Food safety has become an increasingly important governmental issue. FoodQualityNews.com posted notification of two public food safety meetings to be held soon in Washington, D.C. On March 10th, 2010, the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) will host an informational meeting on E. coli O157:H7 tracking. On March 30, 2010, several governmental agencies will be hosting another food safety meeting... [more]

According to the CDC’s Escherichia Coli General Information webpage, there are different forms of E. coli bacteria. Some are harmless, others can be potentially fatal. E. coli O157:H7 is a unique form of E. coli bacteria.  This form of E. coli is capable of generating Shiga toxin.  When the toxin are produced from E. coli bacteria, complications can result. The E. coli bacteria itself can cause... [more]

Mentally, I have been planning a camping trip for several years now. Sleeping under the starry skies and hiking through some of the most pristine forests this country has to offer. I have looked at backpacks with lightweight frames, moleskin to prevent blisters, outdoor cooking equipment, and, of course, a coffee pot. One interesting thing that I have looked at are water treatment tablets. After researching... [more]

Recently, a series of articles hit the internet regarding antibiotic treatment of livestock and the creation of antibiotic resistant bacteria known as superbugs.  On February 9, 2010, a CBS News Investigative report by Katie Couric detailed utilization of antibiotics by commercial livestock producers. According to the report, antibiotics are sometimes used as a precauationary measure, even before... [more]

The National Kidney and Urological Disease Information Clearinghouse provides information related to various illnesses including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Their link gives an informative picture of HUS as the treatable yet sometimes fatal complication of E. coli food poisoning. E. coli foodborne illness leads to HUS when the E. coli bacteria enter the bloodstream and begin damaging red blood... [more]

As the 2010 Winter Olympic Games come to a close, I must admit, it has been very exciting watching these competitions. Millions of people world-wide cheered as these athletes sought to fulfill a life-long dream of winning a gold medal. A fortunate few were able to visit Vancouver and watch the games in person. With people from all over the world descending on Vancouver, scientists prepared for these... [more]

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) is a potentially fatal disorder that can follow contraction of  E. coli O157:H7 food poisoning. HUS is a disorder that typically wreaks havoc on an individual’s kidneys and the body’s red blood cells. Interestingly, HUS is not only associated with post E. coli infections. It has also been linked to foodborne illness cases of Shigella and Salmonella. Children are... [more]

Good news for a change. USA Today reported that changes are being made to the standards established for testing of beef bought by the USDA for the National School Lunch Program. The changes will focus around stricter testing of beef for bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. According to the planned changes, beef will be sampled in fifteen minute intervals as it moves through the production... [more]

A Montebello, California meat packing plant is under criminal investigation. According to the Food Safety Inspection Service, Huntington Meat Packing, Inc., which has previously had to recall beef products due to E. coli O157:H7 contamination is in violation of certain Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. Because of these violations, an added 4.9 million pounds of beef and veal products are... [more]

Raw milk was back in the news today because of Georgia legislation seeking to legalize its sale.  According to the bill introduced by Rep. Doug McKillip, the State Department of Agriculture would control and regulate the distribution and consumption of raw milk.  A separate bill by Rep. Bobby Franklin would legalize raw milk, but would not require the government to regulate it. Franklin feels that... [more]