When it comes to food safety, the general rule is, “If in doubt, throw it out.” Never taste suspicious food. It may look and smell fine, but bacteria that cause foodborne illness may be present and could make you sick.
Food safety for Thanksgiving goes beyond the proper preparation and cooking of turkey: cross-contamination and improper preparation and storage of other foods are other common causes of food-borne illnesses during the holiday season.
Unlike most bacteria, Listeria germs can grow and spread in the refrigerator. So if you unknowingly refrigerate Listeria-contaminated food, the germs can contaminate your refrigerator and spread to other foods.
Oysters harvested between August 30 and September 19 may cause illness, Washington State Department of Health warns.
Food at fairs and other outdoor events may not have been properly cleaned, refrigerated or cooked: So take care.
People are urged not to eat shellfish from that area until further notice due to the risk of Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP).
The shellfish contain the bacteria Vibrio parahemolyticus, which thrives in Washington’s coastal waters in the summer, but which can be killed with cooking.
Washington health officials to warn people not to eat alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts labeled “Evergreen Produce” or “Evergreen Produce, Inc.” The sprouts are linked to nine cases of Salmonella Enteritidis in Washington; cases have also been reported in Idaho, Montana and North Dakota.
How to prevent food poisoning from ruining your summer cookout — Tips from the FDA
German health authorities have linked the E. coli outbreak that has killed 22 and sickened 1,700 people across Europe to locally grown bean sprouts, the European press is reporting today.
USDA says it’s safe to eat whole cuts of pork, steaks, roasts, and chops when they’ve been cooked to 145 °F and then allowed to a rest for three minutes.
More and more Americans are buying “raw” milk products—believing minimally processed foods are more nutritious. But in the case of raw milk, that’s not true, says the FDA.
LocalHealthGuide is a health news and information web service for Seattle and the Puget Sound Region. We are independent and unaffiliated with any hospital, medical association or insurer. If you have questions or if your group has an upcoming event that you would like us to cover, please let us know by going to our "Contact Us" page and dropping us a note. -- Michael McCarthy, Editor
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Seattle Times Health News
Experts divided over recommendation to screen children for cholesterol
Some clinicians say universal screening is an important tool to help identify children who are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol and to pinpoint others who could benefit from treatment. Others express concerns that screening may do more harm than good.
People in state high-risk insurance plans often feel left behind
The federal health law set up new plans that are cheaper and more comprehensive than the older ones run by states but consumers need to go without insurance for six months to qualify.
Peeking in on your doctor’s notes
Although federal law guarantees patients the right to examine and get copies of their medical records, providers haven’t always made it easy to do so. But the movement to give patients direct access to their health information has picked up steam, and policymakers have encouraged it as a way to empower patients to help manage their health and their medical care.
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