Recently there were 21 outbreaks of salmonella in the U.S. resulting from alfalfa sprouts and spicy sprouts. This was the fourth salmonella outbreak of 2011. How can you reduce your chances of getting salmonella food poisoning?
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The CDC recently reported that 1 in 6 Americans get sick from pathogens in their food. In other words, 48 million people get sick and 3,000 people die every year from foodborne illnesses. 128,000 people are hospitalized each year because of food-related illnesses.
These numbers are actually lower than past estimates. But don’t get excited. The CDC says that this lower number is due to better scientific findings, and not because our food is getting safer.
The most common disease-causing germ is Norovirus, which accounts for 5.5 million infections a year. Salmonella comes in second, causing 1 million infections a year.
So what can you do to make sure you don’t get sick?
Be vigilante about staying up-to-date on food recalls. You can sign up to receive emails from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts.
Stay informed. It’s a part of our civic duty to know what’s up in Washington, because they make decisions on things like this – the food we eat. Our food safety is regulated by several agencies, including the FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Government officials want to pass a new food saftey bill that would give the FDA more authority over the food system. Many are worried that it won’t get passed if Congress only looks at the improved numbers in the CDC report, rather than the reason for the better numbers. Encourage your congressman to look closely at this new study before voting on the bill.
Know where your food is coming from. I know it’s hard in this day and age where most of what we eat comes from food manufacturers we’ll never meet, but it’s best to eat things when you know all the ingredients in them. Infectious disease expert Dr. Marc Siegel, who is associate professor of medicine at New York University, says that many recent food outbreaks are due to sloppiness in food processing. The studyidentified 31 major pathogens that caused 9.4 million episodes of foodborne illness. Knowing what’s in your food and how it’s made can help keep you safe.
A small consolation: the CDC report says that things aren’t getting worse. I’m still hoping they get a lot better.
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After the hospitalization of several college students in the past few months, four manufacturers of alcoholic energy drinks (also known as caffeinated alcoholic beverages, or CABs) are coming under fire. The FDA gave the companies 15 days to either explain how they will take their drinks off the market or defend them as being safe. The grace period has nearly expired.
While some have criticized the FDA for infringing on consumer rights, most health professionals and lawmakers agree that CABs are dangerous.
Here are some reasons why it might be a good idea to stay away from CABs:
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What is your family’s safety worth? Wouldn’t you rather spend a few extra cents if it meant your meat, eggs and produce had to go through tougher inspections by the FDA and meet stricter guidelines?
With the growing number of outbreaks and recalls, a food safety bill aims to do just that – protect your family and your food.
The CDC estimates that 76 million people in the U.S. are affected by foodborne illnesses and 5,000 die each year. In fact, salmonella from the recent egg recall alone sickened more than 1,800 people.
The bill has been delayed several times and many are concerned that keeping up with new safety practices will raise the price of food and our debt. If passed, this could affect small companies, local growers and of course, shoppers. So, what is your safety worth?
Here are a few ways the new bill could affect your wallet and health:
For more information about keeping your family and food safe, visit foodsafety.gov
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October 25th kicks off Red Ribbon Week – an opportunity for parents and others to talk to kids about drug and alcohol use, abuse and prevention. This year’s theme: I Am Drug-Free.
Red Ribbon Week is the largest drug prevention program in the U.S. By wearing red ribbons and participating in a variety of ways, kids and teens show their promise to be drug-free.
Need some help talking to your kids about drugs and alcohol?
It doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, it can bring you closer together and help them make good choices. Here are a few resources to get you started:
This week, be sure to wear your red ribbon to support drug and alcohol prevention.
Courtesy of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Opting for hand-me-downs and used clothing, strollers and toys for tots can help with costs. But, it’s important to pay attention to recalls – like a recent Graco stroller recall that has lead to entrapment, strangulation and death.
Two million Graco Quattro Tour and MetroLite strollers and travel systems made before 2007 are being recalled after four infant deaths. If a child is not strapped in correctly, she can become entrapped between the seat and stroller tray. While new standards require more space between the seat and tray, these older models pose a serious risk.
The recalled strollers were sold at retailers nationwide between November 2000 and December 2007. If you have one, check the model number to make sure you don’t have a recalled stroller.
If you do have one of the affected models, the CPSC says to immediately stop using it and contact Graco for a repair kit. To order a repair kit, call Graco toll-free at (877) 828-4046 anytime, or visit www.gracobaby.com.
Learn more about the importance of stroller safety from CPSC.
Courtesy of Tylenol.com
After numerous recalls, Johnson&Johnson is now recalling 128,000 bottles of Tylenol for a musty, moldy odor. Have you checked your medicine cabinet?
The company is voluntarily recalling one product lot of 8 hour caplet 50-count bottles that were sold in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The recall is a precaution and there haven’t been any reports of serious illness – but better safe than sorry.
Check the bottle for the following information:
If you have a recalled bottle, stop taking them and contact McNeil Consumer Healthcare at www.tylenol.com or by calling 1-888-222-6036 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, and Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time) to receive a refund or coupon.
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If you own a 2005-2008 Toyota Corolla or Matrix, watch your mail. Toyota is recalling another 1.13 million vehicles in the U.S. and Canada – this time due to stalling engines.
Over the last year, Toyota has recalled over 10 million vehicles worldwide. Along with faulty gas pedals and breaking problems, the automaker is adding defective engine control modules (that’s the computer that regulates the performance of the engine) to the list.
This defect could prevent the engine from starting, can cause harsh shifting or an engine stall – there have only been a few accidents so far.
Toyota will begin mailing out notifications mid-September with information about the recall. The engine control modules on recalled vehicles will be replaced at no charge.
If you have questions or want more information you can visit Toyota’s recall page.
