Peanut Butter Recall Hits Other Makers’ Products Across States, Borders
The footprint of the Jif peanut butter recall, according to a report at NPR, is extending into other companies' products. The initial salmonella outbreak at the J.M. Smucker Co. Kentucky plant means products are even being affected as far away as Japan.
NPR:
Jif Peanut Butter Recall: Other Companies' Products Contaminated By A Bad Batch
The Jif peanut butter recall has rapidly expanded in the past week and it now affects at least 69 other products. The cascading effect is due to the many companies who use the peanut butter in their own chocolates, peanut butter sandwiches and more. J.M. Smucker Co., Jif's parent company, issued the initial voluntary recall last week, after the Food and Drug Administration traced a salmonella outbreak to a manufacturing facility in Lexington, Ky. Almost every day since, other companies have issued their own recall notices, after confirming that their products also were affected. They range from fruit or veggie snack packs that include individually wrapped Jif cups to confections made with Jif peanut butter, including fudge and store-brand pies. (Chappell, 5/26)
In other health news from Wisconsin, Texas, and Virginia —
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
High PFAS Levels Force Marshfield To Shut Down Four City Wells
Marshfield is the latest city to find elevated levels of "forever chemicals" in its water supply. The city found levels of PFAS above the state's current recommended health standard of 20 parts per trillion in one entry point to its water system, according to a news release from the city Thursday. The system consists of three entry points fed by 15 wells throughout the area. The city shut down the entry point upon learning its results on Tuesday, the release said, as well as the four wells that contribute to it. Residents in the meantime can continue to use their water as normal, as all of the other wells are below the recommended health guidance of 20 parts per trillion. (Schulte, 5/26)
Dallas Morning News:
Survey Finds Many Dallas Firefighters Struggle With Mental Health
Most Dallas firefighters don’t trust their top leaders, around a quarter of almost 900 workers say they’ve experienced symptoms of depression, and nearly 1 in 10 say they’ve thought of harming themselves, according to the results of an internal city survey released Thursday. The survey accessing the mental health of Dallas Fire-Rescue workers also found that 37% of respondents reported drinking more alcohol since starting their job, 34% say they have increased anxiety, and most are aware of several programs offered through the city to decrease stress, but 83% say they don’t use any of them. (Bailey Jr., 5/26)
AP:
Carnival: Paint Project Affected Some Cruise Passengers
A painting project is to blame for an odor that affected some cruise ship passengers in Virginia and prompted the U.S. Coast Guard to send a crew to investigate Thursday, Carnival Cruise Line said. The Coast Guard first received reports on Wednesday of an odor and people feeling ill on the Carnival Magic ship, Petty Officer Stephen Lehmann said. He said a crew went to the vessel on Thursday morning but no one needed to be evacuated for medical treatment. The vessel is docked in Norfolk. (5/26)
In LGBTQ+ news —
Oklahoman:
Oklahoma Bathroom Bill Signed Into Law, Effective Immediately
An Oklahoma bill limiting access to public-school bathrooms by a person's birth sex is now law. School districts and charter schools that don't comply face a 5% deduction in their state funding. That could subtract thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the school system. Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 615 into law Wednesday. An emergency provision in the bill caused it to take effect as soon as the governor wrote his signature. (Martinez-Keel, 5/25)
Billings Gazette:
Democrats Say Emergency Birth Certificate Rule Is Unlawful
Calling it unlawful, the Democratic lawmakers on an interim health and human services legislative committee are asking the state health department to rescind an emergency rule it recently issued that stops transgender Montanans from being able to update gender markers on their birth certificates. The state health department issued the emergency rule earlier this week. It blocks people from changing their birth certificates in all cases except if there was a data entry error. In 2021 state lawmakers passed a law requiring a person to have gender-affirming surgery and petition a court to update their birth certificate, but a Billings judge temporarily blocked that law earlier this year. (Bichels, 5/26)
