Wednesday, 30 November 2011

Foods that cause symptoms of food poisoning


Is a strange contradiction that a food good for you too can be the source of infections or toxins and creating symptoms of food poisoning, but that's exactly the conclusion of a report recently issued by the Center for Science in the public interest (CSPI).

Foods like green leaves. berries, eggs and tuna can also be carrying some very unpleasant diseases within those packages healthy.

"We do not recommend that consumers change their eating habits," said Caroline Smith DeWaal, CSPI's food safety programs. The Group hopes instead to point out the weaknesses in our food safety system.

Food recalls are nothing new, so we need to find points of conflict and get rid of them. There are several bills before Congress that would improve food security by requiring all food producers keep written security plans, giving also the FDA more power to check these plans and apply the rules.

The authors of the report looked at data centers for disease control in food outbreaks of disease, going back as far as 1990. The number one food-related disease? Green leaves like lettuce, iceberg lettuce and spinach (among others) were the culprits in 363 outbreaks-causing the 13.568 people to get sick. Most of these were caused by norovirus, e. coli and salmonella.

In addition to these good-for-you-green, here are other foods that may pose a danger:

1) Eggs, involved in 352 outbreaks-11.163 reported cases of the disease.

2) Tuna, involved in 268 outbreaks-2.341 reported cases of the disease.

3) oysters, involved in 132 outbreaks-3.409 reported cases of the disease.

4) potatoes, involved in 108 outbreaks-3.659 reported cases of the disease.

5) cheese, , involved in 83 Protector-2.761 reported cases of the disease.

6) ice involved in outbreaks of 74-2.594 reported cases of the disease.

7) tomatoes, involved in 31 protector-3.292 reported cases of the disease.

8) Sprouts, involved in 31 Protector-2.022 reported cases of the disease.

9) Berries, involved in outbreaks of 25-3.397 reported cases of the disease.

Before you clean your closet and fridge, understand that the CDC database used for research can tell us if tomatoes or other ingredient in a salad was responsible for the disease.

And since foods such as potatoes are usually consumed cooked, is probably not the veggie itself that causes the focus, but something in their treatment (manure, contaminated irrigation water) or poor procedures that may be guilty of manipulation.

Also data from CDC only include foods that are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This leaves out some likely culprits-meat, poultry, pork and even some egg products, which are the responsibility of the United States Department of agriculture.

It is also important to understand that not all food-borne disease outbreaks are reported to the authorities. This can be, as the author of the report DeWaal Smith "the tip of the iceberg."

According to figures from the CDC, 76 million Americans get a food borne illness each year. To keep from being part of this number there are some simple steps you can take to protect you and your family.

While the food supply in the United States is very safe, you should still make every effort to keep the food cold and cook it thoroughly. Store leftovers immediately. Avoid raw oysters and if you go, keep oysters chilled. Stay away from raw eggs, this includes eating uncooked dough.

Fresh produce have been touched by many hands and should be washed with SOAP and water, to remove any bacteria that may remain on the skin which could make you sick.

Handling healthy foods (or all foods for that matter) correctly can help you get all the nutritional benefits without being effected by the symptoms of food poisoning or food borne illness.







Saturday, 26 November 2011

Foods to avoid during pregnancy-advice on avoiding food born bacteria while pregnant


When you're pregnant you are more vulnerable to food-born bacteria. Some bacteria found in food products may cause serious infection, then you need to be extra specially careful when it comes to what you eat.

What I put below is a summary of some of the nasties along with what foods to cut out so that you avoid them.

Listeria can cause a mild flu-like symptoms during pregnancy, but can result in miscarriage, still-birth or a serious disease in a newborn baby. It is best to avoid blue cheese such as Stilton and soft ripened cheeses such as Brie and Camembert, even though they made with pasteurized milk.

Salmonella can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. This will not affect your baby directly unless you become dehydrated as a result of it. Foods to avoid raw or partially cooked are eggs as homemade mayonnaise, mousses and ice cream.

Campylobacter can cause you have stomach cramps and diarrhea. You can avoid this by clear guidance under cooked meat and unpasteurised milk.

To conclude this brief list, there are also other bacteria that can cause food poisoning and affect you and your baby. Generally, you will find these in seafood raw or cold then give it a wide berth.

All things being said, I don't want you to be too scared. The risk of diseases above is rare. For example, Listeria affects only 1 pregnant woman around 20000 and wife very few catch toxoplasmosis. However it is useful to know that the parasite can be found in vegetables dirty, soil and cat feces. Therefore, make sure to wear gloves if you are planning on doing any gardening or changing cat litter tray.







Saturday, 19 November 2011

Holiday food safety: essential Guidelines to protect your family

The holidays are in bringing with them familiar, fun and food The last thing we want to do is to spend our holidays patients, so if you're making gravy, storing leftovers, or baking up treats candy, get knowledge about food safety.


According to the American Dietetic Association, the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, there are some essential things to be aware of when preparing and storing food.


Preparing


The first rule of food preparation is to keep things clean. It may seem like common sense, however, tend to attract ambitious cooks closet, relatives and eager children. The more help in the kitchen, the more risk for food borne diseases such as salmonella and E-coli. Sure hands and work areas are washed not just before, during and after food preparation to prevent cross contamination. Another tip is to use separate utensils when stirring, sampling and serving food.


When it comes to cooking of delicious Turkey or roast Beast "for your gathering, always use a meat thermometer to be sure meats are cooked safely. Also, bring your constant boiling sauce before serving to kill harmful bacteria. Food temperatures are:


Burgers-160 F
Roasts, steaks, chops-160 F
Ground poultry-165 F
Parts of poultry-170 F
Pork-160 F
Hot dogs/leftovers-165 F


The holidays are not complete without cookies, pies and cakes. Unfortunately, these may represent some real dangers for those who like to have a spoonful (or three) of uncooked dough or batter. If the recipe contains eggs, resist that temptation because it can lead to severe food poisoning. If you're one of those who like cookie dough, more than the actual cookies, try these recipes mass "secure" cookie.


Store


Nothing compares very full plate of leftovers after the festivities are over, but how long is it safe to keep goods around First, be careful to refrigerate leftovers as soon as the meal is over. Two hours is the maximum that perishable foods should be left out to avoid the growth of bacteria. Turkey (with the exception of the wings and legs) should be removed from the bone and stored separately from the stuffing and gravy. All other leftovers should be stored in airtight containers, superficial. Things that are best eaten within three to four days include Turkey, casseroles and vegetables. within a day or two, stuffing, gravy and fresh fruit and cream pies. A safe temperature for re-heating food is 165 (F) and remember to re-boil the sauce before re-serving! And if you're traveling to or from a meeting with food, be sure to perishable foods are packed in ice if you're on the road for more than two hours.


Here's wishing you and yours a safe and happy Christmas and a safe to eat all year

Saturday, 12 November 2011

How to implement a program of HACCP food safety in your restaurant-principle 1

The hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) is not a requirement for the food service industry. Developed 30 years ago by NASA to manage food safety, HACCP has become since the definitive programme of FDA to control food-borne diseases. HACCP is effective because it requires the commercial kitchen to identify and then track the points where the food is exposed to agents that may cause illness. Many local health councils promote the use of HACCP because it is so effective in the control of epidemics and diseases, but again, there is a mandatory program.


So why use HACCP if it is not necessary Why do even a customer ill can spell lawsuits and financial ruin for your business. Large institutions that serve thousands of meals per day like prisons and universities practicing HACCP religiously precisely why. Small independent operators and small, medium and large chains do not face any less amount of risk of food-borne diseases, and many still do not use a HACCP program to control the risks. The purpose of the HACCP system is to give him active managerial control over the most critical points regarding food safety in your establishment.


Principle 1-understanding of hazards and risk factors


This step is also the first part of the acronym HACCP: hazard analysis. The second part, critical control points, did not do very well if you don't know which endangers the control. Foodborne diseases come from three main groups of dangers:


Biological agents: viruses, bacteria and toxins produced by bacteria and parasites.


Physical objects: jewels, stones, glass, bone and metal fragments and packaging materials.


Chemical contamination: allergens, cleaning compounds, food additives, insecticides


Food-borne diseases may result from all three of these groups, although the most common and most worrying for restaurants, biological contamination. All three groups can be controlled using an effective HACCP program. So, how these dangers really get transmitted to the food being prepared and served in restaurants?


Here are the main risk factors:


Food from unsafe sources. The restaurant is just a link in a long chain that brings local food that was taken at the dinner table. Unfortunately for restaurants, they are the last link in this chain. This means that they are to take the blame for food-borne diseases.


Inadequate cooking. Unlike unsecured sources, restaurants absolutely can and should control how the food is cooked.


Improper holding temperatures. Raw food and cooked food both need to be stored in appropriate temperatures (below 32 degrees Fahrenheit) in order to prevent the spread of biological agents.


Contaminated equipment. Equipment used in a commercial kitchen can easily download any one of three groups of the dangers listed above for food just before it is served to a client.


Poor personal hygiene. Similarly, employees of the restaurant can easily download any one of three risk groups to feed the most critical moment.


The most common ways of addressing the risks above are:


Only buy food products from a trusted source and approved. Also make sure appropriate and safe treatment after food arrives at his restaurant.


Always cook food thoroughly. Make certain uncooked products you purchase as pasteurized milk and juice were or heat-treated.


Make sure food is at an appropriate temperature when you're hot, cold, holding or freezing it cooking. Brand food product also date and follow a strategy of first in, first Out (FIFO) which ensures that the oldest product is used for the first time.


Each restaurant is these risk factors. To perform a risk analysis in his establishment, carefully evaluate where, when, why and how each one of the factors above occurs, and which of the three types of risks are involved. Once you have a complete list of hazards and risks, you can begin to develop a process to addressing and minimizing the problems.

Saturday, 5 November 2011

How to keep what you eat to make you sick


The familiar moan, "Must be something I ate", are often people give explanation to a stomachache, diarrhea or abdominal cramps. And, unfortunately, your meal is often the source of these symptoms, usually caused by food-borne diseases.

In fact, approximately 30% of all food-borne diseases are caused by improper handling of food at home. These food-borne diseases are caused by a variety of bacteria that can infect the food that you eat every day. Common symptoms of foodborne illness include stomach pain, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, fever, fatigue, and sometimes blood or pus in the stool. Victims often refer to their disease as "stomach flu", but the flu virus has nothing to do with most of these cases.

Symptoms can occur soon after 30 minutes you eat, or they cannot show until days or weeks after having eaten contaminated food. Symptoms usually last for a day or two, but sometimes they can last up to 10 days.

For most healthy people, these food-borne diseases are not fatal. However, they can be very dangerous in children, the elderly or those who are already sick or that have weak immune system. People who experience serious symptoms should consult your doctor immediately.

However, the best way to combat such incident or illness is prevented from occurring. And you don't need to prepare your food in a sterile lab to prevent the spread of bacteria. You only need to follow a few safety tips.

1. Always take your packaged foods and canned in the first place and never buy food in cans bulging or dented, or in jars that are cracked or have loose or bulging lids.

2. look for expiration dates on food you buy and never purchase outdated foods, especially among dairy products like milk and cheese. Instead, choose those that will stay fresh for longer.

3. buy eggs that are class a or better and always open the package to make sure none of egg is cracked and leaking.

4. pick up frozen foods and meat last, just before the gong at the checkout counter. And always put these foods in separate plastic bags to keep them from dripping onto other foods in your shopping cart.

5. check for cleaning at your supermarket. If the place is dirty, especially around the meat and fish counters, it would not be the best place to shop.

6. Finally, bring food straight home and store properly. If it will take you over an hour to get home, take an ice chest to help keep frozen and perishable foods cool.

Now, these are basic tips that you need to follow to keep your food make you sick.