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Federal Government Outlines Tighter Food Safety Guidelines

YumSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:00:33 -0700

Enough is enough, the White House has declared: Yesterday, a food safety working group established by Barack Obama announced new standards in the production of foods such as eggs, poultry, beef, leafy greens, melons, and tomatoes.

In the last year, members of virtually every food group - from spinach, jalapeños, milk, and peanut butter to cookie dough, beef, and now dry milk - have been recalled due to possible salmonella or E. coli contamination. With a series of new rules, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius are hoping to prevent as many further food safety issues as possible. Find out what the guidelines are when you read more

How Pink Can My Pork Be?

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:24:04 -0800

Last night my hubby cooked a pork loin roast - I love when he cooks me dinner. The recipe said to cook the meat until the internal temperature registers 140 to 145°F, and while the meat rests the temperature will rise another five to 10 degrees. He did this, and the pork was pink running with pink juices. We were both alarmed that it seemed quite underdone, but it seems that attitudes about pork have changed.

The Center For Disease Control still recommends cooking pork to at least 170°F and until the juices run clear to avoid trichinosis, a parasitic infection caused by undercooked meat. This conflicts with the USDA recommendation of cooking pork to 160°F. While trichinosis was once common, only an average of 12 cases are reported annually, which is considerably smaller than the 40,000 cases of salmonella reported every year to the CDC. Trichinosis has declined since feeding raw meat to hogs was outlawed; the trichina worms that cause the food-borne illness make their home in raw meat and if ingested through undercooked meat they can make their home in your gut. With the significant decrease in infection, pork should at least be cooked to a temperature that will kill E. coli, which is 160°F. Along with being safer, pork meat is now leaner, so it dries out when cooked at higher temps. Some chefs say 145°F is high enough for cuts of pork. What about you? How do you cook your pork?

Another Plastic Health Risk - Erectile Dysfunction

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:13:34 -0800

While there have been previous studies, linking bisphenol A (BPA), found in hard plastics, to health problems, including precancerous tumors, prostate cancer, and brain damage, a new study, conducted in China, substantiates its claims with results in humans. In one of the first studies of its kind to be conducted on humans, researchers are finding that much of what they've previously seen in animal studies holds true - men exposed to significant amounts of BPA are at greater risk of sexual health problems.

The study compared the levels of sexual dysfunction in two groups of male factory workers - one group, which was exposed to high levels of BPA, while the other was not. The overall findings of the research reveal that when BPA enters the body, it may mimic estrogen, and block male sex hormones from functioning. In the males who were exposed to high levels of BPA, researchers observed that the risk of erectile dysfunction was four times that of a man not exposed to the chemicals.

According Dr. Rebecca Sokol, the director of the andrology program at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine, and specialist in the effects of toxins on the reproductive system, these are some "compelling results." She notes that, "It's not cause and effect, but when you have the kind of ambient air quality assessment that they made, it comes pretty close to cause and effect."

To learn more about the study keep reading

Burning Question: When Is It OK to Eat Moldy Food?

YumSugar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:50:51 -0700

The other day, a co-worker asked me whether it was OK to eat a piece of cheese that had grown slightly moldy. That question sparked a discussion on how to handle moldy foods. Can you ever simply cut off the bad parts and proceed to eat the rest? Find out the answer when you read more

Summer Safety: Beware of Beach Sand

FitSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:00:15 -0700

Whether you're building sandcastles or just burrowing your feet, getting sandy is an essential part of going to the beach. But if la playa plays into your vacation plans, be warned: beach sand can contain bacteria known to cause stomach bugs.

Though sand often looks and feels clean, remember that germs are everywhere. According to a new study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, young children who dug in the sand raised their risk of diarrhea by 44 percent. Furthermore:

Other studies that have examined the bacteria content of sand at a variety of beaches that were nowhere near a treatment plant have found high levels of E. coli and Enterococcus bacteria in the top eight inches. In fact, levels can be almost 40 times those found in the water at the same beaches.

This doesn't mean that you and your family need to steer clear of sand altogether. Just be sure to keep sand and sandy hands away from your mouth. According to Dr. Philip Kazlow, you won't develop a gastrointestinal illness unless you actually ingest the germs, so just wash your hands before eating or touching your mouth. If you've got little ones, bring along some hand sanitizer to prevent this Summer health risk.

How Clean Is Your Beach?

FitSugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:00:26 -0700

If you're heading to the beach soon to beat the Summer heat, you might want to see how clean it is. Recently, we learned that playing in the sand can increase your risk of developing gastrointestinal ailments, and the water might not be too clean either.

The National Resource Defense Council just released its annual report on the cleanliness of our beaches, and unfortunately some did not pass muster. Let's start with the top ranked beaches based on water quality and frequency the water is tested - the cleanest are in California, Minnesota (land of 10,000 lakes), and New Hampshire. The dirtiest are in the Northeast and Florida. Both water and sand become polluted from runoff water that drains into the ocean after a storm. The runoff collects pesticides, pet waste, road grease, etc., and all this ends up in the water. The polluted water can lead to a variety of health problems from skin rashes to neurological disorders.

You can check out your beach with this NRDC chart or this interactive map from the Environmental Protection Agency. Unfortunately, with budget shortfalls in most states, the beaches are not being monitored as closely as they once were. Just remember to steer clear of the beach after a heavy rainstorm.

Do You Care About a Restaurant's Health Inspection Rating?

YumSugar — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:00:45 -0700

Like New York, Los Angeles, and most other major cities, San Francisco imposes a cleanliness grade on all dining establishments, and requires that these inspection scores are placed prominently where customers can view them (often in the front window). These ratings are meant to reflect how clean a restaurant's kitchen is and create incentives for a higher level of food safety. Are these marks important to you?

The Lowdown on Exercising High

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Recently FitSugar reader mamasitamalita wrote in to ask about her friend who works out while buzzed. Apparently it's more common than I thought, and it's not the only thing people are doing before hitting the gym. An anonymous reader commented

"Sometimes, every once in a while, I will get stoned before yoga or a long run - it helps me to calm down and focus on the task at hand, rather than obsessing about work or personal stresses."

So this brings up another issue. What about working out while high? Although illegal, people still smoke pot, so to find out if it's safe to light up before burning calories keep reading

Sunscreen Smarts: Protect Your Part

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:00:00 -0700

When going down my list of places to apply sunscreen, I often overlook the part in my hair. You wouldn't expect this spot to get that much sun, but if you have a defined hair part and you forget to protect, it can lead to a painful and peculiar sunburn.

The easiest thing to do is to wear a hat or other head covering, but if you dare to go bare, then try spritzing a spray sunscreen along the length of your part. It's less awkward than trying to rub in lotion around your hairline, and this way your hair won't get too greasy.

Healthy To-Do: Make a Summer Safety Kit

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:30:00 -0700

I recently attended my first outdoor concert of the Summer and was dismayed, after a trip to the portapotty, to find that I had no hand sanitizer in my bag. I usually make it a point to carry antibacterial wipes or spray for all of my Summer hiking, camping, walking, and concert excursions.

Inspired by my newly updated first aid kit, I decided to assemble a Summer safety kit to toss in my backpack. In addition to a small bottle of hand sanitizer, I included a few handiwipes, a small can of bug spray, a travel tube of sunscreen, and a few Band-aids to treat any potential blisters on long walks or hikes. I'll make sure to keep it stocked throughout the season, so I'll always be prepared.

Is there anything else you think I should add?