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in the News ...
E. Coli Cases Traced to Bagged Spinach
By ANDREW BRIDGES, Associated Press Writer
An outbreak of E. coli in eight states has left at least one person dead and 50 others sick, federal health officials said Thursday in warning consumers not to eat bagged fresh spinach.
The death occurred in Wisconsin, where 20 others were also sickened, said Dr. David Acheson of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. The outbreak has sickened others - eight of them seriously - in Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah.
FDA officials do not know the source of the outbreak other than it appears to be linked to bagged spinach. "We're advising people not to eat it," Acheson said.
The outbreak has affected a mix of ages, but most of the cases have involved women, Acheson said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Wisconsin health officials alerted the FDA about the outbreak Wednesday. Preliminary analysis suggests the same bug is responsible for the outbreak in all eight states.
E. coli causes diarrhea, often with bloody stools. Most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, although some people - including the very young and old - can develop a form of kidney failure that often leads to death.
Anyone who has gotten sick after eating raw packaged spinach should contact a doctor, officials said.
Other bagged vegetables, including pre-packaged salads, apparently are not affected. In general, however, washing all bagged vegetables is recommended.
E. coli lives in the intestines of cattle and other animals and typically is linked to contamination by fecal material. It causes an estimated 73,000 cases of infection, including 61 deaths, each year in the United States, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Sources of the bacterium include uncooked produce, raw milk, unpasteurized juice, contaminated water and meat, especially undercooked or raw hamburger, the agency says on its Web site.
In December 2005, an E. coli outbreak sickened at least eight children in Washington state. Officials traced the outbreak to unpasteurized milk from a dairy that had been ordered to stop distributing raw milk.
Last October, the FDA warned people not to eat certain Dole pre-packaged salads that were connected to an outbreak of E. coli infections in Minnesota. At least 11 people were sickened.
In 1993, a major E. coli outbreak sickened about 700 people and killed four who ate undercooked Jack in the Box hamburgers in Washington state. That outbreak led to tighter Agriculture Department safety standards for meat and poultry producers.
Learn more about E. coli ...
About E. Coli and Symptoms and Risks
E. coli risk: Consumers Warned to Avoid Fresh Spinach
Learn more about E. coli at WebMD
Preventing E. coli Infections
E. coli: The raw and the Cooked
8 Ways to Prevent Food Poisoning at Home
Botulism in Carrot Juice
FDA Issues Warning About Bottled Carrot Juice and Botulism
A fourth case of botulism has been linked to the Bolthouse Farms bottled carrot juice. The first three cases were in GA, but this fourth case is in Florida. To date, one link appears to be that the juice was not properly refrigerated in the home. FDA is still investigating to see if there are other links, however.
FDA is warning consumers to not drink Bolthouse Farms Carrot Juice, 450 ml and 1 liter plastic bottles, with "BEST IF USED BY" dates of NOV 11 2006 or earlier. Consumers should discard this product. FDA is also reiterating its advice to consumers to keep carrot juice - including pasteurized carrot juice - refrigerated.
Clostridium botulinum is a bacterium commonly found in soil. Under certain conditions these bacteria can produce a toxin that if ingested can result in botulism, a disease that may cause paralysis or death. Cases of botulism from processed food are extremely rare in the U.S. Symptoms of botulism can include: double-vision, droopy eyelids, altered voice, trouble with speaking or swallowing, and paralysis on both sides of the body that progresses from the neck down, possibly followed by difficulty in breathing. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.
Adequate refrigeration is one of the keys to food safety and is essential to preventing pathogen growth. Refrigerator temperatures should be no higher than 40°F and freezer temperatures no higher then 0°F. Consumers should check the temperatures occasionally with an appliance thermometer.
Consumers should look for the words "Keep Refrigerated" on juice labels so they know which products must be kept refrigerated. FDA is looking into whether industry's current juice labels provide clear refrigeration instructions.
The latest FDA news release can be found here: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01475.html
The Georgia Department of Agriculture and DHR Division of Public Health have also issued another news release and warning: http://agr.georgia.gov/00/article/0,2086,38902732_47298074_67165130,00.html
The Georgia Department of Agriculture and Georgia Division of Public Health are warning consumers to avoid a brand of carrot juice following an investigation that linked the product to three cases of botulism in Georgia. An additional case of botulism caused by this product but from a different lot number was identified by health officials in Florida this week.
"We recommend that Georgia residents not purchase or consume Bolthouse Farms carrot juice until the manufacturer can ensure the safety of the product," said Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin.
The carrot juice is flash pasteurized which is not adequate to kill botulinum spores, and toxin may be produced if the product is not adequately refrigerated. Foodborne botulism is caused by ingesting a toxin found in food and often involves improperly processed canned foods, foods that are allowed to spoil, or are not refrigerated properly. Following improper processing or handling, the bacteria found in contaminated food produces a toxin that causes symptoms such as blurred vision, general weakness, difficulty swallowing and speaking, difficulty breathing, and can result in death. Symptoms of botulism usually appear 12 to 36 hours after ingestion, but may take several days. Botulism cannot be spread from person to person.
Additional information on botulism can be found at the following link: http://agr.georgia.gov/00/article/0,2086,38902732_47298074_67165130,00.html
ADDITIONAL NOTE: I know one of our grocery stores in Athens is featuring Bolthouse Farms juice on sale this week. If yours are also, it could be a good week in news or radio to remind consumers of the warning and need to look for "keep refrigerated" on labels of foods and juices.
Take Charge Tips
Eat Healthy
The evidence grows stronger each year. Eating more fruits and vegetables helps older adults live longer, healthier lives. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals and it is these powerful substances that provide the protection to prevent and treat disease.
Consider these facts from the World Health Organization (WHO):
- Up to 2.7 million lives could be saved annually with sufficient fruit and vegetable consumption.
- Low fruit and vegetable intake is among the top 10 selected risk factors for global mortality.
- Worldwide, low intake of fruits and vegetables is estimated to cause about 19% of gastrointestinal cancer, about 31% of ischaemic heart disease and 11% of stroke.
How many servings do you need each day? Take the test at 5aday.gov.
Be Active
It was once thought that older adults should "slow down" and "take it easy." There was concen that too much activity was too much stress for aging bodies.
That is not the thought any longer. It seems that exercise is very good aging bodies. In fact, exercise helps people age healthier. Regular exercise helps maintain strength, prevent disabilities, aids circulation, creates a sense of well-being, prevents depression, and decreases the chance of obesity.
Exercise is a very good thing for older adults.
Learn more about exercise and healthy aging ...
Get Checked
Many factors cause disease and illness. Some you can change and some you can't. The next best thing to preventing a disease, is catching it early with regular screening and check-ups. Early detection means that problems are found when they can be treated most easily and with the most success. Many cancers, like breast and cancer, are highly curable when they are found early.
It is important to be aware of our bodies in order to detect subtle changes from the normal. When changes do occur, discuss them with your doctor and take action to treat the problem and prevent further problems.
Do you know what regular screening tests you should have? Use the following checklists:
Read more about the importance of early detection and regular screening:
Be Smoke Free
It's a simple truth: smoking decreses life expectancy and quitting increases smokers' life expectancy.
Evidence from a recent study done in Great Britain, Quitting Smoking Can Add 10 Years to Life , suggests that people who quit smoking may add as much as 10 years to their lives.
More information about smoking and life exectancy can be found in the Be Smoke Free section of our website.
Be Positive
What is it about leading a spiritual life that seems to help people live longer, healthier lives? The answer is not clear, but people who attend religious services have been found to have lower levels of depression and anxiety; display signs of better health, such as lower blood pressure and fewer strokes; and say they generally feel healthier (WebMD).
Read more about spirituality and healthy aging ...
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