The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recently advised consumers that cooking raw poultry to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees will eliminate pathogens and viruses. Past food safety guidelines recommended higher temperatures for some poultry products.
Scientific research indicates that foodborne pathogens and viruses, such as salmonella, campylobacter and the avian influenza virus, are destroyed when poultry is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. It’s important to use a food thermometer to check internal temperature.
In addition, LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames says consumers should follow important tips for handling raw poultry. She says these tips can be summarized in three words –clean, separate and chill. Clean means to wash hands and surfaces often; separate means to keep raw meat and poultry apart from cooked foods; chill means to refrigerate or freeze foods promptly.Continue Reading The Magic Number Is 165 When Cooking Poultry
Classic Salads, LLC. Conducts Nationwide Recalls of Baby Spinach and Spring (Mesclun) Mix Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk
Classic Salads of Salinas, CA is voluntarily recalling 4lb., 2lb. and 10 oz. Baby Spinach and 4lb., 3lb., 1.5lb., Spring Mix, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain 12 to 72 hours after infection. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
Baby Spinach/Spring Mix was distributed nationwide, as well as Canada and Japan, to foodservice, institutions and distributors.
Classic Salad’s Baby Spinach and Spring Mix are packed in clear plastic bags with a stamped Lot Code number of 1502XXX indicating that it was processed on July 24th, 2006. Master cartons bear the “Classic Salads”, “Classic Choice”, “Classic Greens”, “Sir Lancelot”, “Taste of the Valley”, “US Fresh” and “Valley Gold” labels and a Pallet ID Number is stamped in black ink on the exterior of the carton that is unique to each pallet. Baby Spinach pack sizes include: 4lb., 2x2lb., 12x10oz. Spring Mix pack sizes include: 5x3lb., 4x3lb., 3lb., 3x1lb., 2×1.5lb., 12x7oz.Continue Reading Classic Salads, LLC. Conducts Nationwide Recalls of Baby Spinach and Spring (Mesclun) Mix Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk
14 fall ill after Faerieworlds Festival
The Register-Guard reports that health officials said Wednesday that they are investigating an outbreak of a gastrointestinal illness linked to last weekend’s Faerieworlds Festival in Veneta, after several reports of acute diarrhea and vomiting.
At least 14 people notified Lane County Public Health of illness, and festival organizers are cooperating to stop the unidentified bug from spreading, officials said.
All 14 are in varying stages of recovery, and the illness – while extremely contagious – probably isn’t lethal, officials said.
Among the victims, “the only thing that was common was they were all at the festival over the weekend,” said Jeff Lang, county environmental health supervisor. The festival drew thousands of costumed participants to Secret House Winery on Saturday and Sunday.Continue Reading 14 fall ill after Faerieworlds Festival