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Dangers of Reusable Grocery Bags

Eco-friendly reusable bags are everywhere. What’s more, they are now available in a rainbow of colors and bold, dramatic prints that make them more attractive than ever. The collapsible and durable bags can carry about 35 pounds and hold roughly two times the amount of items as traditional grocery bags. Unfortunately, some health experts are warning that the popular reusable bags are not as good for humans as they are for the environment. According to food safety experts, who have conducted numerous tests on reusable grocery bags, the environmentally friendly totes can become a breeding ground for bacteria. Tests show … Continue reading →

Preventing Salmonellosis

With all the hubbub over contaminated tomatoes in the news, I thought this would be a good time to take a look at different ways you can prevent salmonellosis — food poisoning with salmonella bacteria. Don’t eat raw or undercooked eggs. Eggs are a common carrier of salmonella. Beware of raw eggs in some foods like salad dressings, sauces, and condiments. And try to resist tasting cookie or cake batter! Don’t eat raw or unpasteurized milk products or dairy products. Pasteurization treats milk and dairy products to make them safer for eating. Cook meats until they are well done. Meats … Continue reading →

Reacting to Contaminated Foods

I read the headlines — but not the stories — before I went to grocery shopping this afternoon. An outbreak of salmonella, related to tomatoes grown in Florida and Mexico. That was all I knew. As I wandered the aisles at Costco — and especially as I reached the fruits and veggies — I started to see signs. Things like, “our tomatoes are safe” and variations thereof. I was pretty impressed with their quick response. Once I checked out and walked past the concession area, I saw another sign: “wraps made without tomatoes”. Maybe the tomatoes they use in their … Continue reading →

What You Need to Know about Contaminated Tomatoes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning about a salmonella outbreak related to tomatoes. Right now, the FDA does not know for sure where the contaminated tomatoes are coming from. As of the posting of this article, tomatoes from Florida and Mexico are NOT on the FDA’s safe list. Since mid-April, the FDA has received reports of 167 cases of salmonellosis associated with eating raw tomatoes. Twenty-three of those cases required hospitalization and one patient has died. Infections have occurred most often in New Mexico and Texas. The FDA issued the first warnings about contaminated tomatoes on … Continue reading →

Dishes Get The Cold Shoulder

A few years ago when TIDE debuted their Coldwater detergent and claimed the new product could “get clothes cleaner than the leading competitive liquid detergent in warm water,” I was skeptical, to say the least. I have never quite worked through my skepticism and continue to wash my laundry in warm and hot water. (On the other hand, my mother swears by TIDE Coldwater.) Forgive me if I have a hard time accepting the fact that cold water can kill bacteria as well as hot water. I blame my reluctance on a doctor Oprah once interviewed who swore that there … Continue reading →

Remodeling On A Budget—The Kitchen

I love strolling through home improvement stores and taking mental notes of all of the luxuries I hope to add to my own home… when I win the lottery. Kidding aside, I often bemoan the fact my house lacks the luxurious updates that my friend’s enjoy. I figured it would take nothing short of a financial miracle for me to add the improvements I dreamed of. However, last month I learned how wrong I was. One of the dad’s in my daughter’s playgroup is an architect who happens to have the inside track on how to make remodeling more affordable. … Continue reading →

In Your Kitchen: Protecting Your Family From Dirty Produce

A few months ago newspapers were full of stories about vegetables tainted with E. coli and salmonella. The poisoned veggies (spinach in particular) affected hundreds of people. In fact, the tainted spinach claimed the life of an elderly woman who lived in a city just a few miles from my home. Given our proximity to her death, the news made me sit up and take notice… and certain precautions. I immediately started doing research on products, which claimed to rid produce of nasty germs. One product in particular “CitroBio,” was listed on several health food websites. It’s basically a produce … Continue reading →