FitSugar

Recall: 286,000 Pounds of Meat and Poultry

FitSugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:15:00 PDT

If you're thinking about grilling this week or have a freezer packed with convenience foods, check your meat. Gourmet Boutique, a food company based in Queens, NY, is recalling 286,000 pounds of meat and poultry. The recall is voluntary and includes more than 30 types of fresh and frozen products produced by the company, which may be contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The USDA reports that the contamination was discovered in sampling done by federal food safety inspectors and Florida agriculture officials.

The recall includes fresh meat and chicken salad produced between April 19 and 24, 2008. The frozen products were produced between Oct. 23, 2007 and April 23, 2008. Some of the products to look out for are Gourmet Boutique Curry Chicken Salad, Gourmet Boutique Turkey Club Twister, and Jan’s Buffalo Bob tortilla wrap sandwiches. Frozen foods include Archer Farms mini beef burritos, pulled-pork burritos, and chicken burritos.

There haven't been any cases of illness yet, but the bacteria could potentially cause Listeriosis, which involves a high fever, headache, and nausea. More seriously, people with weak immune systems could suffer from fatal infections. Consumers with questions about the recall can call Gourmet Boutique's recall hotline at (347) 887-0083.

Source

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.

Smarter Eats: Give Yourself a Meat Budget

Michele Foley — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:16:00 PDT

Whatever your reason, eating no less meat is a good thing. Beef recalls, environmental woes, and ethical concerns are enough to turn even the most Neanderthal-esque carnivore into a sprout-lovin' vegan. But for those of us that can't resist the lure of a juicy burger, luscious pork belly, or the satisfying saltiness of bacon, it's becoming harder to reconcile what we want with what's best.

As much as I want to believe that going grass fed is the solution to my problem, I know it isn't. The fact is that most of the meat in the world is factory farmed. I do my best to be a responsible eater but sometimes I hit up the local taco truck, try out a new restaurant, or go over to my house for the best ribs ever. And even though the meat I buy at home is from small farms and grass fed, I guarantee you that a good majority of the meals I buy out are made with factory-farmed meat. Yours probably are too.

To see what I'm doing to be a better meat eater,

Sugar Shout Out: Ian Somerhalder's Damon Looks Hot in The Vampire Diaries

PopSugar — Mon, 30 May 2011 23:55:00 PDT

The most cost-friendly airlines to fly with a pet

Fashionable finds for Memorial Day

3 Things to Ditch For Lent to Be Healthier and Happier

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:55:29 PST

Whether you're Christian or not, Lent is still a good time to give up unhealthy habits or change your fitness routine and/or diet. The 40-day period is enough time to make changes that will stick or at least provide you with a definite lesson in self-discipline. If you're still searching for something to give up this year, try one of our suggestions. Each is guaranteed to make you feel healthier while also adding a little extra pep in your step!

Sugar - It's hard to resist sugar - believe me, it's in everything! - but it's a bad habit that needs breaking. Too much of the sweet stuff increases the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke. It also has the potential to add a tremendous amount of calories to our diets, and our bodies can form a dependency on it. This Lent, follow our tips on cutting out added sugar from your diet - this also includes the artificial stuff. If going cold turkey is out-of-the-question, use natural sweeteners (sparingly) like honey or maple syrup and follow trainer Jackie Warner's advice by only eating foods that contain less than five grams of sugar per serving. Fruit is also an excellent way to fulfill the need for a sweet treat.
Go vegetarian - Traditionally, meat is given up during Lent, and whether you're religious or not, going vegetarian for 40 days and 40 nights has its benefits. Beef recalls, environmental woes, and ethical concerns are all good reasons to give up meat. Besides that, there are also major health benefits to going veggie. You might also find that going vegetarian will encourage you to cook more and try a wide of variety of veggies and legumes.
Ditch the caffeine - That morning boost you thought you got from your usual latte is probably more hoax than help. And even though giving up caffeine will be hard, once you get past the withdrawals, you'll find that you have more energy than you ever did before. The simple reason? Your body will no longer be addicted! Here's our painless plan for weaning yourself off the bean. And no cheating with decaf - it has enough caffeine in it to count!