bacteria Archives

Check your cupboard! This snack is an E. coli risk

If you enjoy the outdoors or an occasional hike, you will likely pack a few snacks for the trail. Tap or click here for five 5 health tests you can take online. There is nothing worse than trying to enjoy the peaceful nature with your stomach grumbling. But before you head out again, check your cupboard.

A protein bar from Built Brands is being voluntarily recalled as a routine inspection showed traces of the dangerous Escherichia coli bacteria. More commonly known as E. coli, some strains can have severe medical implications.

Read on for everything you need to know about the recall and what you can do about it.

Here’s the backstory

Utah-based Built Brands manufactures various protein bars sold around the country. It is common for food producers to routinely check that their products comply with all the necessary regulations.

It was through one such test that the E. coli bacteria was discovered, conducted by an accredited third-party laboratory at the request of Built Brands. As a result, the product facing the recall is:

Built Bar Banana Cream Pie Puffs protein bar

You can buy it in a 40-gram package marked with lot# D22151011 on the outside of the wrapper. A total of 4,196 individual bars make up the recall, while Built Brands sent 1,049 bars to customers through mail orders.

What you can do about it

According to the recall notice, nobody has reported any illnesses so far. However, the FDA urges people to check their cupboards for the bars and not consume them.

Next, contact the company at questions@built.com for a full refund or replacement. You can also call Built Brands at 801-845-2991 between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, MST.

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Check your fridge! Ground beef recalled over risk of E. coli

Products get recalled all the time, but it seems worse when it’s something that we eat. Especially if the recall was due to a rodent infestation. Tap or click here for details on this particularly gross recall.

There have been many food-related recalls lately. From potentially dangerous vegetables to a mysterious salmonella outbreak, thousands of people have fallen ill.

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The replacements

Some items need to be replaced more often than most of us actually do. I’ve got you covered! Even better, these household items are on sale now:

Replace your toothbrush every three months or after you’re sick. Bacteria sits in the bristles. Grab a four-pack for 13% off now.
Dishwashing sponges should be replaced every couple of weeks. Set yourself up for six months to a year with a 24-pack for under $10.
You’re supposed to replace your pillow every year or so. Get a four-pack of quality down-alternative pillows to update your household ($29.99, 32% off).
Spices lose their flavor fast, but whole spices can last for three to four years. Now you just need a spice grinder. This Ninja model is 28% off.
At least once a year, replace your shower curtain liner to keep mold and mildew at bay. This bestselling liner is 29% off now and $11.99.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

💧 The FDA is recalling 150,000 bottles of water: Berkeley Springs Water Purified and Berkeley Springs Water Distilled in 1- and 5-gallon formats may be contaminated with bacteria. Check for codes 090326, 090426, 090526 and 090626 on the side of the bottle. If yours is a match, throw it out.

Check your bathroom! Jergens lotion recalled over harmful bacteria

During winter, especially when using a lot of hand sanitizer, it is essential to keep your hands moisturized. Your skin can dry out and form tiny cracks if you don’t. The alcohol content of hand sanitizer can also cause uncomfortable dryness.

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Check your cupboard! This snack from Costco could make you sick

Over the last few weeks, several recalls have involved food products. Recently, the discovery of a massive rodent infestation at a Family Dollar Stores warehouse sparked a recall of several products.

A few days earlier, a recall included baby formula due to dangerous bacteria, and several frozen products and ice cream suffered the same fate for potentially harboring deadly listeria. The bacteria has been found in many products since 2020.

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🍗 Costco’s rotisserie chicken is making people sick: The new plastic bag might be breeding bacteria. It’s more likely the chicken is being left at room temperature for too long. Pro tip: As soon as you get home, pop the chicken in an airtight container and refrigerate it.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

“The Magic School Bus” IRL: Scientists are testing new tech that could stop a brain aneurysm before it happens. The method? Nanorobots smaller than most bacteria. They have a magnetic core that doctors can move to where they’re needed to deposit a clotting agent. That, in turn, prevents the stroke that comes after a brain aneurysm. Amazing.

💊 CVS recall: Over the past decade, CVS has pulled 133 over-the-counter meds of its own in-store brand off the shelves. From bacteria infestations to moldy factory vents and even incorrect dosing, the recall reasons vary. The top offenders are eye drops, cough medicines and constipation treatments. Check your house for any.

Recall alert! Packaged salads linked to deaths and illness across the US

Listeria is a type of bacteria that can cause high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. It can also be fatal in children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

That’s why it’s so important to take notice when food products are recalled over listeria risks. Earlier in December, pork products sold across the country were recalled due to possible contamination.

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Home spray sold at Walmart recalled after reports of deaths, illness

The sense of smell can trigger memories, emotions or creativity. That is because it is linked to the same part of the brain as memory.

So, it stands to reason that most people enjoy a sweet or welcoming smell in their homes. There are several methods for this, like burning incense, air fresheners, or aromatherapy room sprays. Tap or click here for 10 handy products to freshen up your home and make gross household chores easier.

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This bottle sterilizes and purifies your water - and keeps it cold all day long

If you love the great outdoors, you probably know how hard it is to find clean water. You’ve got to head to a nearby creek or river and start the arduous process of purification.

Or you can buy a high-tech, self-cleaning bottle and get clean hydration immediately.

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Maintenance tip: 4 steps to clean your keyboard and mouse

If you haven’t taken a close look at your keyboard and mouse lately, you probably should. These two main components of your computer get grimy pretty quickly. This comes as no surprise since they are continually used and touched by human hands each day.

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How to enter your home safely after being out in this pandemic

Fear over coronavirus and COVID-19 has forced Americans to completely rethink hygiene. According to a 2018 report from the CDC, only 60% of Americans washed their hands frequently before the crisis. We’re willing to bet that percentage is much higher now.

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Use this anti-microbial screen protector to keep your iPhone germ-free

Let’s be honest: Cell phones are filthy. Right now, you’re probably more aware than ever of how many germs may be hiding in plain sight.

We’re in the middle of a pandemic, so it’s important to be more germ and microbe conscious. That means wiping things down and sanitizing everything you touch. Tap or click here for the CDC list of disinfectants that can kill coronavirus germs.

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