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• The city of Richmond has agreed to pay a $336,000 fine after releasing improperly treated sewage into the bay over a 17-month period, with pollutants including ammonia, coliform bacteria, and copper exceeding permitted limits. Half of the penalty will fund watershed education and trash cleanup at underserved Richmond schools. [East Bay Times]
• The Golden State Valkyries broke a four-game losing streak with a big 95-68 win over the Las Vegas Aces, setting a franchise record for most points in a game. Kayla Thornton led the way with 22 points and 11 rebounds, and three other Valkyries scored in double figures. [NBC Bay Area]
• The Madleen, a humanitarian aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other Freedom Flotilla Coalition activists, is within 100 nautical miles of Gaza. The group’s previous vessel, the Conscience, was attacked by Israeli drones last month. [Al Jazeera]

• A salmonella outbreak linked to California-based August Egg Company has sickened at least 79 people across nine states, prompting a recall of 1.7 million dozen organic and cage-free brown eggs sold under multiple brand names with plant codes P-6562 or CA5330. [NPR]
• Nordstrom is returning to SF but in a different capacity—an online order hub in Pacific Heights (on Fillmore near Pine), where customers can pick up orders, try on purchases, and make returns; plus additional services including tailoring and styling. [KGO]
• A nearly five-foot-long Argentine black-and-white tegu lizard—an invasive, egg-eating predator from South America—was spotted by hikers at a Santa Clara County park, prompting officials to urge the public not to approach and to report any sightings immediately. [SFGate]
• If you’re looking to support protestors on the front lines, consider contributing to some community bail and bond funds. [National Bail Fund Network]

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Image: Leanne Maxwell/SFist

While we're sure no one here ever purchases produce grown anywhere farther away than Gilroy, the AP is urging shoppers to exercise caution when buying bunches of cilantro. Pablo's Produce of Oxnard, California is responsible for a batch of the leafy green garnish sold between November 24th and December 2nd which may be contaminated with salmonella.

Recalled cilantro can be identified by a white twist tie with the words "Pablo's Produce of USA" in red and green writing. Salmonella, on the other hand, can be identified by symptoms such as: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever. Although some people just have an aversion to cilantro in general.

[AP/MercuryNews]

The world's greatest cylindrical snack will have two fewer flavors on the market. Procter & Gamble Co., who produce Pringles chips, are recalling Cheeseburger and "Taco Night" flavors over a Salmonella scare. It seem the organism was found on Las Vegas-based Basic Food Flavors' processing equipment, which makes the
"flavor-enhancing hydrolyzed vegetable protein" that makes Pringles so
damn delicious.

Thankfully, the reduced-fat version of the popular chip -- which uses less salt thus enhances more of the potato-y chip taste -- remains on the market. (Seriously, it's good stuff. In the purple canister. Check it out.)

Packaged in 48-count iced cartons, iced jumbo green onions, branded under the Omo and Fu Choy names, are being recalled as a precautionary measure due to the possible presence of Salmonella. The iffy onions were sent to three U.S. locations: R.A.M. Produce Distributors of Detroit, Michigan, Franzella Distributing of San Francisco, CA, and United Food Service of East Point, GA. According to PRNewswire, "58 cartons were shipped from two distributors to small grocery outlets in the Detroit and San Francisco areas."

Some of you might have purchased the green onions from two Good Life Grocery locations (448 Cortland Avenue and 1524 20th Street) or El Grande Grocery & Produce (2214 Clement Street) in SF. If you did, please return them immediately.

Read the PRNewswire press release on the recall in its entirety.

Due to some sort of pepper recall, Chinese food appetizer the egg roll is now also being tainted pepper connected to a salmonella outbreak. According to reports, "California's Department of Public Health is advising consumers not to eat chicken or vegetable egg rolls from EDS Wrap and Roll Foods in Hayward. The item was also sold under the Tien Tien brand name in various sized containers."

The majority of the delicious, savory (albeit tainted) egg rolls go directly to restaurants and local markets that affect Northern and Central California. This most recent danger follows a pistachio recall announced last week.

Note: Spring rolls -- such as the ones at Yank Sing, which are, inarguably, the best ones in town -- are perfectly fine to eat.

Ever since a few cry babies got the sniffles over a few bad tomatoes last week -- fine, it was salmonella food poisoning, but tomatoes are the most awesome thing to eat in the entire universe, so we don't much care for the bad press they've been receiving -- McDonald's has decided to nix all sliced tomatoes on its sandwiches. (Wait, what sandwiches at McDonald's use tomatoes? One of those swank new chicken-ish items this now serve?)

So far 23 people have been hospitalized for eating bad, uncooked tomatoes. In addition to the golden arches, Taco Bell and Chipotle Mexican Grill have stopped using tomatoes n their gastronomic delights. Ralphs, Vons, and Albertsons have also put the kibosh on red plum, red Roma, and round red tomatoes. Poor little fellas.

We hope the FDA pinpoints where these salmonella-infused veggies are coming from. Tomatoes really don't deserve this kind of reputation. They just don't. A sad day, indeed.

Damnit. We love us some pre-washed spinach -- slightly wilted with bacon and cheese, especially. So this pains us:

Fresh off the heels of e. coli infusions, bags of spinach are now being recalled for another problem. Metz Fresh of King City, CA, found salmonella in one of their bags. According to AP:

The recall covers 10- and 16-ounce bags, as well as 4-pound cartons and cartons that contain four 2.5-pound bags, with the following tracking codes: 12208114, 12208214 and 12208314....[c]onsumers with questions can contact Metz Fresh at 831-386-1018.

We suspect arugula is behind all of this. That spicy bastard. But before you start feverishly burning all of your spinach bags; check the label; go to Whole Foods (or wherever) for the un-pre-packaged, un-pre-washed stuff; etcetera. Read more about it here.