John Sullivan and Alletta Emeno of the Philadelphia Inquirer (PA) report that every one of the nation’s 10 largest cities inspects restaurants for health violations at least once a year and usually more often – except Philadelphia.
Almost all have laws requiring a minimum number of inspections, some as often as four times per year. Philadelphia does not.
The result: The city inspects food establishments once every 15.4 months on average, compared with the minimum three visits a year recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Continue Reading City restaurant inspections faulted
Lakeside Foods, Inc. Recalls 10 Oz. Self-Heating Containers Because of Possible Bacteria Contamination
Lakeside Foods, Inc. is conducting a recall of all production codes of all products in 10 oz. self-heating containers because the company recently learned that some cans may be contaminated with spoilage organisms or harmful bacteria due to seal leakage.
Continue Reading Lakeside Foods, Inc. Recalls 10 Oz. Self-Heating Containers Because of Possible Bacteria Contamination
Illnesses may top reports Wedding guests say earlier figures may be low
The Republican-American reports that guests who attended a Friday evening wedding reception at the Grand Oak Villa banquet facility say far more patrons came down with illnesses, some serious, than facility operators have reported.
Doreen Gagnon, whose son Brian Gagnon’s reception took place at the 550 Sylvan Lake Road hall, said she has tracked 85 of the 190 guests as “coming down with something” a day or so after the event, with perhaps as many as 40 going to a hospital.
“It was a good show and they (Grand Oak) put on a good party,” the mother said, adding there were no complaints about the food or service. “But it was something more than just ‘a bug.’ ”Continue Reading Illnesses may top reports Wedding guests say earlier figures may be low
Health 101: Cookouts aren’t entirely carefree
Courtney Klemm of the Herald & Review (Decatur, IL) reports that as family and friends gather around in anticipation of juicy burgers and bratwursts, it may seem there is not a care in the world, but grilling has its health risks, nutrition experts say.
“One of the biggest concerns that people may not practice is
Beware! The foods that kill!
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eDiets reports that you may have had food poisoning (you’ve become ill after eating a food contaminated with a bacteria, virus or toxin) and not have known it; that’s because symptoms are similar to stomach flu. The FDA estimates that 60 million to 80 million people get sick annually from eating contaminated food, but that could be underestimated.
What’s known is that more than 5,000 Americans yearly die from foodborne illness. The very young, the very old and those with weak immune systems are most vulnerable. Without warning you could be the next victim, but you can lower your risk by taking precautions. As usual, the educated consumer is the safest. Some foods need extra caution; all foods need proper preparation.Continue Reading Beware! The foods that kill!
Inspections keep watch on eateries: State, local efforts work with establishments on standards
Jennifer Thomas of the Centre Daily Times reports that Kevin Kassab has visited every restaurant in State College and neighboring Patton and Ferguson Townships.
And, yes, there are hundreds.
But Kassab is not visiting the restaurants to check out the menus. A health technician for State College, he’s there to safeguard against food-borne illnesses by examining each restaurant’s inner workings, such as food temperatures and personal hygiene.Continue Reading Inspections keep watch on eateries: State, local efforts work with establishments on standards
Like dine-out burgers rare? New state bill is on your side
Shawnee McFarland of The Herald Online (South Carolina) reports that burger lovers will soon be able to order a rare burger like this one cooked at McHale’s on Main Street on Friday. However, burger lovers will be carded to make sure they are at least 18 and asked to read a disclaimer that the restaurant isn’t responsible for illness as a result of eating a rare burger.
Since the mid-1990s, hamburgers in South Carolina have been cooked one way: well done.Continue Reading Like dine-out burgers rare? New state bill is on your side
Possible food poisoning reported
Harlan Spector of the Plain Dealer (OH) reported yesterday that health officials are investigating possible cases of food poisoning that may have sickened dozens of guests at a wedding reception Saturday at Casa di Borally, a popular banquet hall in Richmond Heights.
Seventeen probable cases were confirmed as of Thursday, “but this is still real early,” said Cuyahoga County Health Commissioner Terry Allan. “We’ve got a ton of people on this.”
Members of the wedding party said in interviews that close to 100 of the 300 guests became sick in the days after the reception. Several went to the hospital.Continue Reading Possible food poisoning reported
Summer food safety: You know the grill
Doug Worgul of the Kansas City Star (MO) reports that grills just want to have fun this time of year, but you have to be careful when you cook with them.
Grilling is not without risks, says Fadi Aramouni, a Kansas State University Research and Extension food scientist. “Common food safety mistakes, especially underestimating cooking times or overlooking the need to check cooked temperatures, increase the risk of food-borne illness,” he says in a monthly bulletin from K-State Research and Extension.
Researchers at Kansas State University have found that ground beef browns at different rates, so that browning alone — long considered the primary means of determining ground beef to be cooked — is no longer an accurate indicator of doneness.Continue Reading Summer food safety: You know the grill