FitSugar

Tainted Cantaloupes and Listeriosis: What You Need to Know

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:11:10 PDT

Listeria-tainted cantaloupes have now affected at least 14 states including Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and California. So far, 55 infections and eight deaths have been confirmed, and even more are suspected. Local, state, and federal health experts are investigating the increasing outbreak connected to whole cantaloupes grown in the Rocky Ford-region of Colorado and shipped by supplier Jensen Farms of Holly, CO. The FDA issued a cantaloupe recall on Sept. 14, after tests revealed victims were infected with four strains of listeria. Jenson Farms is fully cooperating with health officials to determine the cause of the outbreak.

The whole cantaloupes may be marked by one of two stickers: A green and white sticker that reads: Product of USA - Frontera Produce - Colorado Fresh - Rocky Ford Cantaloupe. Or, a gray, yellow, and green sticker that reads: Jensen Farms - Sweet Rocky Fords. If you've purchased cantaloupe from this company, throw it out ASAP. Even if you've eaten the melon and haven't gotten sick, ditch the fruit anyway as infections can arise up to two months after eating a food contaminated with listeria. Also, the FDA warns people not to attempt to wash away the bacteria as both the inside and outside of the melons might be contaminated.

I'm sure you have tons of questions about listeriosis, so keep reading to learn more about this infection, and find out what you can do to prevent getting sick.

Tips For Creating a Wedding Feast Fit For a Pregnant Bride

LilSugar — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:00:25 PDT

Hold the Brie, cut some of the charcuterie, and table the tuna tartare! Even sans the champagne, the wedding feast is a decadent meal, but expectant mamas may want to take a few precautions when it comes to planning their menu. Being with child means that women have to be mindful of foods that can cause Listeria. According to WebMD, Listeriosis is food poisoning caused by eating contaminated foods. It's dangerous for pregnant women because it can lead to premature babies, newborn infections, and stillbirth. The bacteria is found in soil and water:

Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil or from manure used as fertilizer.

Animals can carry the bacteria and can contaminate meats and dairy products.

Processed foods, such as soft cheeses and cold cuts, can be contaminated after processing.

Unpasteurized (raw) milk or foods made from unpasteurized milk can be contaminated.

Foods that can cause listeria include unpasteurized dairy products and raw or undercooked proteins. For the full list of items pregnant brides should consider not consuming, check out this list.

Listeria and the Harms of Food Poisoning During Pregnancy

LilSugar — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:00:00 PDT

CurleyQ posted this question in the Ask Anything box. She wondered if anyone else's doctor told them not to eat deli meats unless they were heated thoroughly due to the bacteria "listeria"?

According to WebMD, Listeriosis is food poisoning caused by eating contaminated foods. It's dangerous for pregnant women because it can lead to premature babies, newborn infections, and stillbirth. It said that the bacteria is found in soil and water:

Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil or from manure used as fertilizer.

Animals can carry the bacteria and can contaminate meats and dairy products.

Processed foods, such as soft cheeses and cold cuts, can be contaminated after processing.

Unpasteurized (raw) milk or foods made from unpasteurized milk can be contaminated.

Both my doctor and BabySugar's doctor advised us against eating certain foods as a precaution. BabySugar compiled this list of foods to avoid while expecting based on the one she received in her hospital pregnancy packet. Check it out.

Food Poisoning From Vacuum-Packed Food!?!

FitSugar — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 08:45:00 PDT

Those perfectly sealed shiny packs of sliced cheese, raw meat, and deli cold cuts won't seem so perfect after you hear this: The packaging could be responsible for a deadly type of food poisoning.

Vacuum-packed foods are deprived of oxygen to keep them fresh and boost their shelf life, but according to new research, the lack of oxygen is what this bacteria, known as Listeria monocytogenes, loves most. Listeria monocytogenes a super-bacteria of sorts can even grow in the cold temperatures found in refrigerators.

This oxygen-deprived Listeria gets 100 times stronger compared to when it does have oxygen. It makes sense since this bacteria likes to live inside your gut, which has no oxygen. The worst part is that this stronger form of Listeria is responsible for killing 25% of the people it infects.

Food microbiologists say that NOT vacuum-packing foods could lead to other problems, so they're not planning on having us ditch these shiny packages any time soon. Although they are definitely going to have to think of a new method to seal our food in a safer way.

Fit's Tips: If you don't want to avoid all food found in this type of packaging including raw meats, raw veggies, raw and cooked poultry, raw and smoked fish and soft cheeses like Brie and feta, make sure these foods are cooked thoroughly before you eat them.

Source

Oscar Mayer Chicken Recalled, Among Others

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 11:05:34 PST

Yet another popular food item has been recalled due to being infected with a deadly bacteria.

Carolina Culinary Foods has recalled 52,650 pounds of fully cooked chicken breasts produced on Jan. 9 and distributed nationwide to retailers. The six-ounce packages are labeled OSCAR MAYER/LOUIS RICH CHICKEN BREAST STRIPS WITH RIB MEAT, GRILLED, FULLY COOKED -- READY TO EAT. Each package has the number "P-19676" inside the USDA inspection mark on front and a use-by-date of "19 Apr 2007" on back.

According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a sample of the meat tested in Georgia was contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause listeriosis, a rare but serious infection. Currently there have been no reported cases of illness linked to the recalled chicken. Anyone with questions about the recall should contact Kraft Consumer Response at (800) 871-7117.

The chicken recall follows a string of food recalls including peanut butter due to salmonella as well as baby food and cantaloupe.

Foodie Friday Link Time: Peppers, Candy, and Wine

FitSugar — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 10:13:58 PDT

13 ideas for cooking the surprising superfood bell pepper - DailySpark
Just in time for Halloween: 6 health reasons to eat candy - Self
Good news for red wine lovers: it may stop breast cancer growth! - Shape
The ups and downs of paleo pancakes - Fitnessista
Listeria recall expands; bagged lettuce recalled too - Prevention
Gluten-free goodies that kids and adults will love for Halloween - Fit Bottomed Girls
Get baking with this skinny snickerdoodle recipe - Vitamin G
Healthy and tasty grillables: barbecue chicken burgers - Peanut Butter Fingers

Source: Flickr User chascar

Why You Should Marinate Your Meat

FitSugar — Fri, 27 May 2011 11:13:40 PDT

Barbecue season is upon us, so let's celebrate by grilling, since it's an easy and low-fat way to cook. If you're grilling, protect your health by marinating your meat. Here are seven things explaining why marinating is good for your health and how to do it.

Marinating meat, fish, and poultry significantly decreases the amount of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines (HCAs) produced when the meat is cooked at high temperatures, like in grilling. Marinades can reduce HCAs by as much as 99 percent. Adding rosemary to the marinade may even up the anticancer potential of your marinade even more. While research is unclear why marinades protect meat so much, the belief is that they act as a barrier against the high heat, or may reduce chemical precursors of carcinogens from the meat.
Marinades may slow the growth of harmful bacteria, like listeria.

Learn a few more tips about marinades when you