Memorial Day Weekend BEEF Recall

Approximately 95,898 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 are being recalled by Valley Meats LLC, a Coal Valley, Illinois company... just in time for the big Memorial Day Weekend here in the USA.

The ground beef products named in the recall were produced on March 10, 2009, and were distributed to various locations nationwide. Brands include 3S Brand Products, Grillmaster Brand Products, J & B Brand Products, Klub Brand Products, Thick 'N Savory Brand Products, Ultimate Brand Products, and a variety of products with no specified name brand.

Details for which products under each brand are affected by the recall can be seen at the FSIS website through this link.

The problem was discovered through an epidemiological investigation of illnesses. On May 13, 2009, FSIS was informed by the Ohio Department of Health of a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 infections. Illnesses have been reported in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

Media and consumers questions regarding the recall should be directed to the company spokesperson at (309) 799-7341.

Please be careful and have a safe, wonderful Memorial Day Weekend.

Everything You Read...

There's an old saying that goes something like this: "You can't trust everything you read."

With the proliferation of Big Pharma ads flooding mainstream media these days, it might get a wee bit harder for all of us to sift through the "facts" about various medications and their intended use. And now, the FDA has drafted new guidelines that could make the decision for doctors -- on what pill to give when -- all that more difficult...

You see, back in 2003, a New York Times report came out that detailed a criminal and civil investigation of a drug company.

Court documents showed that company officials hired a marketing firm to write medical journal articles that placed their drug in a positive light. The company paid $12,000 for each article and an additional $1,000 to various doctors who agreed to allow their names to be listed as "authors." Salespeople then distributed the phony articles to doctors to persuade them that the drug was safe and effective for off-label use.

If you're into detail, here's an interesting read.

Just so you know, back in the late 90s a law was passed allowing drug reps to share peer-reviewed articles with doctors.

But back then there were two conditions:

1. Copies of the articles had to be submitted to the FDA, and
2. A drug company that submitted an article had to promise to begin the process of seeking FDA approval for the off-label use of the drug.

In other words, before the drug company could send the article out to doctors, they would also have to "prove" their drug could meet the "new use" implied in the peer-reviewed articles by conducting their own efficacy tests for the new use.

That previous law lapsed a couple of years ago, and since then the issue about sharing articles has been in limbo.

But a new draft guidance seeks to establish clear guidelines, AND those two annoying (for Big Pharma) requirements have been dropped. No more bothering with sending copies of articles to the FDA, and no more promises to mount studies to examine little details like efficacy and safety.

According to a New York Times report, one FDA representative confides that "the agency did not really enforce those requirements anyway."

If you read our "Drugs in our Water" article the other day and checked out the AP news release, you might have read this quote:

Over the past five years, the number of U.S. prescriptions rose 12 percent to a record 3.7 billion, while nonprescription drug purchases held steady around 3.3 billion, according to IMS Health and The Nielsen Co.

With this new "guideline" I'm guessing the sales for presecription drugs are going to skyrocket to new and much higher heights.

Drugs in our Drinking Water

In the course of a five-month inquiry, the Associate Press announced that drugs have been detected in the drinking water supplies of 24 major metropolitan areas -- from Southern California to Northern New Jersey, from Detroit to Louisville, Ky -- the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans. (read story here)

What kind of drugs?

A vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones...

Although the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny, measured in quantities of parts per billion or trillion, and in most instances fall far below the levels of a medical dose, there's still cause for alarm among scientists worried about the long-term consequences to human health.

The USA EPA has actually been aware of the problem for some time, both from the human prescription drugs leaching into water supplies as well as those drugs flowing into water resources as a result of algricultural practices.

They had this to say in the Fox news report on the subject:

"We recognize it is a growing concern and we're taking it very seriously," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, assistant administrator for water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Some think the EPA is only doling out lip service. In fact, the EPA's recent move to "water down" the effects of large factory farm manure spreading has recently earned them a black eye from certain watchdog groups. You can see the "request for public comment" on the issue here.

Think the water problems are just in the USA? Think again...

For example, in Canada, a study of 20 Ontario drinking water treatment plants by a national research institute found nine different drugs in water samples. Japanese health officials in December called for human health impact studies after detecting prescription drugs in drinking water at seven different sites.

You can read the full article here.

Your Circadian Rhythm

Daylight Savings Time means pushing the clocks ahead in spring for many of us. If you're feeling a bit "out of sorts" following this tradition, it could be owing to your circadian ryhthm.

What is Circadian Ryhthm?

Wikipedia defines it as:

A circadian rhythm is a roughly-24-hour cycle in the physiological processes of living beings, including plants, animals, fungi and cyanobacteria.

In other words, it's your internal body clock that keeps on ticking to its own beat.

Circadian rhythms are an intrinsic part of many body systems and processes -- even ones that don't seem to have anything to do with sleep. Although research into this area of health is relatively new, scientists are already discovering that disruptions in our normal 24-hour cycles, such as turning the clocks ahead by one hour, can lead to all sorts of seemingly unrelated problems.

What can Happen when our Circadian Ryhthm is Disrupted?

One recent study found that circadian rhythms (CR) play a key role in metabolism and weight gain, however the most common side effect is insomnia.

As CR plays an important role in determining the sleeping and feeding patterns of all animals, including human beings -- clear patterns are emerging of other functions of CR, including determining of core body temperature, brain wave activity, hormone production, cell regeneration and other biological activities linked to this daily cycle.

When you tamper with your day/night, it may take time for your internal clock to adjust.

Tips for Easing into your new Circadian Rythm

Think you're going to beat your CR into submission after changing the clocks? Think again... It's actually best, if you can't sleep, to ease yourself into the new rythm. If you can't sleep, try avoiding caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol, especially at night. Also, create a restful environment prior to sleep time, with soft music, maybe a warm bath... it all helps.

Happy Daylight Savings Time!

OECD report reveals growing counterfeit problem

Kiwis, conserved vegetables, milk powder, butter, ghee, baby food, instant coffee, alcohol, drinks, confectionery, and hi-breed corn seeds are among the most counterfeited articles in the world according to a new report from the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), to be published this June.

“Trade in counterfeit goods is a big problem and getting bigger,” said John Dryden, Deputy Director of the OECD’s Science, Technology and Industry Directorate. “It is pervasive, it involves some pretty unsavoury and ruthless characters, and it has serious implications for health, safety, living standards and jobs. It is also a major disincentive to invent and innovate.”

The market for counterfeit and pirated products can be divided into two important sub-markets. In the primary market, consumers purchase counterfeit and pirated products believing they have purchased genuine articles. The products are often sub-standard and carry health and safety risks that range from mild to life-threatening. In the secondary market, consumers looking for what they believe to be bargains knowingly buy counterfeit and pirated products.

...In the food and drink sector, few people would knowingly purchase counterfeit food or drink products, due in part to the potential health risks involved. Such risks range from general discomfort, to serious illness and even death. As discussed in the sectoral assessment, this has been the case for poorly distilled raw spirits and fake baby formula.

The OECD report makes a number of recommendations for ways to address the issues and calls on governments to clamp down. Click to view the Executive Summary (pdf format) of the report online.

Tainted Pet Food Reaches Pork

In our earlier story about tainted pet food, we mentioned the concern some experts had about the melamine-tainted wheat gluten entering our food supply. This concern was expanded to a rice protein, also imported from China. According to AOL News today, this may have happened -- not directly, but indirectly through pork. (link)

WASHINGTON (April 26) - Several hundred of the 6,000 hogs that may have eaten contaminated pet food are believed to have entered the food supply for humans, the government said Thursday. The potential risk to human health was said to be very low.

In the state-by-state breakdown of potential hogs contaminated, it's the South Carolina investigation which caught my attention:

SOUTH CAROLINA: Urine tests done on some of the 800 hogs now quarantined at a farm have tested positive for low levels of melamine. None went to slaughter. According to the state veterinarian, none of the suspect feed was fed to the hogs. Federal tests on the feed have come up negative. The positive urine tests could not be immediately explained, although contaminated feed could have escaped detection during tests, the FDA said.

If they did not eat the tainted pet food in question, then one has to wonder how melamine could have gotten into this group of hogs.
CLEMSONews indicated;

The potentially contaminated feed was bought as salvage pet food from Diamond Pet Foods Inc., which received contaminated wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate from China. ...State officials are waiting for guidance from the FDA, FSIS and EPA as to the significance of these tests and other pending tests.

Livestock and Poultry Health is a unit of Clemson University Public Service and Agriculture. The agency inspects and regulates the state meat and poultry industries.

Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food

The USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a new report last week that reveals startling deficiencies in food safety. For examples, there has been a 50 percent increase in E coli infections since 2004, and a whopping 78 percent increase in Vibrio infections (generally caused by eating raw shellfish) over the past decade.

Progress was made against rising cases of food contamination through consumer education, where the USDA and other Government entities promoted fully cooking of meat products (such as sea food, poultry, eggs, and beef) and thoroughly washing surfaces that came into contact of such raw produce.

BUT, the huge outbreaks associated with spinach, lettuce, tomatoes and peanut butter that have occurred over the last 6 months suggest the battle for reducing foodborn illnesses is losing ground. The problem has spread to foods that are commonly eaten raw.

As important as it is to detect contamination and quickly pull such products from the market ...it is equally important -- MORE important in my humble opinion -- to prevent contaminations at the source.

As BeverageDaily writes, "...an absolute priority needs to be better systems for prevention."

Voluntary guidance or industry self regulatory schemes is a short sighted answer to a growing problem that calls for immediate and permanent solutions, according to Consumers Union...

ConAgra [in response to the Peter Pan Peanut Butter contamination responsible for at least 4 deaths] said it "had plans in place to address this kind of situation". Now the firm is totally renovating and redesigning its plant to separate raw ingredients from finished products, as well as appointing a Global Food Safety executive and forming a Food Safety Advisory Committee.

These are all positive moves, it's just a shame they needed to be prompted by disaster. Learning from mistakes is good, but preventing them is even better.

Salmonella infections cause an estimated 1.4 million human illnesses and 400 deaths annually in the United States, according to the CDC. In total, the CDC estimates that 76 million Americans get sick and 5,000 die from foodborne hazards each year in the United States.

Sources:

CDC Report (link): "Preliminary FoodNet Data on the Incidence of Infection with Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food --- 10 States, 2006"

BeverageDaily (link): "Food contamination: time for action"

CDC Report (link): "Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Associated with Eating Ground Beef --- United States, 2004"

Taste Test for Smokers

"With a few modifications to their diet - consuming items that make cigarettes taste bad, such as a cold glass of milk, and avoiding items that make cigarettes taste good, like a pint of beer - smokers can make quitting a bit easier," says Dr Joseph McClernon, lead researcher on a new study that was conducted by researchers at Duke University Medical Center.

Overall, dairy products (such as milk or cheese), non-caffeinated beverages (such as water or juice), and fruits and vegetables were found to worsen the taste of cigarettes, by 19 percent, 14 percent and 16 percent of respondents respectively.

Forty-four percent of participants reported that alcoholic beverages enhance the taste of cigarettes; 45 percent reported caffeinated beverages, such as tea, cola and coffee; and 11 percent reported meat.

If you've been looking for ways to kick the habit, you might want to consider a few changes to your menu plan. Visit this link for more details on this new report.

Pet Food Recall Widens

Del Monte Foods, Nestle Purina PetCare Co., Hills Nutrition and Menu Foods are all part of a growing list of pet food manufacturers who are recalling specific brands of pet food which have been formulated with the contaminated wheat gluten imported from an Asian source.

The latest disturbing news on this is that according to Del Monte (quote):

Del Monte Foods has confirmed that the melamine-tainted wheat gluten used in several of its recalled pet food products was supplied as a "food grade" additive, raising the likelihood that contaminated wheat gluten might have entered the human food supply....

Del Monte issued a voluntary recall Saturday for several products under the Gravy Train, Jerky Treats, Pounce, Ol' Roy, Dollar General and Happy Trails brands.

Wheat gluten is sold in both "food grade" and "feed grade" varieties. Either may be used in pet food, but only "food grade" gluten may be used in the manufacture of products meant for human consumption. Wheat gluten is a common food additive used as a thickener, dough conditioner, and meat substitute. It is widely used as an additive in commercial bakery items and special purpose flours.

Persons suffering from celiac disease must avoid foods containing all forms of gluten. If this particular shipment of gluten has indeed entered the food supply chain, it could have far reaching consequences.

Meanwhile, the FDA now says the contamination in wet pet food that has injured and killed pets across the country may not have been the pesticide aminopterin but possibly a fertilizer and plastics agent called melamine.

...FDA investigators are not certain how melamine would sicken or kill dogs and cats; there is little scientific information available about melamine exposure in animals.

One firm in New York disputes the melamine theory as the source of the many peat deaths and illnesses. They claim the traces of aminopterin discovered are a more likely source owing to its known toxicity as a rat poison and cancer drug treatment.

Earlier in the day, the FDA said its labs found no aminopterin in its tests. Neither did labs at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University in New York. Cornell has been involved in testing of the Menu Foods since the first indication of the problem, "We have not been able to confirm aminoptrin in the food or body samples," says Donald Smith, dean of the college.

For details on the wide range of pet foods recalled by Menu Foods, vist their pet food recall information website here. You can also find the "Frequently Asked Questions" on the Menu Foods pet food recall this site.

Purina's recalled products include:

13.2-ounce and 22-ounce ALPO Prime Cuts cans and 6-, 8-, 12- and 24-can ALPO Prime Cuts Variety Packs. They have four-digit code dates of 7037 through 7053, followed by the plant code 1159. Those codes follow a "Best Before Feb. 2009" date. This information should be checked on the bottom of the can or the top or side of the multi-pack cartons.

Purina's 5.3-ounce Mighty Dog pouch products, manufactured by Menu Foods, were previously withdrawn from the market as a precaution on March 16 as part of the Menu Foods recall.

Hill's Science Diet Savory Cuts Feline canned cat foods, manufactured by Menu Foods, were previously withdrawn from the market as a precaution. Hills Nutrition products are generally only available through a vetrinarian source. Hills' affected products include:

The affected products:

• Prescription Diet™ m/d™ Feline dry food, 4 pound bag, 52742 42770(all lot numbers)

• Prescription Diet™ m/d™ Feline dry food, ten pound bag, 52742 42790(all lot numbers)

The company advised consumers to stop using the product and return it for a refund. Hill's is reformulating the food so that it will not contain wheat gluten, the company said.

Please don't consider the above the ony products affected. There are more not mentioned above which can be found at the various manufacturers' websites.

And as I mentioned, the recall is widening ...the list is still growing as this story continues to evolve.

Yesterday, the FDA announced that it has traced the contaminated wheat gluten to a single processor, Xuzhou Anying Biological Technology of Peixian, China, but has not released the name of the U.S. distributor who supplied the product to Del Monte, Menu Foods, Nestle Purina, and Hills Nutritional.

In all, more than 70 brands and over 60 million cans and pouches of dog and cat food are now part of this massive recall, as well as at least one brand of dry cat food.

We'll bring you more on the subject as the story unfolds.

The Gap in Life Expectancy

"There is a big gap between 'total life expectancy' and 'healthy life expectancy'," Professor David Richardson, scientific adviser to the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN UK), is quoted saying in this recent article.

Professor Richardson points out in his new report that as people age their energy intake declines, making it much more difficult to ensure the micronutrient intake of diet as a whole. Such a deficit in micronutrient intake offers an opportunity for food supplements.

The report focuses on a wide range of health conditions and how the diet and micronutrients may offer protection, including cognitive function, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, cancer, cognitive function, gut health and immunity, and bone and joint health.

If more attention was placed on improving healthy ageing, the potential economic, health and social burdens could be reduced, said Richardson.

The report, titled "Nutrition, Healthy Ageing and Public Policy", will be available at the "International Perspectives on Dietary Supplement Regulation" workshop on April 17, at Yokohama in Japan, and organised by the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations’ (IADSA) to address the evolution of dietary supplement regulation.

The elderly currently make up 10 per cent of the global population – a figure that is expected to double by 2050, placing increasing demands on public health systems and medical and social services. In 2005 the World Health Assembly addressed the issue by adopting a resolution to strengthen and promote active and healthy ageing.

According to IADSA's healthy ageing report, evidence supports the premise that good nutrition, specific nutrients and other food substances can play a major role in maintaining and enhancing physical and mental performance.

Taking the example of omega-3 fatty acids, Prof. Richardson pointed out that it is "almost impossible" for the elderly population to achieve the recommended intakes from the diet, based on current consumption.

“Increases in healthcare expenditure will outpace economic growth in many countries, so health professionals and policymakers will need to give greater priority to maximising the quality of life of older people and to ensuring the most cost-efficient methods of nutritional support,” said Professor Richardson.

“Healthcare strategies, including the wider use of food supplements, could favourably modify the age-related decline in most organ functions and the development and progression of many chronic diseases.”

Meanwhile, here in the USA, physician and alternative medicine veteran Dr. Julian Whitaker, who runs the Whitaker Wellness Institute in Newport Beach, California, pitted mainstream medical practice and the pharmaceutical industry against the potential of the dietary supplement industry to act preventatively.

In this article, he said the medical establishment sets the definitions of disease so that more and more people fall within diseased ranks and need to be medicated.

"You create the conditions, you sell the conditions...," United Natural Products Alliance executive director Loren Israelsen said in his introductory comments. "Whoever defines these terms is likely to win the game."

So far, pharmaceutical companies and their political clout are winning the game, while the public and the dietary supplement industry lose, according to Whitaker.

...Whitaker cited that in 2004, the US spent $1.9mn on national health care expenditure and this figure is set to double over the course of the next decade. Despite this colossal investment, Americans rank 22nd out of 23 countries in terms of their health.

"In order to get people to take these drugs, they have to create fear," said Whitaker, pointing-out that pharmaceutical companies spend $4bn yearly on direct-to-consumer marketing in the US The only other developed country that permits such a practice is New Zealand.

Interestingly, the FDA is currently looking to increase regulations/guidelines on both "supplements" and "funtional foods." More on that in a future post here at BLV Health Watch.

Update on March 2007 USA Food Recalls

There are a few very large recalls underway in the USA that consumers should be aware of:

1. U.S. Chicken Breast Recall (link):

Carolina Culinary Foods, a West Columbia, S.C., firm, initially recalled 52,650 pounds of fully cooked chicken breast strips on Feb. 18 because of possible bacterial contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The FSIS said the expansion of the recall of 6- and 12-ounce packages distributed to retail establishments nationwide was based on additional sampling initiated by Kraft Foods and conducted at a non-government laboratory.

The FSIS said the front of each recalled package bears the establishment number "P-19676" inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture mark of inspection. Each recalled package also has a "Use by" date of earlier than "28 MAY 2007."

The expanded recall totals approximately 2.8 million pounds.

2. Summer Sausage Recall (link) in some States:

Sixteen-ounce packages of "RESER'S FINE FOODS, Premium BEEF SUMMER SAUSAGE, Natural Smoke Flavoring Added" -- distributed to retail stores in Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington -- are being voluntarily recalled by the Hempler Foods Group of Ferndale, Wash., owing to the presence of the presence of milk protein (hydrolyzed sodium caseinate), a potential allergen.

Each label bears the establishment number "EST. 6410" inside the USDA seal of inspection. Each package also bears a "Sell by" date of "3/13/07," "3/18/07," "4/25/07," "5/16/07," "6/16/07" or "8/27/07."

3. Ground beef recall (link) in western U.S.:

Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. of Wallula, Wash., is recalling approximately 16,743 pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service says the ground beef was distributed in Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Utah in 60-pound boxes, each containing six 10-pound chubs of "ROUND, COARSE GROUND BEEF, 85/15." The box end also bears a label with the establishment number "Est. 9268" as well as a "BEST BEFORE OR FROZEN BY" date of "03/08/07" and packaging date "02/16/07."

Selenium, B6 and B12

We'd like to follow up our "Folic Acid story" with the following - to balance things out a bit...

Yet another study has been released implicating B12 deficiencies -- or more accurately, linking low selenium, B6 and B12 to increased age-related difficulties:

Researchers from Cornell University have linked low serum concentrations of selenium and vitamins B6 and B12 to age-related difficulties in conducting in daily activities, leading them to conclude that nutritional status is a key factor in helping people live an active life for longer.

...The study, entitled “Low micronutrient levels as a predictor of incident disability in older women”, defined disability in activities of daily living as self-reported difficulty in performing two or more activities such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring and eating. Read full story here.

And as I mentioned in my previous post, the fortification of grains with folic acid could mask a B12 deficiency. Not good news for the large group of aging baby boomers.

Currently, approximately seven million people over the age of 65 in the US are disabled. But, with baby boomers accounting for nearly 30 percent of the American population and inching closer to 65, this looks set to rise dramatically. Catering to this age group is a major focus for the nutritional products industry.

Folic Acid - the Evidence?

When the news first came out in 1998 about the US' and Canada's plans for the mandatory fortification of grain products with folic in a bid to reduce incidences of neural tube defects in babies, I admit -- we stood among the skeptics.

Why? Because of the B12 deficiency problem that comes with it which, if unaddressed, can lead to dementia. Particularly prevalent in older people, it has identical symptoms to anaemia caused by folate deficiency – but while folic acid will remove these symptoms, it won't address the lack of B12.

"If folic acid impedes diagnosis, it could result in neurological damage."

Jess Halliday, editor of NutraIngredients.com and NutraIngredients-USA.com, has stepped up to weigh in on the other side of the issue ...with new evidence on the pro-fortification side.

Although we here at BLV remain cautious on the subject, since baby boomers are entering their "golden years," and more care needs to be taken regarding the health of this extremely large part of the world's population... still, it's worth checking into news from the other side of the fence on the issue. Visit through this link to read what Jess has to say on the positive side of the subject.

Benzene Update - further evidence of a cover-up?

"As I see it, every day you do one of two things: build health or produce disease in yourself." -- Adelle Davis (1904 - 1974), American pioneer in the field of nutrition

The quote above brings to mind how important it is for all of us to develop healthy habits. But, there are many challenges facing us today that go beyond what we are in control over when it comes to building our own health.

The recent salmonella in spinach disaster that happened here in the USA is one example. We eat spinach because we believe it is good for us... we have no control over whether or not it is coming to us in a contaminated form.

And as much as we'd like to trust (in fact, NEED to trust) the FDA and the USDA for our safety as it pertains to the food supply chain, it gets to be very difficult when incidents like the benzene situation are uncovered.

We've written about it on a few occasions at BLV Health watch: like here, and here and now yet another article comes out about a benzene cover-up. In the article, published by BeverageDaily, they write:

Cadbury Beverages, now Cadbury Schweppes, privately withdrew its Diet Orange Crush drink in five regions in the US in 1990 because tests found some products with benzene several times above the acceptable limit. Benzene is a cancerous chemical. ...The revelation, confirmed by newly released official documents passed to BeverageDaily.com, raises new questions about the seriousness of the benzene in soft drinks problem.

The article even provides info given by the FDA on the subject:

“Levels of benzene formed are highly variable with treatment, but ranged from four ppb to several hundred ppb,” an FDA memo dated January 1991 says. “Even sitting at room temperature in the dark yield [sic] low benzene levels after one or more days.” Heat and light exposure rapidly increased benzene formation.

And a final comment in the article:

“It's outrageous that when a known carcinogen such as benzene was found in popular USA soft drinks, neither the beverage industry or FDA notified consumers,” said an ex-Cadbury scientist, who approached BeverageDaily.com alongside lawyer Ross Getman about the benzene in soft drinks problem.

Fast forward to the recent samonella-spinach scare...

It's been known for quite some time that bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella can be absorbed by plants -- particularly radish, lettuce, spinach, and root vegetables such as carrots.

Some clinical studies believe manure from large factory farms are the cause of these microbes getting into our fresh produce (owing to the higher likelihood of microbes being present in the manure from factory farms). A few older studies, some of which were ordered by the USDA, Dept. of Ag and other related government bodies responsible in whole or in part for our food safety, cleary show a direct connection to factory farming methods and increase in spread of E. coli and salmonella -- particularly at slaughterhouses/packing plants -- and in our meats.

The recent recall of hams and turkeys right before Thanksgiving dinner here in the USA (and which may have been contaminated with Listeria) might give us a few uneasy moments to pause and think: is our food really safe?

Now, for the most part, meats are generally cooked.

But fresh produce, such as lettuce, spinach, carrots, etc. are often used raw in salads. When the bacteria is "absorbed" by produce, (in one rumored report, it occurred due to spread of manure received from a factory farm -- used to fertilize their produce in order to apply the "organic" label to their products) I daresay no matter how hard you wash it, I doubt you can guarantee the removal of all the microbes. The worst part? Not knowing if those microbes are present or not.

We'll be bringing you some very important articles and news on this subject in the New Year ahead. More updates on other subjects coming soon.

Until then, be safe, be well, and be careful out there.

Changing the health and wellbeing of all Americans

Byron J. Richards, Founder/Director of Wellness Resources, is a board-certified clinical nutritionist and nationally renowned health expert, radio personality, educator and author. And according to a recent article, he's not too happy with the changes ahead for the health and wellbeing of Americans:

"Looking back in ten, twenty, or fifty years there will be a new congressional inquiry. This one will be centered on the massive numbers of deaths of Americans at the hands of Big Pharma and the FDA. It will make the Vioxx scandal look like a Sunday afternoon picnic. The congressional leaders, under pressure from millions of adversely affected patients and families of the injured, will be forced to examine the sordid monopoly of healthcare in America."

The article is worth a quick read.

Preventing another Vioxx mess?

The Associated Press reported today:

The Food and Drug Administration and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have agreed to develop an automated system to detect unanticipated problems with prescription drugs and medical devices.

The current system relies on the largely manual assessment of reports voluntarily submitted to the FDA, sometimes months or years after an event has occurred (reference the Vioxx recall). The new automated system is intended to recognize patterns and alert problems much quicker.

New Research Underway on Tick-Borne Illnesses

Scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center in the USA have received a $2 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease to investigate if increased intake of antioxidants can protect against tick-borne illnesses.

-- Rocky Mountain spotted fever (potentially life threatening) caused by the parasitic bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii.

-- Mediterranean Spotted Fever (also called Boutonneuse fever), caused by Rickettsia connorii (usually transmitted by dog ticks)

The science team, led by Sanjeev Sahni, are investigating the role that antioxidants, like alpha-lipoic acid, vitamins C and E, and antioxidants found in green tea, might play in preventing the rickettsia bacteria.

Visit through this link to read the full details of this story.

Government WIC Nutritional program to be revised

The US government has proposed that its Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutritional program should be revised for the first time in over 25 years in order to better reflect the Dietary Guidelines for Americans... which would add fruit, vegetables and whole grains to the WIC packages for the fist time.

What is WIC?

Being pregnant or beastfeeding a baby is a big job. And the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) was designed to help. If you have a low income, or no income, and: you are pregnant or have recently given birth, and you have a nutrition or health problem ...then you might qualify for this no cost service available in most USA States.

WIC provides at no cost:
- nutritious foods to supplement your diet
- information on healthy eating
- and referrals for health care

The current proposed rule would implement the first comprehensive revisions to the WIC food packages since 1980.

Inventions: sucking the caffeine out of coffee

US-based Decaf Company is ready to licence newly developed polymers that can be used to control or remove caffeine content in all beverages as they are served, according to an article posted 27/07/2006 on FoodQualityNews.com

The polymers, known officially as molecularly-imprinted polymers or MIPs, can be attached to either a stirrer or cup. When used in a beverage the MIPs then bind caffeine molecules to them, removing them from the drink itself. DeCaf said a few stirs could cut caffeine by up to 70 per cent.

Most coffee beans are decaffeinated using chemicals that soak up the caffeine molecules, which can also dampen flavour and aroma. According to DeCaf Company, its new polymers could decaffeinate coffee without altering the coffee beans or tea leaves and without the use of chemicals.

Nutrition and eye health

Ever wonder about your vision "Eye-Q"? The American Optometric Association (AOA) website has an excellent quiz to help you determine how much you know about eye health and what you can do through diet/nutrition to keep your eyes healthy.

"Research has shown that nutrition can impact the development of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which are the two leading causes of blindness and visual impairment among millions of aging Americans. Nutrition may be particularly important given that currently, treatment options after diagnosis for these eye diseases are limited." AOA Website

Visit this link to take the quiz.