Latest news with #Hamburgini
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Recalled Mayonnaise That Tragically Led To One Death
We've covered some of the deadliest food recalls in U.S. history, including the 2024 Boar's Head listeria outbreak that led to the deaths of 10 people. While not quite as lethal, a botulism outbreak involving mayonnaise in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, resulted in the death of one person among 75 who fell ill after eating the contaminated condiment. The May 2024 incident occurred at Riyadh's Hamburgini restaurant, and the outbreak was attributed to a brand of mayonnaise called Bon Tum. As a result of an investigation conducted by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Hamburgini was shut down, the manufacturer of the condiment was ordered to cease production, and the product was removed from all establishments and discarded. While the manufacturer of Bon Tum mayonnaise was ultimately found responsible for the outbreak, and unscrupulous food inspectors allegedly attempted to conceal and destroy evidence, questions remain as to whether food safety practices at Hamburgini contributed to the tragic event since only those who dined at the restaurant fell ill. On Reddit, a commenter wondered whether high temperatures and improper storage of the mayo were factors in the botulism infections that occurred, stating, "The main concern wasn't the type of or cost cutting of the mayonnaise but that it was a large tub probably being used over a number of days, this is basic mishandling of mayonnaise in the warm weather." Read more: We Tried 19 Sauces From Hot Ones, Here's How They Rank Botulism results from ingesting a certain strain of bacteria that produces a dangerous toxin that can cause significant nerve damage. Early treatment with an antitoxin can prevent lasting damage, but medical attention must be sought immediately to avoid serious and potentially life-threatening effects. In the case of the Hamburgini outbreak, authorities were mulling fines against the restaurant for its part in the incident, but it's not clear what sort of legal actions took place, if any. While Hamburgini shut down temporarily, it has since re-opened. The establishment currently has a good rating on Tripadvisor, though recent reviews aren't exactly glowing. (One person complains that their food was cold, while another states, "Very bad burger ... If there was -5 stars I would've given that.") As for Bon Tum, there's no information online regarding the mayonnaise, which could mean that the product has been permanently discontinued in the aftermath of the outbreak. While avoiding green potatoes and recognizing restaurant red flags can reduce your risk of foodborne illness, the Hamburgini outbreak shows that consumers can only do so much to protect themselves from harm. Read the original article on Mashed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The Major Mayonnaise Recall That Landed Consumers In The ICU
In May 2024, dozens of Saudi Arabian citizens were falling ill, many of whom were hospitalized. Health authorities quickly homed in on the source of the illness, a single location of the popular local burger chain Hamburgini, where it was discovered that the mayonnaise had been contaminated with Clostridium botulinum bacteria, the bacteria responsible for botulism. A full 75 people were hospitalized in the city of Riyadh, with one unfortunate victim actually dying from the incident. Health officials were quick to step in and shut down the production plant responsible for the outbreak. It wasn't long before legal action came to hold the relevant parties responsible, but as the investigation continued it became increasingly apparent that some public officials were attempting to cover their tracks. It's not entirely clear how much of a role this played in the outbreak, if any at all, but an attempted coverup isn't a great look when the public is demanding answers. The Saudi Arabian government issued a recall for the mayonnaise, instructing consumers to destroy the specific brand regardless of batch number or expiration date — about as sweeping of a recall as you can imagine. The first major food recall in the United States was also due to concerns of botulism, one of the most dangerous forms of food poisoning out there. Botulism is also why it's so dangerous to eat bulging canned foods — a telltale sign of the bacteria. Read more: Canned Foods You Should Avoid At All Costs In the world of modern food, potential health risks like this seem to be commonplace, which is why government regulation is so important to our health and safety. When picking up condiments from the grocery store or purchasing a hamburger from a local restaurant, no one expects the food to contain potentially lethal neurotoxins. And, for the most part, they don't, thanks to careful regulation. But when food safety issues do present themselves, modern societies have protocols in place to quickly contain any potential outbreak. Sure, it's not a good look when millions are affected by condiment recalls, but the alternative is objectively worse. Without food recalls, those unintentionally harmful products would be free to roam the market unrestrained. If that were the case here, who knows how many more might have been affected or killed? It isn't just Saudi Arabia, either. Food recalls were on the rise in 2024, at least in the United States. Although we all would prefer our food to be safe 100% of the time, we can rest a little easier knowing there are systems in place to protect us when things don't go according to plan. For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout.
