Food in the News

Hurricane Irene: a Menace to Food and Water

HurricaneOn August 27 and 28, hurricane Irene left some 4 million households without electricity. In residences without power for an extended period of time, refrigerators and freezers could contain contaminated or risky perishable food.  Moreover, flooding may contaminate drinking water in many places.  Victims of the storm are now asking (or should be asking) these key questions: “How long do refrigerated perishables remain safe to eat after the electricity goes off?  How long will frozen items remain safe?  How should I clean packaged goods that have been exposed to flood water?  Can I still drink my tap water?”

New Research on Coffee, Salt, and Grilled Chicken

CoffeeAre you wondering if too much coffee, salt, and grilled meat and poultry could be detrimental to your health?  Here’s the latest news from the scientific world—and its good news for a change.

Ground Turkey Outbreak Leads to One of the Largest Meat Recalls Ever

Food RecallAmerican consumers purchase about 450 million lbs. of ground turkey annually.  On August 3rd, 36 million lbs. of fresh and frozen ground turkey products were recalled by Cargill, a major U.S. meat processor.

New Summer Treats: Hybrid Fruits, Shave Ice, Veggie Pops, and More

WatermelonVariety and surprise—these are what keep us eating with enthusiasm.  We do it even when it’s dull, but it’s infinitely more fun when an unexpected new taste comes along.  Here are a few edibles you may not have tried yet, so they should perk up your summer taste buds. 

 

Plumcots, Pluots, and Aprium: These fruit hybrids are a combination of plums and apricots.  According to ShopSmart, the plumcot is “a true blend of plum and apricot flavors, the pluot (pronounced PLOO-AUGHT) “has a strong plum taste with hints of apricot,” and the aprium tastes more like an apricot than a plum but its skin isn’t fuzzy.

Imported Papayas Cause Widespread Illness

Food RecallSo far, 97 people in 23 states have developed a food-borne illness that has been linked to Mexican papayas. This outbreak has led to 10 hospitalizations but no deaths.  The two states hit hardest by the outbreak were Texas, with 25 victims, and Illinois, with 17 cases.

 

The source of the contamination has been traced to Agromod Produce, Inc. of McAllen Texas the Company is recalling all papayas because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Agona.  Recent sampling by the FDA found the outbreak strain in two papaya samples collected at Agromod Produce and at the U.S. border headed for the Agromod facility. Distribution of the product has been suspended while the FDA and the company continue to investigate the source of the problem.

E. coli Testing: To Fund or Not to Fund? It’s an Important Question

SproutsFruits and vegetables that we eat raw (lettuce, tomatoes, sprouts, melons, etc.) are one of the main causes of food-borne illness outbreaks.  Therefore, you may be reassured to know that the federal government’s Microbiological Data Program (MDP) tests about 15,000 annual samples of vulnerable produce for salmonella and E. coli, including the most deadly types of this latter organism.  And you may be apprehensive and enjoy your summer fruits and salads less if you read that last month the House voted to stop funding this program.  Will the Senate do the same?  Should you be writing to your senator asking him/her to vote against this effort to end MDP?  Let’s look at what the arguments are on both sides.

China’s Sickening Spring; U.S. Multi-State Sprout Recall

Food RecallChina’s Food Contamination Nightmare:

You’ve heard “don’t drink the water” advice in regard to some foreign travel.  Well, this is a broader warning:  If you’re planning a trip to China, don’t eat anything while you’re there.  You say you get hungry without food?  Alternatively, lug some luggage full of granola bars and other healthy non-perishables.  If you think I’m kidding, you’re right.  But I was flabbergasted and horrified by the recent reports describing rampant food contamination in China.  This is of concern not only for those who travel to China; the U.S. imports many edible products and food ingredients that you may not want in your kitchen or those of the restaurants you dine at.

Plate Replaces Pyramid for Nutrition Guidelines; Portion Control Plates Help You Comply

Food Plate Got a lot on your plate?  Well, whatever the amount, half should be produce.  The latest government guidelines for healthy eating (unveiled in late May, 2011) have replaced the familiar food pyramid symbol with a very appropriate round plate.  The plate is divided in half and then into four unequal sections. One side of the diameter is for produce, with veggies getting more space than fruit.  On the other side are compartments for grains and protein, with grains getting the larger space? What about dairy? That’s a separate smaller circle implying a glass of milk or a cup or yogurt.  Though the plate image is lacking in specificity, a USDA website fills in the gaps.

“Bugs” and a Distinguished “Bug” Fighter

CutterThis week, as is often the case, we have both good news and bad news to report from the world of food science. Shelf Life Advice is especially happy to relate this good news: one of  the members of our site’s Advisory Board—Dr. Catherine Cutter--is  being honored as the recipient of the 2011 American Meat Science Association (AMSA) Distinguished Extension-Industry Service Award, richly deserved because her  research and extension programs  have helped the meat industry provide us with safer products.

Newsworthy Info About Rhubarb, Coffee, and Pork

RhubarbIs rhubarb dangerous? Is coffee good for your health?  What did the USDA recently recommend about pork? The answers are all in the following article.

 

RHUBARB: Watch out for those leaves!

 

Rhubarb is in season and in the news right now.  The annual Rhubarb Festival in Lanesboro, Minnesota was held on June 4, and other such festivals are scheduled worldwide in the near future.

 
 

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