FDA Urges Sanitation, Supplier Checks to Curb Fresh-Cut Produce Contamination

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday finalized guidance for preparation and packaging of fresh-cut produce, recommending measures such as sanitation control, supplier verification and refrigeration to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. The guidance for ready-to-eat produce comes …

Americans Just Endured the Hottest Month in 132 Years

The US just sweltered through the warmest month ever recorded. The average temperature for the US mainland reached 76.9F (24.9C) in July, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said on Monday. The US government has been tracking temperatures for 132 …

Rhine River Shipping Stalls as Water Level Hits Record Low

Water levels on the Rhine river are dwindling further, with no relief in sight, forcing companies that rely on the waterway to adjust rapidly to keep goods flowing.Levels at Kaub, Germany — the Rhine’s shallowest point — have fallen to …

Delta Probing Unauthorized Wi-Fi on Flight After Hacker Event

Delta Air Lines Inc. is investigating an unauthorized Wi-Fi network on a Monday flight out of Las Vegas, where a major cybersecurity conference was held over the weekend. The US airline is working with federal law enforcement officials and aviation …

German Drivers Accelerate Switch to EVs Due to Middle East War

More German drivers than ever are switching to electric vehicles due to the jump in fuel prices triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran. A record 12% replaced their combustion-engine car with an EV in the second quarter, according to …

Massachusetts High Court Says Mag Mutual Must Defend Doctor Accused of Stalking

A Massachusetts plastic surgeon was suspended by the state Board of Medicine in 2020 for allegedly stalking and harassing a former patient—a patient who happened to be a former girlfriend. A complaint filed with the Board by the woman’s husband …

Inszone Insurance Acquires Two Fong’s in California

Inszone Insurance Services acquired Two Fong’s Inc in California. Founded in 1982 and acquired by its current leadership, Al and Pete Fong, in 2000, Two Fong’s has maintained a presence across the Bay Area, specializing in commercial property and lessor’s …

Edison Judge Balks at Holding Utility Liable for LA Wildfire

Insurance companies lost a bid to hold Edison International’s Southern California utility liable for a massive Los Angeles-area wildfire without a trial. Superior Court Judge Laura Seigle on Tuesday tentatively denied a request to put Southern California Edison on the …

Florida’s Mangrove Insurance Launches Sidecar Reinsurance Vehicle

St. Petersburg-based Mangrove Property Insurance, launched two years ago, has created its own reinsurance sidecar, the company announced. Grove Re Ltd., domiciled in Bermuda, will be a Class 3A insurer, designed to support Mangrove’s risk management and underwriting. Mangrove CEO …

Officials Urge Gulf Coast Beachgoers to Beware of Deadly Bacterial Infections

Health officials in Louisiana are urging beachgoers to take precautions during a summertime surge in infections from a flesh-eating bacteria found in coastal waters. Louisiana has confirmed nine cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections this year, the state’s health department said …

Delta-8 Among Products Banned as Texas THC Suit Continues

A federal judge denied an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order sought by hemp businesses and consumers, allowing the Texas ban on THC products to continue until the case is resolved. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown of Galveston declined …

Marsh McLennan Agency Acquires Iowa’s Accel Holdings

Marsh McLennan Agency announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Accel Holdings, Inc., a leading diversified independent insurance and advisory firm headquartered in Waverly, Iowa. Terms of the acquisition, which is expected to close in the third quarter, …

Severe Thunderstorms Across US Midwest Trigger Flood Warnings

The US Midwest and Ohio Valley, including Chicago and Cincinnati, face an enhanced, or level 3, risk of severe thunderstorms. That’s triggered numerous flood warnings and watches from Indiana into western Pennsylvania and Virginia, the National Weather Service said. As …

Taylor Farms, Taco Bell Face Multiple Lawsuits Over Cyclospora Outbreak

Multiple proposed class-action lawsuits have been filed over the nationwide cyclospora outbreak, blaming Taco Bell and Taylor Farms for selling contaminated lettuce that has sickened thousands and led to two deaths. At least two of the lawsuits are in federal …

People Moves: Younts Named Chair of NC Industrial Commission

The North Carolina General Assembly last month confirmed workers’ compensation attorney and former Deputy Commissioner Tyler Younts to a six-year term on the state Industrial Commission. A few days later, the state’s commissioner of labor, Luke Farley, designated Younts to …

Renewal Changes for Most Commercial Lines Decrease in July and Q2, Says Ivans

Year over year, average U.S. commercial premium renewals for July increased in all lines except workers’ compensation, according to the Ivans Index. However, month over month, commercial auto, business owners policy, general liability, commercial property and umbrella saw a decrease, …

Kellington Returns to ACORD to Take CEO Role

John Kellington, most recently executive vice president and chief information officer at Cincinnati Insurance for more than 16 years, has been appointed chief executive officer of ACORD. Kellington is no stranger to the standards-setting body for the insurance industry. He …

People Moves: O’Connor Promoted to NA Head of Pro Liability, Cyber at AIG; Canopius Appoints Kuchinski US CUO

American International Group (AIG) said it has promoted Christopher O’Connor to the role of head of professional liability and cyber, North America. O’Connor has been with AIG for more than 15 years. He was most recently North America head of …

Four Crew Killed in Red Sea Attack While Missile Strike Reported in Gulf

Four crew members were killed in an attack by Iran-backed Houthis on a small cargo ship in the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Tuesday, Yemen’s transport ministry said, while sources reported a missile attack on a container ship off Pakistan in …

Typhoon Season Forecast to Be Among Most Intense Ever for Asia

The current typhoon season in the Northwest Pacific Ocean is shaping up to be one of the most intense on record as the El Niño system strengthens, according to the latest projection by commercial forecaster Tropical Storm Risk. Typhoon development …

‘Chronic’ Heat Risk in Europe Draws Warning From Swiss Re

As Europe comes to grips with its fifth heat wave of the year, the research arm of Swiss Re AG is warning of far-reaching consequences. “Record heat underscores Europe’s chronic heat risk,” the authors of the Swiss Re Institute report …

Oman Says Spill From Grounded Shadow Oil Tanker Covers 400 Square Kilometers

Leaking crude oil from a tanker grounded off a nature reserve in Oman has created a slick covering almost 400 square kilometers, the country’s government said on Monday. The Caroline Bezengi is loaded with close to one million barrels of …

E-Scooter Use Surging in Germany Thanks to Private Demand, Rather Than Rental Fleets

Growth in e-scooter use in Germany is powering ahead thanks to private demand rather than the rental fleets that first drove their popularity, as operators like Lime and Bolt grapple with increasingly unfavorable business conditions. Last year, more than 80% …

US FDA Moves to Increase Oversight of Food Additives

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday took steps to increase oversight of food additives as part of the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. …

Appeals Court: Social Media Companies Must Face Thousands of Addiction Lawsuits

A U.S. appeals court on Monday allowed thousands of lawsuits to move forward against Meta Platforms, Alphabet’s Google, ByteDance’s TikTok, and other social media companies over claims they designed their products to be addictive to young users. The San Francisco-based …

Appeals Court Says Lobstermen’s Defamation Suit Raises First Amendment Questions

A federal appeals court signaled that it might not allow a lawsuit brought by fishing industry businesses and trade groups against a California aquarium to proceed because of the case’s potential impact on free speech. The New England-based plaintiffs sued …

Lawsuit Not Allowed for Heat-Stricken Worker Despite Previous Death, NC Court Says

One farm worker died from heat exposure in 2020, resulting in a fine and citation from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Two years later, the employer failed to follow its remedial safety guidelines for heat exposure, failed to …

Tour Boat Operator Charged in Fatal Capsizing in New York Harbor

A New Jersey man has been charged with negligently causing the death of a five-month-old infant and a 27-year-old woman, after the tour boat he was piloting capsized in New York Harbor on August 8. Federal officials allege that Manuel …

Montana Auditor Suspends Producer License of Bail Bondsman Accused of Exploitation

Montana State Auditor James Brown suspended the insurance producer license of a bail bondsman accused of exploiting people under his supervision, including trading services for sex and allegedly taking possession of vehicle titles without proper documentation, authorization or timely return …

Delaware Judge Orders Verisk to Proceed With $2.35 Billion AccuLynx Deal

A Delaware judge ordered data analytics firm Verisk to try completing its planned $2.35 billion acquisition of roofing software maker AccuLynx, with the order coming more than seven months after Verisk said it pulled the plug on the deal. Here …