Saturday, September 5, 2026
E. coli outbreak linked to frozen blueberries grows to 17 cases
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E. coli outbreak linked to frozen blueberries grows to 17 cases
A Chilean company expanded its recall to include a Walmart item.
Five more cases have been confirmed in an E. coli outbreak linked to frozen blueberries, bringing the total number of cases to 17, according to recently updated federal data.
Six people have been hospitalized so far, with two hospitalizations included in the most recent update. No deaths have been reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.
Cases have been reported in Georgia and Florida with illness start dates ranging from May 11 to Aug. 2, the federal health agencies said.
In July, the CDC and FDA announced they were investigating an outbreak linked to frozen blueberries from Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., of San Carlos, Chile.
On July 3, the company said it was recalling one lot of frozen GreenWise-brand organic blueberries in 10-ounces packages.
Later that month, Publix said it was proactively recalling all GreenWise Organic Frozen Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries due to potential E. coli contamination.
The recalled product was shipped to retail stores in eight states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
This week, the company expanded its July recall to include one lot of a mixed berry product sold at some Walmart locations.
The 10-ounce bag of Great Value-brand Frozen Organic Triple Berry Blend was sold at Walmart stores in 16 states with a printed lot code of 6040 01-6 and best-by date of Feb. 9, 2028.
Health officials are advising consumers not to eat the product and either throw it away or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
"FDA's investigation is ongoing, and this advisory will be updated with additional information as it becomes available," the agency wrote on its website.
E. coli are bacteria found in many places, including in the environment, foods, water and the intestines of people and animals, according to the CDC.
Most E. coli are harmless but some can make people sick, causing symptoms including diarrhea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia and sepsis.
E. coli O145:H28 is Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, which can lead to a serious condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome, in which damaged red blood cells block the filtering system in the kidneys and, in turn, can led to sudden kidney failure or death.
ABC News' Youri Benadjaoud contributed to this report.
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UN General Assembly endorses a new world map that shows more accurately Africa's size
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UN General Assembly endorses a new world map that shows more accurately Africa's size
The United Nations General Assembly has voted to endorse a new world map that shows Africa's large size more accurately
The United Nations General Assembly on Friday endorsed a new world map that represents Africa more accurately in its larger size, a culmination of a recent campaign led by African countries and advocacy groups.
Friday’s resolution, which was sponsored by Togo and backed by members of the African Union, was passed with 164 member states voting in favor. Only the U.S. voted against it while six other countries — Serbia, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine — abstained.
The vote encourages governments and institutions around the world to replace the traditional Mercator map, commonly used since the 16th Century, with the Equal Earth projection that advocates and geographers say shows locations more accurately.
The Mercator projection shows Greenland and Africa as appearing to be about the same size whereas in the Equal Earth projection that shows continents in their true proportions, Africa is 14 times larger than Greenland.
Friday’s resolution does not ban the Mercator projection or impose a replacement, but only encourages the use of the Equal Earth projection, the U.N. said in its report.
“Maps shape our understanding of the world,” the global body quoted Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey as saying before the vote. “They guide education, nourish the imagination, and influence collective perceptions.”
Africa No Filter, one of the lead campaigners for the adoption of the new map, hailed the resolution, adding: “We want to see accurate maps in schools, textbooks, newsrooms, businesses and on the digital platforms billions of people use every day.”
Several countries hailed the adoption and urged the adoption of the Equal Earth map. “Changing the map obviously doesn’t change the world. But correcting a representation that distorts it is already an act of truth,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on X after the vote.
The Mercator map was designed by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator to help European navigators at sea, but advocates say it distorted landmasses by enlarging regions near the poles such as North America and Greenland while shrinking Africa and South America.
The 2018 Equal Earth projection, on the other hand, follows the Earth’s curvature and shows continents in their true proportions.
Geographers say the traditional map is only useful for navigation.
“Outside of that very narrow navigation application, there is no point in using it,” according to Mark Monmonier, a Syracuse University professor of geography.
Nearly 2,000 people fall ill in suspected food poisoning in Indonesia
Nearly 2,000 people fall ill in suspected food poisoning in Indonesia
Nearly 2,000 people, most of them students, have fallen ill in suspected food poisoning outbreaks linked to Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals program between Sept. 1 and Sept. 3
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Nearly 2,000 people, most of them students, fell ill in suspected food poisoning outbreaks linked to President Prabowo Subianto ’s flagship Free Nutritious Meals program this week, raising fresh concerns about food safety as the government rapidly expands the multibillion-dollar initiative nationwide, officials said Saturday.
The incidents, reported between Tuesday and Thursday in East Java, Central Java, West Sumatra, Aceh and South Sulawesi, affected about 1,950 students, teachers and Islamic boarding school pupils who became sick after consuming meals distributed under the government program, known by its Indonesian acronym MBG.
The outbreaks are the latest setback for Prabowo’s signature free meals program, which has been rolled out across the archipelago despite repeated food poisoning incidents and corruption allegations.
The largest outbreak was reported in Central Java’s Rembang regency, where 752 students and 25 teachers at State Senior High School 1 Lasem, suffered diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain after eating meals provided through the program, according to Rembang Health Office head Ali Syofi'i.
In Sidoarjo, East Java, 730 people, most of them students at the Manbaul Hikam Islamic boarding school, were affected in another suspected food poisoning incident linked to the program. Sidoarjo health office chief Lakhsmie Herawati Yuwantina said 706 victims had been discharged and were recovering at home.
Authorities also reported 276 suspected cases involving students and teachers in Agam regency, West Sumatra, where food distribution from the local nutrition service center was suspended pending an investigation. In Aceh’s Bener Meriah regency, 15 elementary school students and a school principal were treated after experiencing dizziness, nausea and other symptoms following a school meal.
Another 152 students from two junior high schools in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, were treated at three hospitals after developing symptoms consistent with food poisoning. Regent Zadrak Tombeq ordered hospitals and health centers to prioritize treatment for the victims.
No deaths have been reported, and authorities are investigating the causes of the outbreaks.
The latest incidents add to a growing number of food poisoning cases linked to the program since its launch in January 2025. According to Health Ministry surveillance data as of Sept. 2, food poisoning incidents associated with MBG have affected 50,059 people in 560 cases across 245 districts and cities in 36 provinces.
In a hearing with the House's Commission IX overseeing health issues, National Nutrition Agency chief Sudaryono said internal reviews found that roughly 80% to 90% of previous food poisoning incidents were linked to failures to follow food safety procedures, including rules governing food storage, receipt of ingredients, temperature control and consumption deadlines.
“The recent incidents in Sidoarjo, Agam, Rembang and other areas have been a major blow for us,” said Sudaryono, who like many Indonesians uses a single name.
He said the agency was tightening oversight of meal providers and reviewing about 27,000 meal distribution centers nationwide. Inspectors have found hundreds of allegedly fictitious facilities, while at least 833 kitchens have been shut down for failing to meet hygiene and sanitation standards.
The free meals program aims to combat malnutrition and reduce childhood stunting by providing meals to nearly 90 million students, toddlers and pregnant women. The initiative, expected to cost about $28 billion through 2029, is a cornerstone of Prabowo’s administration and one of his key campaign promises.
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Flew to Portland, Oregon
My son is ill so I flew to Portland to see him. Also, my wife has had a knee revision within the last 2 weeks also. However, her friend who is a nurse has to fly back to the east coast about a week from now which means they offered me to go today or soon and come back later this week before she flies back to the east coast where she lives.
So, I got a friend of mine to drive me to the airport today so I could fly to Portland, Oregon to visit my son for a few days.
It was a beautiful Flight and I was tracking since I had a window seat on the right side of the plane I actually got pictures of Mt. Shasta which are really great.
Here are some pictures similar to what I got flying north today of Mt. Shasta. I felt very at peace and at home flying this near to Mt. Shasta. I didn't get to spend as much time there this summer as I wanted to but there is always the fall and winter coming up too and I love Mt. Shasta when it's snowing there.
But, 12 feet of snow is too much for me I found out in 1992. Luckily I had moved to the SF Bay area and we were visiting friends then and people's roofs were collapsing from that much snow and people were taking their snow blowers up onto their roofs there was so much snow and sometimes accidentally falling into 12 foot drifts. However, I don't think anyone died doing this except for heart attacks form shoveling snow which happens a lot across the country. This is why I think if you are over 40 or 50 years old you should think about buying a snow blower to save your life from a heart attack or stroke. (If you live where it snows a lot in Winter).
It's supposed to rain some tomorrow it looks like here in Portland.
Here are some pictures from Jet flights over Mt. Shasta from Google Images:
![Mt. Shasta, California from a plane. [OC][3302x4492] : r/EarthPorn](https://www.google.com/imgres?q=images%20of%20mt.%20Shasta%20from%20passenger%20jets&imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fhatdgfqpdlw21.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit.com%2Fr%2FEarthPorn%2Fcomments%2Fblc4zb%2Fmt_shasta_california_from_a_plane_oc3302x4492%2F&docid=mMmA8-3pHubqNM&tbnid=qHYAFOE172GnNM&vet=12ahUKEwje-omzi9mWAxVDIjQIHRdbHysQnPAOegQIfxAA..i&w=3302&h=4492&hcb=2&ved=2ahUKEwje-omzi9mWAxVDIjQIHRdbHysQnPAOegQIfxAA)
