What has caused at least 93 people in 19 states plus Washington, D.C. to become infected with Salmonella Bareilly, an unusual type of salmonella?   At this point, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is not sure, but it has a watchful eye on one suspect and is continuing to investigate.

Many of the victims reported consuming sushi, sashimi, or other raw fish within a few days of the onset of symptoms.  In an FDA internal memo that was inadvertently leaked, spicy tuna roll sushi was mentioned as the probable source of contamination.  But which ingredient of the tuna roll might be the culprit--the tuna itself, a spice, or some other ingredient in the tuna rolls?  Some restaurants use pre-packaged tuna to make their sushi, so it is possible for contaminated raw tuna from one location to wind up in many states.

Talk about perfect timing.  Talk about irony.  First, we’re bombarded by news stories attacking the government’s purchase of “pink slime” (a highly processed, very lean beef product) for school lunches.  That whole hullaballoo was followed closely by the announcement of a large, impressive scientific study concluding that red meat can kill you before you have time to die from some less delicious cause.  As we have all been told, the more marbling (fat) the meat contains, the better it tastes and the more harmful it is. Now, the much-maligned but very lean “pink slime” is beginning to sound like a health food. Here are the details behind these two new stories.

Inhalable Coffee

Suppose you’re in a rush in the morning and have no time to down a whole cup of coffee to get that wake-up jolt you need.  Consider switching to coffee you can sniff. A product called AeroShot is a new, instant way to get a coffee kick.

 One canister of this inhalable coffee product contains 100 mg. of caffeine powder—about as much caffeine as a large cup of coffee. Each container has up to 6 puffs.

If American history fascinates you and you also have a great interest in recipes from past centuries, February is the ideal month to delve into this new book-- Dining with the Washingtons: Historic Recipes, Entertaining, and Hospitality from Mount Vernon edited by Stephen A. McLeod. For a gift or to plan a potluck dinner, it’s an inspiration as the nation celebrates Presidents’ Day and Black History Month.  Published in November, 2011, McLeod’s book recently received this praise from the Chicago Tribune: “The genius—and the bite—of this book lies in the dramatic contrast between the oft-told lives of the president, his family and his famous guests with those of the unsung slaves who toiled long to produce the hospitality for which Washington was famous.”