Prevention

  • Scottish council cancels cattle show because E. coli fears not taken seriously

    Posted: May 22nd, 2012 - 4:38pm by Doug Powell

    This is proactively awesome.

    After decades of farm-show-petting-zoo-fair related outbreaks, particularly of E. coli O157, and after four people were sickened last year, this weekend’s Drymen Show has been cancelled because organizers did not take appropriate steps to reduce risk of E. coli infection.

    The Scottish Farmer, my favorite bathtime reading, reports the Drymen Show has been cancelled – and Stirling Council officials have laid the blame at the show organizers' door, saying that they failed to follow steps to reduce the risk to visitors from E.coli O157 in animal dung.

    Further, Stirling Council made it clear that the show's organizers had been given several reminders about the bio-security rules, as concerns had been raised last year, when four people with links to Drymen Show were diagnosed with E. coli O157.

    A spokesperson for the Council said the "Scottish Government provide guidance on the recreational use of animal pasture to reduce the risk of E.coli O157, stating that farm animals should be kept off fields for three weeks prior to use with removal of any visible animal droppings. Contact with farm animal feces on farm pasture presents a risk to the public, especially young children, from the spread of E. coli O157.

    "Despite having received assurances that the animals had been removed, this was found not to be the case and animals remained on the show ground area as of May 18 – only 8 days before the date of the Show.

    "It is particularly disappointing that the Drymen Show's organizers did not act upon the proper advice given by Council officers. The same advice and licence conditions are adhered to by other agricultural shows in the Stirling area."

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    E. coli  |  0 Comments
    e. coli O157, farm, Petting Zoo, Prevention, Scotland
  • Public urged to be ‘vigilant’ as number of E.coli cases linked to Welsh kebab shop expected to rise

    Posted: August 15th, 2011 - 3:35am by Doug Powell

    Health bosses last night urged the public to remain vigilant as the number of E.coli cases linked to the Adonis Kebab House on City Road in Cardiff rose to a possible nine, with three needing hospital treatment.

    Since the E.coli O157 outbreak emerged on Friday, the number of confirmed cases has risen from five to seven – with another two under investigation – but could rise further, warned Dr Gwen Lowe, consultant in communicable disease control at Public Health Wales (PHW).

    Maybe health inspectors and food service operators should be vigilant before people start barfing.
     

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    E. coli  |  0 Comments
    adonisis, e. coli O157, food safety, Kebab, Prevention, Wales
  • Number 1 most idiotic food story of the year; Prevention magazine

    Posted: December 10th, 2009 - 2:26pm by Doug Powell

    I’ve been interviewed and quoted by Prevention magazine a few times about food safety stuff. They didn’t seem any worse or better than anyone else and I always took the time to explain things from my world of microbial food safety and what makes people barf.

    But their latest story, which did not include me or any other food safety expert I know, claims to present, The top 7 foods avoided by food safety experts.

    Greg Johnson, editor of the Kansas City-based The Packer went twitterlistic, writing that the "7 foods experts won't eat, from Prevention mag lists conventional apples and potatoes. Too bad "experts" are bunch of leftist hacks.”

    Not sure if it’s a left or right thing – the U.S. is big on moral dualism. Maybe it’s a dumb or smart thing.

    Liz Vaccariello, editor in chief of Prevention Magazine, recently interviewed several experts on food healthfulness and safety. She asked, “What foods do you avoid”, and was surprised by some of the answers.

    1. Canned Tomatoes, Canned Soup, Canned Green Beans

    Something to do with BPA. Risk is minimal. Canned tomatoes are a great source of antioxidants. Canned soup and green beans are great comfort food. Food safety is impeccable.

    2. Corn-Fed Beef

    Something to do with nutrient profiles and blowing Whole Foods. Corn-fed beef rocks.

     3. Microwave Popcorn???

    Something about the chemicals. Eat real food, not popcorn.


    4. Nonorganic Potatoes and Carrots???
    Something about root vegetables absorbing pesticides. I worry more about microorganisms, and eating enough fruits and vegetables.


    5. Farmed Salmon???
    Something about chemicals in farmed salmon, which are far below acceptable government limits. Farmed salmon preserves the environment.

    6. Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones???
    Something about rBST and this is the best someone at the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility can come up with, when 30 per cent of all people in all countries get sick from the food and water they consume each year, and none of it has anything to do with genetically engineered hormones.

    7. Nonorganic Apples and Pears???
    Something about pesticide accumulation. Total BS. Bring on the conventional apples and pears. My kid loves them.

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    Food Safety Policy, Raw Food  |  5 Comments
    O157, Prevention, Top Chef
  • Cold prevention kit nonsense

    Posted: September 25th, 2009 - 6:24am by Doug Powell

    In the anything-to-make-a-buck category, it’s the cold & flu prevention kit: Kleenex, antimicrobial wipes, soap and some other stuff, all conveniently wrapped in additional plastic.

    Gonzalo, a student who works with me, snapped this shot at a local supermarket last night.


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    Wacky and Weird  |  0 Comments
    Cold Cuts, Farm Kitchen, Flu, Hucksterism, Marketing, Prevention