It's Monday, October 20, 2025. Today’s newsletter delivers urgent food safety updates, from the controversial reopening of Chi-Chi’s to new concerns over bird flu’s 48% human fatality rate.
By Bill Marler
Chi-Chi’s, the once-iconic Mexican restaurant chain shuttered after a deadly 2003 Hepatitis A outbreak, is making a comeback with a new location and refreshed menu.
But for survivors like Richard Miller, whose life was forever changed by the outbreak traced to contaminated green onions, the relaunch stirs painful memories of tragedy and accountability.
The Pan American Health Organization is reporting another human death from the bird flu.
As of August, there have been 76 human cases and two deaths in five countries in the Americas, according to the organization. There have been 990 patients and 475 deaths across 25 countries, for a fatality rate of 48 percent.
The European Commission has received almost 6,500 comments on plans to simplify food and feed safety legislation.
OPINION — by Bill Marler
“In what has become a far too common and troubling occurrence, another whole genome sequenced (WGS) patient — one of the 61 confirmed sick in June 2024 — has come forward long after the outbreak was deemed over and without the benefit of being told by health authorities that he in fact was a victim linked to the outbreak.”
More than two dozen people in Canada have been confirmed as outbreak patients in relation to dog treats. Of the 31 laboratory confirmed patients, seven have required hospitalization according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
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