Increasingly my patients share concerns about the safety of our food supply.  And rightfully so!  Just watch TV or read the paper and invariably you’ll learn of another case of a food borne illness, or worse, an outbreak.  It seems, though, that common household spices might help protect against pathogens in food.  This, according to researchers who published their work in a recent issue of Journal of Food Science, is a reason to spice it up.  Check out the full story at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090908103626.htm.  And in the meantime, enjoy oregano, liberally. 

The American Dietetic Association compiled a list of recommended resources for consumers looking for information on topics related to food and nutrition. We all know you can’t believe everything you read, especially on the Internet. With that in mind, you can rely on publications found at the link below. Yes, read everything with a measure of skepticism. Why not? Never hurts to question.

Consumer Reports on Health, Environmental Nutrition, and the Mayo Clinic Health Letter are among the many resources available at this link. Have a look and let me know what you think.

http://eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/nutrition_12539_ENU_HTML.htm

Keeping food safe is top of mind for a lot of people given all the food safety scares we had in 2008. And food safety actually starts in your own kitchen. That’s right! You should take the lead to help ensure the food you eat is safe.

According to a recent article by the American Dietetic Association (in ADA Times winter 2009 edition), there are several “chilling facts” that the ADA points out:

1. Less than 50% of you know to keep your refrigerators below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Most people don’t even know the temperature of their refrigerators. (Get a thermometer!)
3. Most refrigerators exceed 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. About half of you store food in harmful ways promoting cross contamination.
5. Your refrigerators are dirty! (Clean them.)
6. The produce bin is a haven for unhealthy bacteria. (Clean it.)
7. Don’t store non-food items in your fridge. Or at least keep it to a minimum. (See below.)
8. Check the door seal. A problem with the seal could lead to mold growth.

What Non-Food Items Are You Talking About?

-Batteries, film, candles (cold temps helps keep these in good shape)
-Airplane tickets, cigars, dried flowers (cold temps don’t help)
-Tooth bleach, worms, paint brushes (cold temps may help)

Want More Info?

Try www.homefoodsafety.org and www.eatright.org.

For years food safety authorities advised against refreezing previously frozen food. As a food and nutrition educator I’ve done the same. Afterall, that’s what I was taught in my ServSafe Certification program. But an article in the NY Times (June 17, 2008), “Q&A: Peril in a Pot,” quoted a microbiologist who said that if the food’s been handled under safe conditions 100% of the time, refreezing shouldn’t be a problem. Having said that, the if-in-doubt, throw-it-out adage still stands. Better safe than sorry. Who can guarantee 100% of anything?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/science/17qna.html?ex=1371355200&en=f92377094886c2e7&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink