FitSugar

Another Salmonella Outbreak

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:00:00 PST

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a national salmonella outbreak. This recent outbreak is caused by the strain salmonella Typhimurium, which also caused an outbreak back 2006. As of Sept. 3, at least 388 people have become infected with this strain of salmonella, sending just under 70 people to the hospital to seek treatment. The majority of the cases are focused in California, Ohio, and Minnesota, but the public health departments of 42 states are participating in the ongoing investigation.

The cause of the outbreak is still undetermined, but the best way to avoid the bacteria is to thoroughly cook meat, poultry, and eggs, wash your hands thoroughly and often when cooking, and keep produce and meat separate during food preparation. Most people experience symptoms eight to 48 hours after becoming infected.

I sure do hope none of you will need to change your negative answer on my poll about food poisoning.

Salmonella Update: Mystery Solved?

FitSugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:10:00 PDT

We may be once again putting tomatoes on our plates, but the source of the salmonella outbreak has remained a mystery. The FDA just announced that a possible source of the salmonella outbreak – water. They found strains of salmonella in both irrigation water and serrano peppers at a Mexican farm in Nuevo Leon.

Since the tomato industry has lost over $300 million because so much produce had to be thrown out due to the government's warnings, the FDA has been hammered with questions, of course the most pressing one being, "Why did the investigation originally focus on tomatoes?" Officials said in the early part of the investigation, there was definitely a link to tomatoes, and that this red fruit still shouldn't be ruled out entirely. They also said it's possible that the salmonella outbreak was connected to several different kinds of produce. Well that would make sense if irrigation was the culprit.

As for now, two farms in Mexico are still under investigation: The Tamaulipas farm and the Nuevo Leon farm. People are still being advised to avoid raw jalapeño or serrano peppers from Mexico. I don't know about you, but something tells me this issue isn't a closed book. The Mexican government strongly disagrees with the FDA findings. First it was tomatoes, then it was hot peppers, and now the water. What element could possibly be implicated next?

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Yummy Links: From Salmonella to Homemade Ricotta

partysugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:00:33 PDT

The raw tomato Salmonella outbreak has spread to 16 states. - FitSugar
A lovely alternative to classic pasta salad: Thai shiitake mushroom salad. - 28 Cooks
Isn't this gorgeous dress cake perfect for a bridal shower? - Frosted Garden
When baking, don't add too much flour while kneading. - The Kitchn
The best of ballpark food. - The New York Times
Due to the recession, Safeway's baker's dozen will only include 12 items. - Slashfood
Boxed wine isn't that bad. Here are six to try.-Mainstreet
Learn how to make homemade ricotta.-The Wednesday Chef

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Link Time: The Coolest Moments From the Atlanta Food & Wine Fest

Susannah Chen — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:22:15 PDT

The coolest moments from the Atlanta Food & Wine Fest - Zagat
Guy Fieri's ultimate dude role: Indy 500 pace car driver - Eater
All the egg breakfast sandwiches you ever wanted - Delish
That sushi salmonella outbreak was linked to an unsanitary Indian factory - HuffPost Food
How to use your leftovers creatively - Food52
Julia Child now has a commemorative children's book, too - Grub Street SF
How temperature affects food flavors - The Daily Meal

Link Time: Stay Away From Spicy Tuna Rolls

Susannah Chen — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:22:33 PDT

Yellowfin tuna recall: steer very clear of spicy tuna rolls for now - HuffPost Food
Seven ways to save moolah on home cooking - Yahoo! Shine
McDonald's may soon be a 24-hour operation - BurgerBusiness
Meat-free Monday night: dandelion greens, farro, and a poached egg - Food52
Healthy meals to make in the microwave - The FN Dish
Inside Saveur editor James Oseland's kitchen - Saveur
How to get the garlic smell off your hands - Lifehacker
Giada joins the meatless Monday movement - Devour

Source: Flickr User quinn.anya

Don't Lick the Spoon! Holiday Baking Tips to Prevent Illness

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:38:56 PST

It's holiday baking time! But before you whip up all those fruitcakes and homemade Christmas cookies, keep these tips in mind to prevent the stomachache of food-borne illness and the headache of chemicals in foods.

Don't Lick the Spoon
Spritz cookies with a side of salmonella? Sounds like the worst holiday ever. Prevent a horrible bout of food poisoning this season by resisting the gooey, sugary raw cookie dough. One in 10,000 eggs may be contaminated with salmonella inside the egg shell, so it's just not worth the health risk. The same goes for ready-to-bake dough purchased at the grocery store. Recent news linked the 2009 E. coli outbreak to consuming prepackaged cookie dough, reinforcing the importance of baking batter to kill unwanted pathogens.

Keep reading to find out two more tips to stay healthy while baking this holiday season.

Link Time: Watch Larry David's Thanksgiving Special

Susannah Chen — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:15:20 PST

Don't miss Larry David's Funny or Die Thanksgiving special. - Eater
Guess what? Today's the fifth most popular day for pizza delivery. - The FN Dish
The farmer to blame for 2010's salmonella outbreak has left the egg industry. - Grub Street SF
Why 24/7 snacking is the next big food trend. - USA Today
How to carve a turkey in under five minutes. - Real Simple
Why there's a renewed interest in the varieties and flavors of freshly brewed tea. - QSR
Five hilarious turkey day fails. - Food Republic

All About Sprouts

Anna Monette Roberts — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:15:14 PDT

Many people associate sprouts with those stringy, wormy-looking mung bean sprouts in stir-fry dishes. Otherwise, you might think of the bitter alfalfa sprouts used to fill sandwiches. Did you know that sprouting extends to a wide variety of grains, beans, and nuts, and sprouting these food items can tremendously increase nutrition and digestibility? While fairly recent salmonella and E. coli outbreaks have deterred people from eating sprouts, with proper hygienic conditions, you can reap the benefits of sprouts by easily growing them in your own home or buy cooked products with sprouted ingredients.

Sprouting grains, beans, and nuts neutralizes the enzyme inhibitors and phytic acid, which make digestion and nutrient absorption a difficult process for your body. However, with moist and warm conditions, these hard-shelled seeds, grains, and beans begin to soften, open up, and become phytonutrient-rich. As a result, the sprouting stage of growth makes these foods easily digestible, lower on the glycemic index, and nutrient-packed, having increased levels of vitamins and antioxidants. In addition, sprouted grains and legumes require shorter cooking times, because the tough exterior shell has already broken down during the soaking process.

Yummy Links: From Alton Brown's Twitter Rant to Cutting Salt

YumSugar — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:23:13 PDT

Alton Brown's Twitter rant: have you ever seen him so angry? - Eater
Groupon knock-off Mobile Spinach is posting deals restaurants didn't agree to. - Grub Street SF
Find out which celebrity chefs actually cook in their own restaurants. - The Daily Meal
The CDC says this salmonella outbreak is more resistant to antibiotics than usual. - CNN
Favorite drinks to enjoy during the warmer months. - TLC
Gluten-free recipes that are sure to please everyone this Summer. - Food Republic
On that note, even the FDA is struggling to determine what "gluten-free" really means. - Delish
Cutting salt isn't as hard as you think. - KitchenDaily

Cargill Pulls 36 Million Pounds of Ground Turkey Off Shelves

Susannah Chen — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:50:34 PDT

You might want to steer clear of grilling turkey burgers for now: Agribusiness giant Cargill has just issued a recall of 36 million pounds of ground turkey in what's being called the largest food recall ever.

In a recent investigation, the US Department of Agriculture determined a link between Cargill's ground turkey product and a salmonella outbreak that has already killed one California man and sickened 79 others. Today, Cargill voluntarily recalled the 36 million pounds of fresh and frozen ground turkey, adding that production of ground turkey would remain on hold until the salmonella source was determined.

Food safety litigator William Marler told the LA Times, "This is, if not the largest, one of the largest class-one food recalls to happen in US history."

How disappointing, considering the fact that the current White House administration has made reforming food safety a priority. Do you feel confident that we're headed in the right direction with it comes to reducing the rate of foodborne illness in America?