Category: 3. Business

Recall of all foods from EB Food Essentials due to production in, and/or sold from, an unregistered establishment

Friday, 12 December 2025

Alert Summary
Category 1:	For Action
Alert Notification:	2025.70
Product Identification:	All food products produced by and/or sold by EB Food Essentials, Coolanagh, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois.  Please see table below for examples of some affected products, however, this is not an exhaustive list.  All pack sizes are implicated.
Batch Code	All batch numbers and all expiry dates.

Message:
All food products produced by and/or sold by EB Food Essentials, Coolanagh, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois are subject to recall, as they were produced in and/or sold from an unregistered establishment, which is not subject to official controls. Recall notices should be displayed at point-of-sale.

 

Examples of implicated foods
Goat meat
Lamb meat (brisket, silverside flat etc.)
Snails
Catfish
Round catfish
Dried prawns
Naive bonga (dried fish)
Ribo fish
Ogbono
Melon egusi
Bitter leaf
Dried peppers/chillies
Locust bean
Uziza seed

Nature Of Danger:
The food was produced in and/or sold from an establishment that was not subject to official controls, and as such, it is not possible to confirm the food was manufactured in compliance with all relevant food safety legislation. Therefore, as a precaution, the implicated products are being recalled to ensure consumer safety.

Action Required:

Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, caterers & retailers:
Retailers are requested to remove the implicated products from sale and should display recall notices at point-of-sale. 

Wholesalers/distributors are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated products and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers.   

Consumers:
Consumers are advised not to eat any products from EB Food Essentials.  

To our immune system, a potentially lifesaving gene therapy can look a lot like a dangerous infection. That’s because most genetic medicine uses viruses or double-stranded DNA to deliver genetic information to target cells. DNA in its traditional double helix form can lead to toxic immune stimulation and be difficult to package into cellular delivery vehicles. As a result, the reach of genetic medicine is limited today.

Kano Therapeutics is taking a different approach to genetic therapies. The company is developing gene-editing technologies using circular single-stranded DNA (cssDNA), a biomolecule that is less toxic than double stranded DNA and more stable than RNA, and could be delivered more efficiently to many parts of the body to treat genetic diseases, cancers, and more.

The company, which was founded by former MIT postdoc Floris Engelhardt, professor of biological engineering Mark Bathe, and John Vroom MBA ’22, is developing a platform for manufacturing cssDNA of customized lengths and sequences, which could deliver genetic material to fix or replace faulty genes.

“We can work with CRISPR and other gene-editing technologies,” Engelhardt says. “CRISPR finds a location in a genome, binds to it, and cuts at that location. That allows you to edit a gene or stop a gene from functioning. But what if you have a loss-of-function disease where you need to insert a new piece of genetic code? Our approach allows you to replace whole genes or add genetic information.”

Making DNA flexible

Around 2019, Bathe’s lab published research describing ways to engineer the sequence and length of cssDNA molecules, which have been used in labs for decades but have increasingly drawn interest for improving gene therapies. Several pharmaceutical companies immediately reached out.

“Single-stranded DNA is a little like messenger RNA, which can code for any protein in any cell, tumor, or organ,” Bathe says. “It fundamentally encodes for a protein, so it can be used across diseases, including rare diseases that may only affect a few people in the country.”

Engelhardt had also worked on cssDNA as a PhD student in Munich. She met Bathe at a conference.

“We were considering collaborating on research,” Engelhardt recalls. “Then Mark heard I was finishing my PhD and said, ‘Wait a minute. Instead of collaborating, I should hire you.’”

Within 48 hours of submitting her PhD thesis, Engelhardt received an email asking her to apply to Bathe’s lab as a postdoc. She was drawn to the position because she would be focusing on research that had the potential to help patients.

“MIT is very good at creating industry-focused postdocs,” Engelhardt says. “I was inspired by the idea of doing postdoc work with the goal of spinning out a company, as opposed to doing solely academic-focused research.”

Bathe and Engelhardt learned from members of the pharmaceutical industry how single-stranded DNA could help overcome limitations in gene and cell therapies. Although CRISPR-based treatments have recently been approved for a few genetic diseases, CRISPR’s effectiveness has been limited by its potential toxicity and inefficient delivery to specific sites in the body. Also, those treatments can only be administered once because CRISPR often gets labeled as foreign by our immune systems and rejected from the body.

Engelhardt began exploring MIT’s resources to help commercialize her research. She met Vroom through an online “founder speed dating” event at MIT. She also received support from the Venture Mentoring Service, took classes at MIT’s Sloan School of Management, and worked with MIT’s Industrial Liaison Program. Early on, Bathe suggested Engelhardt work with MIT’s Technology License Office, something she says she tells every founder to do the moment they start thinking about commercializing their research.

In 2021, Kano won the $20,000 first place prize at the MIT Sloan Healthcare Innovation Prize (SHIP) to commercialize a new way to design and manufacture single-stranded DNA. Kano uses fermentation to produce its cssDNA less expensively than approaches based on chemical DNA synthesis.

“No one had the ability to access this type of genetic material, and so a lot of our work was around creating the highest-quality, economically scalable process to allow circular single-stranded DNA to be commercially viable,” Engelhardt says.

Engelhardt and Vroom began meeting with investors as soon as Engelhardt finished her postdoc work in 2021. The founders worked to raise money over the next year while Vroom finished his MBA.

Today, Kano’s circular ssDNA can be used to insert entire genes, up to 10,000 nucleotides long, into the body. Kano is planning to partner with pharmaceutical companies to make their gene therapies more targeted and potent. For instance, pharmaceutical partners could use Kano’s platform to join the CD19 and CD20 genes, which are expressed in certain tumor cells, and stipulate that only if both genes bind to a cell receptor do they enter that cell’s genome and make edits.

Overall, Engelhardt says working with circular single-stranded DNA makes Kano’s approach more flexible than platforms like CRISPR.

“We realized working with pharmaceutical companies early on in my postdoc there was a lack of design understanding because of the lack of access to these molecules,” Engelhardt says. “When it comes to gene or cell therapies, people just think of the gene itself, not the flanking sequences or anything else that goes around the gene. Now that the DNA isn’t stuck in a double helix all the time, I can create small, three-dimensional structures — think loops or hairpins — that work, for example, as a binding protein that pulls it into the nucleus. That unlocks a completely new path for DNA because it makes it engineerable — not only on a structural level but also a sequence level.”

Partnering for impact

To facilitate more partnerships, Kano is signing agreements with partners that give it a smaller percentage of eventual drug royalties but allow it to work with many companies at the same time. In a recent collaboration with Merck KGaA, Kano combined its circular cssDNA platform with the company’s lipid nanoparticles solutions for delivering gene therapies. Kano is also in discussions with other large pharmaceutical companies to jointly bring cancer drugs into the clinic over the next two years.

“That’s exciting because we’ll be implementing our DNA into partners’ drug system, so when they file their new drug and dose their first patients, our DNA is going to be the therapeutic information carrier for efficacy,” Engelhardt says. “As a first-time founder, this is where you want to go. We talk about patient impact all the time, and this is how we’re going to get it.”

Kano is also developing the first databank mapping cssDNA designs to activity, to speed up the development of new treatments.

“Right now, there is no understanding of how to design DNA for these therapies,” Engelhardt says. “Everyone who wants to differentiate needs to come up with a new editing tool, a new delivery tool, and there’s no connecting company that can enable those areas of expertise. When partners come to us, we can say, ‘The gene sequence is all yours.’ But often it’s not just about the sequence. It’s also about the promoter or flanking sequence that allows you to insert your DNA into the genome, or that makes DNA package well into your delivery nanoparticle. At Kano, we’re building the best knowledgebase to use DNA material to treat diseases.”

RICHMOND, VA — Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today that LS Cable & System Ltd. (“LS C&S”), a global leader in power and communication cable and system solutions, announced today plans for a significant additional investment in Chesapeake, Virginia. Undertaken through three LS C&S subsidiaries, the $689 million project is expected to be the single largest capital investment in the history of the Hampton Roads region and create over 430 new jobs.  

In addition to job creation, this project will create a new and growing domestic supply chain for magnetic copper wire and rare earth magnets that bypasses the monopoly of Chinese suppliers. This is a strategic investment by one of America’s most ardent allies to ensure reliable and consistent production of our national defense munitions. These products are used in America’s most advanced weapons systems like the Javelin missile, F-35 fighter jet, nuclear submarines and unmanned aerial systems (UAV). Alongside increased national security, this investment ensures Americans are able to benefit from the increased demand for these materials from the energy and manufacturing sectors. LS C&S’s new manufacturing complex, which will feature advanced manufacturing capabilities across three key business lines:

• Copper rod production utilizing copper recycling and smelting,
• Magnet wire manufacturing to support automotive and industrial markets, and
• Rare-earth magnet production, essential for electric motors and advanced weapons systems 

“Thank you to LS Cable & System for choosing Virginia again. Today’s announcement demonstrates that Virginia is leading the nation in reshoring American manufacturing and securing the critical supply chains that power and protect our country,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “LS GreenLink has already brought hundreds of millions of dollars to Hampton Roads, and these three projects from LS Cable & System will build on that momentum. Now more than ever on the geopolitical stage, access to copper smelting and rare earth minerals tied to our targeting systems that our military uses need to be made here in this country. I’m proud that Virginia is partnering with LS C&S to strengthen American manufacturing, create great jobs, and build a stronger, more secure future for the Commonwealth and our nation.”

This investment builds on the previously announced first phase of LS GreenLink USA’s state-of-the-art cable manufacturing and pier facility project, which broke ground in April 2025. While separate from the LS GreenLink project, the new initiative expands the company’s overall presence in the United States and reinforces LS C&S’s long-term commitment to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the City of Chesapeake, and the Hampton Roads region. Together, these efforts strengthen U.S. energy infrastructure, enhance supply chain resilience, and support national security priorities.

“With three exciting projects in Chesapeake, LS Cable & System is poised to transform America’s tech manufacturing supply chain,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura. “Securing these supply chains does more than ensure smooth manufacturing timelines; it helps safeguard our national security. LS C&S’s continued investment in the Commonwealth shows that when government moves at the speed of business, big things can happen quickly.”

“This investment represents an exciting step in our continuing growth in the United States,” said LS C&S President and CEO Bon-Kyu Koo. “We’re not only expanding our manufacturing capabilities, we’re strengthening the U.S. domestic supply chains and supporting America’s leadership in energy and technology. By continuing partnerships with the Commonwealth of Virginia, the City of Chesapeake, and the Hampton Roads region, we’re creating opportunities for the local community while helping to ensure secure, reliable infrastructure that supports national security and the nation’s energy future.”

“The LS GreenLink project has been a major commitment for LS C&S, and this new investment builds directly on that foundation,” said LS C&S Regional President of North America Gisu Kim. “It strengthens domestic production of critical components such as copper rod, magnet wire, and rare-earth magnets, vital to reinforcing supply chain resilience and advancing U.S. energy independence.”

“This investment represents much more than expanding our manufacturing footprint in Chesapeake,” said LS C&S Managing Director Patrick Shim. “We are deepening our partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia, the City of Chesapeake, and the Hampton Roads region as we build capabilities that strengthen U.S. energy leadership, secure critical supply chains, and support industries essential to the nation’s security and future.”

Founded in 1962, LS Cable & System Ltd. is a global leader in power and communication cables and systems. With over 6,500 employees and 40 subsidiaries in 17 countries, LS Cable & System continues to drive innovation in energy transmission and distribution.

“Congratulations to LS Cable & System and the entire LS Group on another major investment in Chesapeake,” said Hampton Roads Alliance President and CEO Douglas L. Smith. “The Hampton Roads Alliance is proud to support LS Group and to work alongside the City of Chesapeake as the company advances its commitment to expand U.S. power grid infrastructure. This investment aligns directly with the Hampton Roads Playbook, which prioritizes defense, energy, aerospace, and logistics. Energy security is national security, and projects like this further solidify Hampton Roads as a global energy leader.”

“Today’s announcement marks a major milestone for Chesapeake, the Commonwealth, and the nation in advancing domestic manufacturing,” said Chesapeake Mayor Rick West. “The decision by LS Cable & System to build its new facilities in our community demonstrates the confidence they have not only in Chesapeake’s talented workforce and strong business environment, but also in our commitment to helping businesses succeed here. This investment is LS Cable’s second major project in Chesapeake and elevates our city’s status as a leader in the nation’s clean energy and electrification future, bringing $689 million in new investment and more than 400 high-paying jobs. We value LS Cable’s ongoing partnership and friendship with the City of Chesapeake, and we look forward to building on that relationship in the years ahead.” 

“LS Cable’s $689 million investment solidifies Chesapeake’s position as a premier destination for advanced manufacturing,” said Chesapeake Economic Development Director Steven Wright. “The establishment of new facilities for magnet wire and sintered rare-earth magnets production will provide much-needed support for U.S. supply chains for emerging mobility technologies and modern energy systems. This project will bring skilled jobs to Chesapeake and will strengthen the long-term industrial competitiveness of our region.”

“The Port of Virginia is ready to support LS Cable & System’s strategic investment in Chesapeake,” said Port of Virginia CEO and Executive Director Stephen A. Edwards. “Advanced manufacturing facilities like LS Cable not only strengthen Virginia’s role in global trade but will help accelerate innovation in the electric vehicle industry. The Port of Virginia is a 21st-century port complex that will provide LS Cable the supply chain efficiency, consistency and connectivity needed to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Chesapeake, the Hampton Roads Alliance, and The Port of Virginia to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Youngkin approved a $7.3 million grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Chesapeake with the project. The Governor also approved a performance-based grant of $1.5 million from the Virginia Investment Performance Grant, an incentive that encourages continued capital investment by existing Virginia companies. The company is eligible to receive benefits from The Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Zone Grant Program.

Support for LS C&S’s job creation will be provided through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, ranked the No. 1 workforce training program in the United States by Business Facilities for the third consecutive year and by Area Development in 2025. The program, created by VEDP in collaboration with higher education partners, provides world-class training and recruitment solutions that are customized to a company’s unique operations, equipment, standards and culture. All program services are provided at no cost to qualified new and expanding companies as an incentive for job creation.

Published December 12, 2025

CAPTION: Champions of the DevDays HealthTech Challenge, Yukta Karki, SianRose Vincent, and Nirjara KC, pictured with their faculty advisor, Prasanthi Sreekumari, awarded $5,000 prize. 

---

MONROE, La. – The ULM Department of Computer Science is proud to announce that a student team has
won the DevDays HealthTech Challenge, hosted by Nexus Louisiana in partnership with
Ochsner Health. Kneva, the winning team composed of computer science students Yukta
Karki, SianRose Vincent, and Nirjara KC, was awarded a $5,000 prize at the competition
in Baton Rouge on November 14.  

The DevDaysChallenge attracted 160 students from 11 Louisiana universities who submitted 45
innovative solutions, addressing issues ranging from athlete safety to carbon management.  

Kneva is an innovative health technology platform focused on addressing a long-overlooked
crisis in sports medicine: female athletes face up to eight times greater risk of
experiencing a catastrophic ACL injury. This groundbreaking project aims to end the
era of compromise in women’s sports by delivering technology and insights that support
safer performance and long-term athletic health.  

The system unifies two critical data points, hormonal fluctuations and biomechanical
movement, to predict elevated injury risk and deliver real-time, micro-adjusted training
feedback. A wearable knee sensor monitors movement patterns, while the platform maps
an athlete’s menstrual cycle to identify when they are more susceptible to injury,
creating a personalized, adaptive approach to performance and injury prevention. 

Team Kneva shared that the competition affirmed their mission to build injury-prevention
tools that truly reflect the physiology and experiences of female athletes—not systems
retrofitted from male data.   

“I was raised in a world shaped by strong women, and Kneva lets me pour that energy
into a platform that finally acknowledges and supports female athletes,” said KC.
“Leading the research and development for our ACL prevention prototype proved that
innovation is iterative, and this win fuels our next chapter. We’re excited to take
on the engineering challenges needed to move from concept to a production-ready solution.” 

The six-week competition brought together student teams from across the state to confront
a real and pressing sports medicine issue. “DevDays is about putting our state’s brightest
minds on our state’s hardest problems,” said Tony Zanders, President and CEO of Nexus
Louisiana. “The quality of ideas we saw reflects the strength of the talent emerging
from Louisiana’s universities and the value of connecting that talent to real industry
needs.” 

As the presenting partner, Ochsner Health emphasized the importance of strengthening
pathways between students and industry. “DevDays shows what happens when we give young
people real problems to solve and the room to innovate boldly. These students aren’t just
imagining the future of sports medicine — they’re building it. I’m proud that Ochsner
is helping open doors, strengthen pathways, and champion the next generation of Louisiana
talent,” said Christy Reeves, Vice President, Network Development and Government Relations
at Ochsner Health. 

“We are extremely proud of all the students who participated in the competition. Their
dedication, passion, and perseverance showcase the strength and spirit of our department,”
said Dr. Prasanthi Sreekumari, Program Chair of the ULM Computer Science Department
and Associate Professor of Computer Science.  

“Kneva’s victory is a powerful validation of their mission and the impact their work
can have on the future of sports medicine,” added Sreekumari. 

“The team would like to thank Dr. Sreekumari for her guidance throughout the development
of Kneva. We also extend our thanks to Dr. Paul Wiedemeier and Dr. Paul Rojas for
providing the resources and support we needed to bring this project to life,” said
KC.  

Team Kneva’s win marks the second victory for a ULM Computer Science team at DevDays this
year. Carbon Horizon won the Nexus DevDays ClimateTech Challenge in October 2025.
Read more about their win at https://www.ulm.edu/news/2025/comp_science_devdays_111125.html 

About Nexus Louisiana DevDays 

Nexus Louisiana’s mission is to accelerate the growth of high-potential technology-enabled
companies by providing them with coaching, capital, and connections. Their programs leverage regional
collaboration to foster mentorship, investment, and opportunity for local entrepreneurs
to grow their ideas and transform the technology industry in Louisiana. 

DevDays are one-of-a-kind events that fuse technology, competition, and Louisiana’s
legendary football pride. Over six weeks, participants tackle real-world challenges
from leading industries and bring their solutions to life in an impactful, one-day
demo event in Baton Rouge. 

Nexus Louisiana has confirmed that DevDays will return next year with new challenges
and expanded collaboration opportunities.  

For more information, please visit https://nexusla.org/devdays. 

From Canada to the U.S., India, and now Singapore — Megan’s global journey reflects a deep curiosity, a love of change, and an openness to the unexpected. Each move has broadened her perspective, strengthened her adaptability, and deepened her appreciation for the shared Edelman spirit that connects teams across continents. As she settles into life in Singapore, she reflects on the experiences, relationships, and lessons that continue to shape both her career and her understanding of the world.

 

What is something you’ve discovered about yourself during your time abroad?

As part of my Edelman career, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity of working in different offices across different countries – from Canada to the US, India, and now Singapore. While I wouldn’t say I “discovered” this necessarily, but my travels have certainly reinforced how much I like change. Trying something new, embracing the unexpected, and being uncomfortable all help open your eyes to what the world has to offer.

How has the experience of working in a new market expanded your understanding of Edelman’s global work or approach?

What’s struck me in every office I’ve worked in is the balance between familiarity and local uniqueness. Each office feels connected through our shared values, yet every local market brings its own voice and way of doing things. Experiencing those differences has shown me how diverse perspectives strengthen our global work and make our network richer and more dynamic.

Is there a favorite local custom, place, or routine that has become meaningful to you in your host country?

I’m still getting settled in Singapore, but if I look at my time in India … that experience will always hold tremendous meaning for me – my first leap into an adventure very far away from home. The sights, the smells, the sounds (I will forever be desensitized to honking), the food (!), the laughs, and warmth of all of those who helped me along the way – I couldn’t be more thankful.

What new skills, perspectives, or ways of working have you gained from your host team?

Understanding how to work with different cultures is fascinating. No country is alike, but the diversity of Asia in particular keeps you on your toes. You have to listen first, be patient, adaptable, open to changing how you might typically do things, and roll with it. And most importantly – have a good laugh as you learn (and make a few embarrassing mistakes) along the way.

What is one highlight or proud moment from your time abroad that you’ll carry forward in your career?

It comes down to the relationships. I have met, worked with, been in the trenches with, and become lifelong friends with so many colleagues over the years. Those partnerships, experiences, and memories are everlasting, and have – and will continue to shape – all aspects of my life and career.

Megan Johnson is a Global Client Leader for APAC based in the Singapore office.