Avoid Common Food Safety Mistakes

Current public health studies show that the number of potentially harmful bacteria in our food supply is five times the level that it was in 1942. That doesn't necessarily mean that our food is unsafe, said Karen Penner, K-State Research and Extension food safety specialist.

To better understand the issue, it's important to look at factors that are affecting our food supply, Penner said. For example, one significant difference is the fact that technology now allows us to detect more microorganisms. Also, in 1942, most of our food was grown within 100 miles or less of our homes; that meant that people had an opportunity to develop a natural immunity to microorganisms that may have been present in the environment.

Since that time, improvements in transportation (such as interstate highways and jet transports), agricultural methods and food processing technology now allow us to enjoy a greater number of foods produced during global - rather than local - growing seasons. The benefits of eating a variety of foods outweigh potential risks, but it can mean that potentially harmful bacteria may be on the plate, too, Penner said.

Symptoms from foodborne illness can become apparent soon after food is eaten (20 minutes) or up to six weeks later. Anyone can be susceptible, though children whose immune systems are not fully developed; pregnant women; people over the age of 65; and others whose immune systems may be compromised by chronic illness (like asthma or diabetes) or medical treatment, such as chemotherapy, can be more vulnerable, she said.

"Food safety is an issue that we all share. Researchers (including many at Kansas State University), agricultural producers, food processors, and food service providers are working hard to reduce food safety risks. Consumers also have a responsibility for food safety - a significant number of food safety mistakes occur in the home," said Penner, who cited a recent Utah State University study that videotaped food safety steps in 100 homes.

"Prior to the taping, each of the participants was asked to fill out a food safety questionnaire and pick one of three recipes to prepare in their kitchen. Many of the participants answered the preliminary questionnaire successfully, but most failed to practice the food safety steps in their kitchens," said Penner, who offered these important (and easy-to-do) food safety tips for consumers:

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  Keep the kitchen clean.


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  Wash hands before and after handling raw and cooked food and before and after eating. For example, after preparing raw meat or poultry, wash hands well (lather for 20 seconds and rinse with warm water) before beginning preparation of other foods that will complete the meal.


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  Be selective when you buy food: be sure to check "Sell by" dates and the condition of the packaging; choose fresh fruits and vegetables that are free of dents and bruises.


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  Refrigerate foods that need to be refrigerated.


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  Clean out the refrigerator regularly; discard any foods that appear spoiled or are outdated.


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  Store staples in a cool, dry area; rotate staples so that older items are used first.


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  Avoid cross-contamination (the transfer of bacteria from one food to another).


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  Wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly


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  Follow recipe directions


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  Resist the temptation to sample raw cookie dough or other uncooked recipes.


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  Cook foods completely. Check end-point temperature with a food thermometer - it's the only sure way to tell if food is cooked completely. Thermometers can be purchased for $10 or less.


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  Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.


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  Refrigerate leftovers promptly. Wrap well or cover. If cooked foods have been left at room temperature for more than two hours, they should be discarded. If picnic and tailgate foods have been left out for more than one hour in 80 degrees F or warmer weather, they also should be discarded.


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  Clean the kitchen promptly - allowing dirty dishes to sit on the counter or in the sink can attract harmful bacteria.


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  Opt for a dishcloth that can be sanitized, rather than a sponge that may attract bacterial growth. Sanitize kitchen aids daily, said Penner, who routinely washes plastic and nylon pot scrubbers on the upper shelf in the dishwasher.

Organic Food

What is organic food?

Organic food is produced according to a set of principles and standards concerning such issues as pesticides, additives, animal welfare and sustainability. There are different forms of organic production, some stricter than others. The main accreditation body to look for in the UK is the Soil Association, but there are others.

Sales of organic food in the UK have increased dramatically in recent years. According to the latest Soil Association Organic Market Report, published in 2007, sales were up by 22 per cent on the previous year. Supermarkets are expanding their organic ranges, but a growing number of consumers are turning directly to the farmers for their organic food. Sales through box schemes, mail order and other direct routes rose by 53 per cent, from £95 million in 2005 to £146 million in 2006. Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's and Waitrose have been praised by the Soil Association for stocking more organic food from UK farmers and reducing the amount they import.

Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association, believes supermarkets must support local producers and says: "The organic market is thriving and is being driven by consumers who want to buy fresh, local, good-quality seasonal food direct from the farmer. The leading supermarkets must take note of the public's wishes and increase the amount of locally sourced organic food in store, which should come from small and medium-sized farms."

Is organic food 'better'?

Many people turn to organic food because of concerns about pesticides. Around 350 pesticides are permitted in conventional farming and the Soil Association says an estimated 4.5billion litres of them are used annually. While there are Government rules for pesticide residues, they still end up in our food and nobody knows the long-term implications of their combined effect.

The organic movement aims for food that is produced as 'naturally' as possible, free from trans-fats, GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and most additives. The Soil Association encourages high standards of animal welfare and campaigns against the misuse of antibiotics for growth promotion, for example. Soil Association accreditation guarantees that animals have more living space.

As for nutritional superiority, more research needs to be done in this area but in a 2001 review of 41 studies, organic crops were all shown to have higher levels of Vitamin C, magnesium and phosphorus. Further studies in 2006 and 2007 have found higher levels of Vitamin C in organic fruit and 68 per cent higher levels of omega-3 in organic whole milk than non-organic whole milk. Most recently, in October 2007, early results of the EU-funded Quality Low Input Food study indicated that organic fruit and vegetables contain 40 per cent more antioxidants than non-organic.

In terms of the environmental benefits, organic farms naturally promote biodiversity as the lack of herbicides and pesticides encourages wildlife. Green and animal manures are used to enrich the soil, whereas some intensive farming methods result in soil erosion.

Unanswered questions

Does organic food taste better? The best organic producers are committed to quality and their food is outstanding, but carefully produced conventionally grown food may well taste better than mass-produced organic imports.

Some people who turn to organic food have an almost blind belief in its superiority. Organic farmers and food producers command a higher price because of the label and not necessarily because their produce is well-made and tasty. Some conventional growers say their hi-tech pest control and animal medication is better than the low-tech methods used in organic farming, and that in livestock farming this has implications for animal welfare.

As organic food becomes big business, some of its green credentials can become diluted. Take air miles. While 66 per cent of the organic primary produce sold in supermarkets is UK-sourced, with dairy products especially likely to come from this country, much of the organic fruit and salad we buy is brought in from overseas, as supermarkets struggle to keep up with consumer demand.

However, after a consultation process, the Soil Association announced in October 2007 that it planned to bring in new tough ethical trading standards that producers would need to meet in order for their air-freighted organic imports to continue to be certified. Furthermore, according to Ken Hayes, Soil Association standards researcher, "we want to encourage businesses to both develop other transport links and to develop other markets." He points out that advances have been made in shipping perishable products and, while organic farmers in some poorer countries have protested that there is no domestic market for their expensive organic products, the Association hopes these markets will grow with the money brought in from exports.

The Soil Association believes its proposal represents a good compromise in balancing the environmental impact of organic imports with the needs of organic producers. Ken Hayes says: "We have proposed a way forward that does not exclude businesses facing genuine challenges in finding alternatives to air freight." The Association is also considering the possibility of introducing carbon labelling of its products, when a reliable scheme for calculating this has been agreed upon.

Source www.bbc.co.uk

10 Interesting Facts About Tea

Tea comes from the leaves of a tree called Camellia sinensis. The three main types of tea are Black, Oolong and Green. Herbal tea does not come from the leaves of a tea plant, therefore, is not considered to be real tea. Roots, stems, flowers and parts of plants are used to make herbal tea.

Studies in the Netherlands have shown that men who drink black tea which contains catechins are 50 percent less likely to die of ischemic heart disease. This takes place when our arteries become clogged and are unable to work properly because of constriction.

Recent studies have shown that drinking between one and two cups of tea per day may promote fertility by stopping abnormalities in our chromosomes. In a recent test 250 women drank as little as half a cup of tea per day and their pregnancy rates were twice as high as those who did not.

To cure puffy eyes lie in a horizontal position and place either a moist teabag or tea compress over both eyes and leave for about 20 minutes. The swelling around the eyes will to your amazement disappear and your eyes will return to their former glory.

Tea will absorb odors around it. Here is a tip for removing food odors from your hands. Pour some tea over your hands and the tea will remove all odors from your fingers, and leave them smelling great. It even works great with fish odors!

Black tea bags can be used to treat planter warts. Tannin in tea is acidic and can be just as effective in removing warts as various over the counter wart removers! Leave a cooled bag on the wart for about 15 minutes three times daily and slowly the wart will shrink and disappear.

Scientists have reported for many years that men in Asian countries who drink green tea have very low instances of prostate cancer. Many prominent researchers believe that this is due to green tea containing many powerful antioxidants and preventative anti-cancer agents.

In recent Australian studies CSIRO scientists found that the occurrence of skin cancer in laboratory mice was greatly reduced when they were given black tea. It is thought that polyphenols which are very strong antioxidants and are contained in the tea are the most likely reason for this phenomenon.

Tea can be used to soothe burns and sunburns. Put wet tea bags onto the affected areas or keep in place with gauze. You can also put tea into your bath water. This works for other types of burns as well.

The costliest teabag ever was created for the 75'th anniversary of the PG TIPS tea company. The bag was filled with two hundred and eighty diamonds and expensive limited edition tea leaves. The bag cost 7,500 pounds and would be auctioned to raise money for a Children's hospital in Britain.

By: Lorraine Bevan

Eating healthy vegetable food

Vegetarian food gives good health in long life. The vegetarian consumption average life span of a person is 100 years. The vegetarian food eaters looking at all of these different ways to have good food you maximize your health status. The vegetable food and vegetable products contain very low levels of cholesterol.

In fact the free flow of blood to the heart and hence heart problem is less among the vegetarians.A good vegetarian food plan can benefit you in so many different ways. When you look at the many great tasting meals that you will get with eating vegetables you will begin to understand why so many people seem to be switching to a vegetarian foods. Since there are so many different foods that can be made with vegetables you will need to look at how these foods are prepared. This preparation method will help you to see what changes you may need to make.You will find there are various types of vegetables and fruits that can be placed on a vegetarian health conscious diet. These different vegetables all contribute to the way that your health and metabolism can change for the better.After a certain time limit you will notice the changes that your health is having due to the benefits of eating good food that is green. The most important aspect that you will find due to a vegetarian health conscious diet is that your health is better than ever before. For your comments Indo MunchFood has long been a way of deriving comfort as well as having the energy to do what you want for the day. While you will find many different types of foods that you can eat, sometimes you will find that eating a vegetarian style meal is more satisfying. In order to take full advantage of a food like this you should have a complete vegetarian food.

Best Coffee Maker Concept For Your Kitchen

Everyone wants to have a perfect coffee maker for there kitchen but they really afraid to think about its cost. Nowadays there are different types of coffee maker available in the market. If you and your family is really a coffee lover then you must buy it without worrying about its cost.

Coffee is really a great drink not only because it is rich in taste but also it is one of the energizing drinks. That's why thousands of people are becoming coffee lover each day. Coffee maker is a type of machine which will definitely give you the desired taste of the coffee and believe me it doesn't matter that your coffee maker is expensive or not.

It is really very sad that most of people think that a free coffee maker must be useless and cheap. The belief also holds true that an expensive coffee maker makes better coffee. Again barring specialty coffee makers, a coffee maker is simply a coffee maker. Whether neither free nor paid they both would achieve the same results. You pour the coffee into the coffee pot add water and brew the coffee within 10 minutes as there is no difference. But all these things are just a myth. There is no need to buy an expensive coffee maker you can have the same taste of from the cheapest coffee maker.

It is highly recommended to you that before buying any coffee maker you must make a deep research because there different types of models available in the market. You must see that the coffee maker machine must be according to your requirements. Nowadays there are different companies in the market which are offering different models of this machine. Gevalia is a company that has been around for years giving away a free coffee maker. Gevalia offers stainless steel coffee makers that match the look of the fancier expensive coffee pots.

The concept of free coffee maker is becoming popular day by day. Many people are attracting towards this concept and the internet has become a haven for things of the free nature. Free coffee maker deals have always had a good free policy, do you why? Because you sign up for a club and the coffee is free or a coffee pot is free. There is no harm if you signed up for the free coffee maker or not you would continue to purchase coffee from your local supermarket anyways. So the question becomes, why not get something free out of the deal and continue to purchase your coffee through them anyways?

You will be surprise to know that every year many different companies have spent millions of dollars on advertising such products. Many people flock to these free deals and as well many should. You must love free stuff and also always notice when something is being given away for free. Often times when a free product is given away you may wonder where the catch may be. However the good news with nearly all free coffee maker deals that I have seen is that most of the time the only catch is joining there club and being able to cancel at anytime. This shows not only that these are good deals and the coffee great tastes but that the company puts a lot of faith in the free coffee promotion it is using.

It is really a typical view point that if you have to pay for anything during a transaction than free isn't free. You should keep this thing in mind that if you buy only $25 worth of product and you are getting $100 free then something in the deal is free even coffee maker offers. That's basically $85 free right or even $85 that you would have had to spend. Free coffee makers offers exist just make sure you read what you are getting into. Stick with a legit site that offers other free coffee accessories or free coffee makers and get the most out of the deal. You may just become their next loyal customer and you'll be saying that free coffee deals do exist.

Yogurt Making

Two microorganisms namely, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, growing together symbiotically, are responsible for the lactic fermentation of the yoghurt. In some countries, apart from these two bacteria, the culture also contains lactose fermenting yeasts, Leuconostoc strains, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar diacetylactis and Lactobacillus acidophilus.The method of maintaining purity of the yoghurt culture is very important and it is better to maintain the mother cultures individually rather than in mixed form.

The optimum pH and temperature for growth of Streptococcus thermophilus is 6.8 and 38°C. These strains usually reach acidities of 0.80 to 0.95 per cent. In case of Lactobacillus bulgaricus, the optimum temperature for growth is 42°C and the acidity obtained is 1.25 to 1.50 per cent. The extreme sensitivity of both these microorganisms to antibiotics especially, penicillin, calls for selection of milk intended for yoghurt manufacture to be free from residual penicilin. More over, extra care has to be exercised in maintaining the purity of the yoghurt cultures since they can be easily overgrown by contaminating organisms.

Traditional method of yoghurt making

The milk is evaporated to 1/3 to 1/4 water content so that it attains the required concentration. Alternatively, 4-5% non-fat dried milk (NFDM) can be added to the whole milk.

It is heated to 82-93°C for 30 minutes. Then it is cooled to 42-43°C and inoculated with 2-3% starter culture (Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus).

Then the milk is incubated at 42-43°C for 3 hours or until a titratable acidity of 0.75% lactic acid or coagulation occurs.

The product is chilled to 5°C. Further acidity of 0.9% lactic acid may develop while the product is being chilled.

The product can be stored satisfactorily for 1-2 weeks at 5°C.

Flavored yoghurt

The flavored yoghurt has gained popularity in recent years. Three types of flavors viz. artificial, natural with artificial flavors mixed and natural fruits are commonly used. These flavors may be added to the milk intended for preparing yoghurt by mix blending, fruit on bottom and bulk mixing.

Flavored yoghurt has definitely an edge over the plain yoghurt in that the high acidity encountered in the product less pronounced and suppression of objectionable off flavors and the need to concentrate the milk is eliminated.