Food Safety Tips

I've never been fond of potluck dinners or holiday homemade buffets for several reasons.  I don't know what ingredients went into each dish - too much salt, red meat, pork...whatever ingredient I am allergic to, it's usually 'hidden' in one of those dishes.  The second reason why I'm never happy about potluck/community buffet is...how do I know the cleanliness of the kitchen or preparation of the food?  How many times have any of us become super ill from eating a salad at a fine restaurant?  Well, how about eating the dish prepared by the woman sitting at the table across from you who is playing with her hair with one hand, while eating with the other???  It's enough to make anyone ill just thinking about it.  Here are a few tips to keep you from becoming severely ill at the next 'community cook' dinner party:

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If food is left out of the refrigerator for over 2 hours, dump it.  The two hours includes the time anyone has taken to transport the food without proper refrigeration.  Bacteria have multiplied to an unhealthy level and could make you super sick.  Before and after handling food, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.  If you notice someone using their personal fork to help themselves to seconds, while eating with the same fork, do not eat any food from that serving tray and remind them of their manners.  Their barbarism today is your stomach poisoning tomorrow.

Carbapenemase Resistance in the United States

If any of you out there have survived an E-coli bacterial infection, just hearing the word 'E-coli' makes your neck hairs stand on end.   Enterobacteriaceae bacteria, like E. coli and Klebsiella, are becoming resistant to carbapenems.  These types of bacteria love to run rampant in institutional facilities such as schools, prisons, hospitals, nursing homes and camps.  Contaminated food is a major source of infection.  Carbapenems are drugs which, historically have been used to combat these very serious infections.  Bacteria that are resistant to carbpenems can cause sure death...and not a very attractive one at that.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Do all you can to prevent bacterial infections.  WASH YOUR HANDS, WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!  When you visit a hospital, school or any other facility, don't touch elevator buttons, door knobs or any other surface if you possible can avoid it.  If you do...WASH YOUR HANDS!!  When you purchase produce, make sure you wash it before ingestion.  Have you ever seen bathroom facilities in a vegetable field???  Use your imagination....
If, after eating a meal out, you have a fever, nausea, vomit, headache - go immediately to the emergency room.  You could have food poisoning.