FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

Florida officials are warning drivers of “potentially widespread fuel contamination” impacting gas stations across the state's west coast as residents brace for Tropical Storm Idalia’s expected landfall later this week.

The Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is helping the Florida Department of Health and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services investigate a listeria outbreak linked to ice cream, the FDA said Tuesday.

An invasive giant African snail that has already had to be eradicated twice in the last 50 years in Florida is back and one county is on high alert.

Investigators said the young girl will make a full recovery, but for people like Rebecca Gayed, the video is a harrowing reminder on how even the slowest rides could be dangerous.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is touting improved wait times for those seeking concealed carry permits, despite the pandemic and record applications. “The wait times were inordinately long,” said Charlie Strickland, owner of Talon Tactical Outfitters. The faster wait times come despite the ongoing pandemic and a record 305,000 applications in 2020. “We’ve modernized the department, we’ve uploaded different forms right onto our website, we’ve modernized the website for the entirety of the department. Wait times aren’t back to their pre-pandemic average of between one and 25 days, but the department is hopeful it can get back to a similar speed within three to six months.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services expressed concern Wednesday about a virus dangerous to tomatoes and peppers that has been found in tomatoes imported from Mexico. State Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to "step up, initiate tracebacks to Mexican producers, and fulfill its responsibility to protect American growers and consumers." Fried's department reported inspectors found tomato brown rugose fruit virus, known as ToBRFV, in packaged Mexican tomatoes in Naples and Gainesville. "This virus is more severe for young plants and can result in 30 (percent) to 70 percent yield loss," the university estimated. "Tomatoes showing symptoms of ToBRFV infection are still safe for human consumption, but may appear less attractive than other tomatoes," the state Department of Agriculture said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Two Northeast Florida gas stations were among more than a dozen around the state where inspectors found credit card skimmers while checking the stations for possible damage after Hurricane Dorian. Use a credit card -- not a debit card: If a credit card number is skimmed, you're protected by the card issuer's zero-liability policy -- but a stolen debit card number could be far more damaging. Choose gas pumps closest to a physical building: Don't use gas pumps out of the attendant's line of sight, such as those around a corner or behind a building. Three gas stations had skimmers found on two pumps, and another station had skimmers found on three pumps. Since Dorian, News4Jax has learned a skimmer was found this week at a Shell gas station off Wells Road in Clay County.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services inspectors found "skimmers," used to steal credit-card or debit-card information at gas pumps, while checking gas stations for Hurricane Dorian damage. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said Friday water infiltrated underground fuel tanks at just two of the 250 gas stations along the East Coast that were most likely to be impacted by the state's brush this week with the powerful storm. However, inspectors had to remove 15 skimmers from pumps during the inspections, the department said. "While we're confident consumers should feel safe fueling up post-storm, we encourage anyone suspecting issues to report them to us at 1-800-HELP-FLA or FloridaConsumerHelp.com," Fried said in a prepared statement. News Service of Florida

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says wait times for concealed carry permit applications have been drastically reduced since Commissioner Nikki Fried took office earlier... Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is warning drivers of new skimmers in which scammers don't even need to leave their car to get your information. The technology allows scammers to sit nearby and collect your credit card information without ever having to return to the pump. Fried says these are the three ways to protect your informationLook closely for tampering at gas pumps and don't use the pump if you sense there has been tampering. As opposed to debit cards, use credit cards, which typically have fraud protections attached to them. Use gas pumps close to the gas station, which are more visible.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services warns drivers about new skimmers. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said review times for applications for concealed-weapons licenses have been reduced. Weve made our concealed weapons license program more efficient -- but weve also made it more accountable, Fried tweeted on Friday. I said on day one: everyone who applies to carry concealed weapons in Florida will get the full background check required by law. At least 300 concealed-weapons licenses were later revoked. As of June 30, the state reported more than 2 million concealed-weapons licenses were active.

On Tuesday, News4Jax spoke with Mark Bachara, the director of security and loss prevention at Gate Petroleum Co., who explained what people can look out for to help increase their chances of making a safe transaction at the pump. "We have an upgraded pump that will render the pump useless if someone tries to enter that pump," Bachara said. "Thats why we have this security sticker here. That security sticker is proprietary tape used at Gate. Bachara said people should also alert the store's manager immediately if they suspect that a pump has been tampered with.