms River man has filed a lawsuit claiming he was killed by a supplement known by many as "gas station heroin." The suit, filed on Thursday, Sept. 5 by the family of 32-year-old Matthew Cornier, names Neptune Resources, LLC; Super Chill CBD Products; and Hometown Market. Philadelphia-based law firm Feldman Shepherd announced the legal action in a news release on Thursday, Sept. 12. Cornier died on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, after consuming Neptune's Fix Elixir purchased from a store in Point Pleasant, the suit claimed. The product is marketed as a dietary supplement…
Camden Schools Superintendent Calls On Board President To Quit In Wake Of Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Camden Schools Superintendent Calls On Board President To Quit In Wake Of Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
Camden Schools Superintendent Calls On Board President To Quit In Wake Of Sexual Abuse Lawsuit The state-appointed superintendent for the Camden City School District is calling for the resignation of the advisory school board president amid sexual abuse allegations. Camden Superintendent Katrina T. McCombs, in a letter to the community, wrote: "In order to allow our community to heal and refocus on what truly matters—the education and future of our students— it would be in the best interest of the state-operated district of Camden City for Advisory Board President Wasim Muhammad to voluntarily relinquish his seat." "We are at the beginning of a new school year—a time that s…
Two West Nile Virus-Related Deaths Among Six New Cases Reported In New Jersey Two West Nile Virus-Related Deaths Among Six New Cases Reported In New Jersey
Two West Nile Virus-Related Deaths Among Six New Cases Reported In New Jersey New Jersey health officials are reporting an additional six cases of West Nile Virus including two deaths, and two presumptive viremic blood donor (PVD) cases in the state.  The six new WNV cases are residents of Bergen, Camden, Cumberland, Hudson, Mercer, and Middlesex counties (one 50+, two 60+, one 70+, two 80+). The two individuals who died were older adults from Cumberland and Mercer counties, the DOH said. Two human cases of WNV were reported earlier this year in Middlesex and Union counties. Seven out of the eight cases were hospitalized with neuroinvasive disease, includi…
Mold, Mildew, Insects Found At Boar’s Head Plant Tied To Deadly Listeria Outbreak, Report Says Mold, Mildew, Insects Found At Boar’s Head Plant Tied To Deadly Listeria Outbreak, Report Says
Mold, Mildew, Insects Found At Boar’s Head Plant Tied To Deadly Listeria Outbreak, Report Says Inspectors at the Boar's Head plant tied to a deadly Listeria outbreak discovered mold, mildew and insects among dozens of violations, according to a report by CBS News. Dozens of violations at the plant in Jarratt, Virginia, were outlined in records released by the US Department of Agriculture, the report said. After an initial recall of around 200,000 pounds of deli meat due to possible Listeria contamination, the company expanded it to approximately seven million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products on Tuesday, July 30. Boar's Head's recall includes 71 p…
Moldy Classrooms Shut Down Elementary School In Central Jersey Temporarily Moldy Classrooms Shut Down Elementary School In Central Jersey Temporarily
Moldy Classrooms Shut Down Elementary School In Central Jersey Temporarily An elementary school in Freehold will have to start classes for the year in different buildings after mold was found in some classrooms, officials said. Students at Laura Donovan Elementary School will be relocated to other district schools when classes begin on Thursday, Sept. 5. Freehold Township superintendent Neal Dickstein sent a letter to families about the start-of-school plans on Wednesday, Aug. 28. Crews have been working "seven days per week" to remove the mold but the cleanup process has taken longer than expected. "Engineers are on-site to help determine the caus…
NJ Reports Three West Nile Virus Cases NJ Reports Three West Nile Virus Cases
NJ Reports Three West Nile Virus Cases The New Jersey Department of Health has confirmed the state’s first human cases of the West Nile Virus, much earlier than in prior seasons. Two residents, one more than 70 years old and the other under 18, tested positive for the illness transmitted by mosquitoes after reporting symptoms in the first week of July, the state's health department said. The individuals, from Union and Middlesex counties, were hospitalized and have since been discharged. A third case of an asymptomatic WNV-positive blood donor was later reported, the DOH said. They were identified as a Somerset County resid…
NY County Criminalizes Mask Wearing Amid Bump In COVID-19 Cases NY County Criminalizes Mask Wearing Amid Bump In COVID-19 Cases
NY County Criminalizes Mask Wearing Amid Bump In Covid-19 Cases Lawmakers in a New York county approved a controversial bill criminalizing mask wearing amid a summer bump in COVID-19 cases. On Long Island, the Republican-controlled Nassau County Legislature passed the “Mask Transparency Act” by a vote of 12-0 on Monday night, Aug. 5. All seven Democrats abstained from voting. The bill makes it a misdemeanor for anyone 16 and older to wear a face mask in public spaces in the county. It also gives private businesses the right to prohibit masks on their premises. It grants exceptions for health or religious reasons, though that distinction will be determ…
Boar's Head Expands Deli Meat Recall To Include 7 Million Extra Pounds Boar's Head Expands Deli Meat Recall To Include 7 Million Extra Pounds
Boar's Head Expands Deli Meat Recall To Include 7 Million Extra Pounds Boar's Head has expanded a recall of deli meat products due to possible Listeria contamination. Click here for a new, updated story: Boar's Head Facing Lawsuit Over Deli Meat Recall  The company said on Tuesday, July 30, that it is now recalling approximately seven million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products.  This expansion includes 71 products produced between Friday, May 10, and Monday, July 29, 2024, under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said. They have “s…
Insects, Human Hair Found In NJ Cannabis Products Recalled By State Board Insects, Human Hair Found In NJ Cannabis Products Recalled By State Board
Insects, Human Hair Found In NJ Cannabis Products Recalled By State Board Cannabis products from a New Jersey cultivator are being recalled after lab testing found insects and human hair in a dozen samples, state officials said. The discoveries of wholesale flower sold by Green Medicine NJ, which was resold under the trade name "Green Joy" were made earlier this month following a complaint lodged with the New Jersey Cannabis Regulation Commission (NJCRC), the board said in a letter dated Monday, July 29. "In a lab test of 15 samples of the cannabis from a single dispensary, 12 flower packages were found to contain insects and one package contained what appea…
FDA Recalls Ground Cinnamon Over Lead Contamination FDA Recalls Ground Cinnamon Over Lead Contamination
FDA Recalls Ground Cinnamon Over Lead Contamination The FDA is recalling two brands of ground Cinnamon shipped out to several states due to elevated levels of lead. Both Advance Food International, Inc. of Maspeth, NY, and American Spices, LLC. of Ozone Park, NY, recalled the products Shahzada's Cinnamon powder was distributed to retailers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts between Jan. 1 and May 24. AFI's powder was distributed across the NYC area between Dec. 1, 2023 and May 15. ALB-USA Enterprises Recalls ALB Flavor Ground Cinnamon Because of Possible Health Risk https://t.co/FkvWx4vA9R pic.twitter.com/pG…
State Proposes Suspension Of Trenton Liquor Licenses Owned By Sex Assault Suspect: AG State Proposes Suspension Of Trenton Liquor Licenses Owned By Sex Assault Suspect: AG
State Proposes Suspension Of Trenton Liquor Licenses Owned By Sex Assault Suspect: AG The New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has proposed suspending four Trenton liquor licenses because the establishments' owner has been charged with sex assault crimes. Gerald Araya of Ewing was arrested last month and charged with, among other things, kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault, according to Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “We have an obligation to ensure that licensed establishments are not used in the furtherance of crime, and to protect against activity in the alcoholic beverage industry that jeopardizes the public health, safety, or welfare,”…
Rabid Raccoon Fought With Dogs In South Brunswick: Police Rabid Raccoon Fought With Dogs In South Brunswick: Police
Rabid Raccoon Fought With Dogs In South Brunswick: Police A raccoon has tested positive for rabies after an altercation with dogs in South Brunswick, authorities said. The fight between a resident's dogs and a raccoon occurred on Deans Lane on Saturday, July 20, according to South Brunswick police. The raccoon was retrieved by animal control and sent for testing.  On Wednesday, July 24, the township's Health Department was notified that the raccoon tested positive for rabies, police said. Police did not say whether the dogs became infected or had to be treated. Anyone who feels they or their animals has had an incident involving a wild ani…
West Nile, EEE Detected In Eight Mosquito Groups In South Jersey West Nile, EEE Detected In Eight Mosquito Groups In South Jersey
West Nile, EEE Detected In Eight Mosquito Groups In South Jersey Cape May County leaders are issuing a warning after eight mosquito groups tested positive for West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis. Seven mosquito collections tested positive for West Nile and EEE was detected in another during June and July, the Cape May County Department of Health said in a news release on Monday, July 22. No human cases of either virus have been reported. The West Nile-positive mosquitoes were found in Cape May, Lower Township, Upper Township, and Woodbine. The mosquitoes with EEE were discovered in Lower. The county's mosquito control departme…
2 Dead, 28 Sickened In Multistate Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak, CDC Says 2 Dead, 28 Sickened In Multistate Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak, CDC Says
2 Dead, 28 Sickened In Multistate Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak, CDC Says Two people died, and dozens of others sickened in a Listeria outbreak tied to deli meats in several states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty-eight people across 12 states had been sickened between late May and mid-July, the CDC says. The deaths occurred in New Jersey and Illinois, health officials said. All 28 individuals had been hospitalized as of Friday, July 19. According to the CDC map, seven illnesses were reported in New York; six in Maryland; two in New Jersey; two in Virginia; two in Massachusetts; and one in Pennsylvania. Click here for the…
$8.5M Project Will Upgrade Water Infrastructure In Central Jersey Borough $8.5M Project Will Upgrade Water Infrastructure In Central Jersey Borough
$8.5M Project Will Upgrade Water Infrastructure In Central Jersey Borough A Monmouth County borough will get $8.5 million in upgrades to its water systems, officials said. New Jersey American Water will replace about 4,900 feet of water main in Tinton Falls, the company said in a news release on Tuesday, July 9. The project will upgrade the 30-inch transmission main installed as old as the 1970s with a new 30-inch ductile iron main. The replacements will happen along these routes: Wayside Road from Drift to Shafto roads Shafto Road from Wayside to Hope roads Hope Road from Shafto Road to Alpine Trail NJ American Water will also install abou…
Popular Ice Cream Products Recalled Over Listeria Concerns, FDA Says Popular Ice Cream Products Recalled Over Listeria Concerns, FDA Says
Popular Ice Cream Products Recalled Over Listeria Concerns, FDA Says Approximately 70 ice cream products sold by multiple brands including Friendly's and Hershey's are being recalled due to a possible presence of listeria, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said. The brands were recalled this week by Totally Cool, Inc. based in Owings Mills, MD, which has stopped the production and distribution of the affected products due to FDA sampling. Some of the most popular items recalled include: Friendly's 60 fl oz Celebration Ice Cream Cake 40 fl oz Strawberry Krunch Ice Cream Cake; Hershey's 38 fl oz vanilla and chocolat…
Dollar Tree Sold Lead-Infused Applesauce Pouches For Weeks After Recall, FDA Says Dollar Tree Sold Lead-Infused Applesauce Pouches For Weeks After Recall, FDA Says
Dollar Tree Sold Lead-Infused Applesauce Pouches For Weeks After Recall, FDA Says Despite a recall notice and multiple warnings from the Food and Drug Administration, Dollar Tree continued to sell applesauce pouches containing lead for weeks, federal officials say. The popular retail chain was issued a letter from the FDA this month regarding the WanaBana fruit puree pouches, distributed by Negasmart. "As described below, laboratory analysis of multiple lots of WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches, including finished product samples collected from Dollar Tree stores, detected extremely high concentrations of lead," the letter reads.  "... you conti…
Measles Exposure Possible At This New Jersey Hospital, Health Department Warns Measles Exposure Possible At This New Jersey Hospital, Health Department Warns
Measles Exposure Possible At This New Jersey Hospital, Health Department Warns The New Jersey Health Department is warning residents of a potential measles exposure at a Central Jersey hospital. The department said anyone who visited the emergency room at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center in Plainsboro between noon and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 1 may have been exposed to the virus. The confirmed case was Somerset County resident who developed measles following travel from a country that is currently experiencing an ongoing outbreak of measles. Measles symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a rash that usually appears between thr…
Cucumbers Shipped To 14 States Recalled Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination Cucumbers Shipped To 14 States Recalled Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination
Cucumbers Shipped To 14 States Recalled Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination A Florida-based company is recalling whole cucumbers that were shipped to 14 states, but may be contaminated with Salmonella, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced. According to the FDA, the cucumbers subject to recall are dark green, between 1.5 inches and two inches thick and between five to nine inches long. Officials made note that mini cucumbers and English cucumbers are not included in the recall. FDA The recalled cucumbers were shipped in bulk cartons between Friday, May 17 and Tuesday, May 21 to retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributor…
Botched Botox Causes Illness For 19 People In 9 States Including New Jersey, New York: CDC Botched Botox Causes Illness For 19 People In 9 States Including New Jersey, New York: CDC
Botched Botox Causes Illness For 19 People In 9 States Including New Jersey, New York: CDC Nineteen people in nine states, including New Jersey and New York, reported illness after injections from a "counterfeit or mishandled" injection of botulinum toxin, commonly known as Botox, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports. As of April 15, a total of 19 people from 9 states reported harmful reactions after receiving botulinum toxin injections from unlicensed or untrained individuals or in non-healthcare settings, such as homes and spas, the CDC said.  Counterfeit Botox packages. FDA States reporting these reactions include Colorado, Florida, Illinois, K…
Bacterial Infection With Unusual, Serious Symptoms Prompts CDC Warning Bacterial Infection With Unusual, Serious Symptoms Prompts CDC Warning
Bacterial Infection With Unusual, Serious Symptoms Prompts CDC Warning A bacterial infection is appearing nationally with unusual and serious symptoms according to federal authorities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just issued a Health Alert warning that the rare illness, caused by a strain of Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, has a higher fatality rate than normally seen with meningococcal infections. As of Monday, March 25, 143 cases have been reported to CDC for the current calendar year, an increase of 62 cases over the 81 reported as of this date in 2023.  Cases caused by this strain are disproportionately occurring i…
Deadly Cheeses Prompt Massive Recall Nationwide: CDC, FDA, USDA Deadly Cheeses Prompt Massive Recall Nationwide: CDC, FDA, USDA
Deadly Cheeses Prompt Massive Recall Nationwide: CDC, FDA, USDA Dairy products linked to deaths and serious illness — sold nationwide at many major retailers — are being recalled, the Center for Disease Control, the US Department of Agriculture, and the Food And Drug Administration announced in multiple releases over the first week of February.  Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc. is recalling over 50 products after 26 illnesses, 23 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths, according to the CDC.  The California-based company issued the recall following the report of Listeria monocytogenes contamination causing illnesses in 11 states. Listeria monocytogene…
Supplements Sold Nationwide Being Recalled Due To Presence Of 'Gas Station Heroin' In Products Supplements Sold Nationwide Being Recalled Due To Presence Of 'Gas Station Heroin' In Products
Supplements Sold Nationwide Being Recalled Due To Presence Of 'Gas Station Heroin' In Products Federal Health officials are cautioning consumers to avoid certain products that may contain an ingredient known as "gas station heroin."  Neptune Resources LLC announced a voluntary recall of all lots of "Neptune's Fix Elixir," "Neptune's Fix Extra Strength Elixir," and Neptune's Fix Tablets due to the possible presence of tianeptine, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced. Tianeptine, which has been called "gas station heroin" by some, is not FDA-approved for any medical use, and its presence in the products prompted the nationwide recall. "The presence of tianepti…
Judge Orders South Jersey School Janitor Detained In Food Contamination Case Judge Orders South Jersey School Janitor Detained In Food Contamination Case
Judge Orders South Jersey School Janitor Detained In Food Contamination Case A South Jersey judge has ordered that an elementary school janitor accused of contaminating food with his own bodily fluids at his place of employment be detained in the Cumberland County Jail. Judge Cristen P. D’Arrigo said that Giovanni Impellizzeri, 25, of Vineland, remains a substantial risk to the public during a hearing on Thursday, Nov. 9. Impellizzeri, was charged with aggravated assault, tampering with food and official misconduct for the heinous incidents at the Elizabeth Moore School in the Upper Deerfield School District, where he has worked since 2019, as previously report…
South Jersey School Janitor Contaminated Food, Utensils With Bleach, Bodily Fluids: Prosecutor South Jersey School Janitor Contaminated Food, Utensils With Bleach, Bodily Fluids: Prosecutor
South Jersey School Janitor Contaminated Food, Utensils With Bleach, Bodily Fluids: Prosecutor An elementary school janitor in South Jersey faces multiple charges, including child endangerment, for allegedly contaminating food and utensils with bleach and bodily fluids. UPDATE: Police Papers Detail Heinous Accusations Against NJ School Janitor, Parents Livid Giovanni Impellizzeri, 25, of Vineland, also is charged with aggravated assault, tampering with food and official misconduct. Impellizzeri was employed by the Elizabeth Moore School in the Upper Deerfield School District. According to the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office, New Jersey State Police were contacted by scho…
High Fecal Bacteria Closes Ocean County Beach: DEP High Fecal Bacteria Closes Ocean County Beach: DEP
High Fecal Bacteria Closes Ocean County Beach: DEP Seaside Heights' bay beach was closed Wednesday, July 19 due to high fecal bacteria levels, authorities said. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection banned swimming at the beach off Hancock Avenue in Seaside Heights Borough after water samples showed high levels of colony forming units of enterococci. The DEP retested the water at the beach on Wednesday and results were expected to be released Thursday afternoon, July 20. Enterococci is a type of bacteria that indicates possible contamination in bathing water that can include human or animal waste. Swimming in or …
Air Quality Alert For South Jersey, Pennsylvania Fueled By Wildfire Air Quality Alert For South Jersey, Pennsylvania Fueled By Wildfire
Air Quality Alert For South Jersey, Pennsylvania Fueled By Wildfire A massive 5,000-acre wildfire raging across Burlington and Ocean counties has contributed to an air quality alert in South Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania, authorities said. Levels of fine particulates and ozone also will rise into the unhealthy zone for sensitive groups, according to the National Weather Service and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.  If you have been outside Thursday, June 1 in southeast New Jersey or southern Delaware, you may have noticed extra smoke and the smell of fire in the air.  While there is decreased air quality due to fires in Nova Scotia, C…
Kale, Spinach, Collard Green Products Produced In MD Subject To Listeria Recall Kale, Spinach, Collard Green Products Produced In MD Subject To Listeria Recall
Kale, Spinach, Collard Green Products Produced In MD Subject To Listeria Recall A Maryland-based company announced a recall of kale and other similar products that were shipped up and down parts of the East Coast and could be contaminated with Listeria. Lancaster Foods is voluntarily recalling three brands of Robinson Fresh, Lancaster, and Giant brand kale, spinach, and collard green products after a random sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes by the New York Agriculture and Markets Food Safety Division. Items subject to the recall were distributed to retailers and distributors in Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. …
Seven Legionnaire's Disease Cases Found In Mercer County Water System: Health Department Seven Legionnaire's Disease Cases Found In Mercer County Water System: Health Department
Seven Legionnaire's Disease Cases Found In Mercer County Water System: Health Department Legionnaires’ Disease has been detected in the Trenton Water Works water supply, state authorities said. Seven people contracted the disease and two people have died since October 2022 in Mercer County, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. The seven newest cases occurred in Trenton, Ewing Township, Lawrence Township, and Hamilton Township, the state said. People cannot get Legionnaires’ disease by drinking water that has Legionella, the state said. This has been an ongoing problem in Mercer County. Five cases and one death were reported in Hamilton Township from December 2021…
Here's Summary Of Kamala Harris' Speech At NJ Event Here's Summary Of Kamala Harris' Speech At NJ Event
Here's Summary Of Kamala Harris' Speech At NJ Event United State Vice President Kamala Harris visited New Jersey on Wednesday, March 15 as part of a fundraising event organized by the Democratic National Committee. The event was held at a private home on Howland Avenue in Paramus, where the VP touched on the country's mental health crisis, cleaning up lead pollution, and technology. A copy of her speech was published by the White House. Harris began by thanking those in attendance, mostly doctors and healthcare providers, for their role in bettering the condition of human life. Noting external factors that have taken a toll on the coll…
Salmonella Outbreak In Bearded Dragons Sickens PA, NJ Residents: Reports Salmonella Outbreak In Bearded Dragons Sickens PA, NJ Residents: Reports
Salmonella Outbreak In Bearded Dragons Sickens PA, NJ Residents: Reports An outbreak of salmonella linked to pet reptiles has reached Pennsylvania and New Jersey, health officials have announced.  Twenty-three residents of 15 states have fallen ill as a result, including two in Pennsylvania and one in New Jersey, according to CBS News.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that bearded dragons kept as pets can spread salmonella, as they carry the bacteria in their droppings. The germs can be found anywhere in a bearded dragon's immediate environment, even when it looks clean, the agency said.  Eight people have been hospitaliz…