Thursday, February 25, 2016

Food Spoilers

What happens to foods when they spoil, and are they dangerous to eat? What causes foods to spoil and how? These are questions we often get on USDA’s Meat and Poultry Hotline. Read on to learn the science behind food spoilage.

Spoiler Alert!

Signs of food spoilage may include an appearance different from the food in its fresh form, such as a change in color, a change in texture, an unpleasant odor, or an undesirable taste.
Various factors cause food spoilage, making items unsuitable for consumption. Light, oxygen, heat, humidity, temperature, and spoilage bacteria can all affect both safety and quality of perishable foods. When subject to these factors, foods will gradually deteriorate.
Microorganisms occur everywhere in the environment, and there is always a risk of spoilage when foods are exposed to unsuitable conditions. Microbial spoilage results from bacteria, molds, and yeast. While microorganisms may or may not be harmful, the waste products they produce when growing on or in food may be unpleasant to taste.

Pathogenic Spoilage

In addition to causing food to deteriorate and taste unpleasant, some types of spoilage can be caused by pathogenic bacteria, which can have serious health consequences. For example Clostridium perfringens (common cause of spoilage in meat and poultry) and Bacillus cereus (common cause of spoilage of milk and cream) are also pathogenic. When exposed to unsuitable storage conditions, such as the Danger Zone (between 40 and 140° F), these organisms can multiply rapidly and they can release dangerous toxins that will make you sick if you consume the item, even if it’s cooked to a safe internal temperature. To keep food out of the Danger Zone, keep cold food cold, at or below 40 °F (4.4 °C) , and hot food hot, at or above 140 °F (60 °C).
Spoilage of food is not just an issue of quality; it is also a matter of food safety. USDA recommends following the FOUR steps to Food Safety (Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill) to prevent food spoilage and reduce your risk of foodborne illness.

Learn appropriate storage methods with the FoodKeeper app

Learn about proper food and beverages storage with the FoodKeeper. It will help you maximize the freshness and quality of items by showing you the appropriate storage methods for more than 400 items. By doing so you will be able to keep items fresh longer than if they were not stored properly. It was developed by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, with Cornell University and the Food Marketing Institute. It is also available online and as a mobile application for Android and Apple devices.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

EQUINE HERPES VIRUS UPDATES

EQUINE HERPES VIRUS UPDATES Equus Magazine By Fran Jurga New Mexico is still in the throes of a serious outbreak. In less than a month, 72 horses have been diagnosed with Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), initiating a quarantine at Sunland Park racetrack and several local training centers, according to a report from the New Mexico Livestock Board on February 17. According to the New York Times, 12 horses in New Mexico have been euthanized since the outbreak began. Biosecurity measures among horsemen and horsewomen are still necessary, such as taking temperatures twice a day, handwashing, washing/disinfecting anything a horse has touched or could touch, etc. More

Open Data Powers New Conservation Mapping Tool for USDA, Partners

Open Data Powers New Conservation Mapping Tool for USDA, Partners Benefits Wildlife, Ranchers Across Sagebrush Ecosystem SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Feb. 23, 2016 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the University of Montana and other partners have used Google Earth Engine to build a new interactive online map tool that, for the first time, combines layers of data to better target invasive species that are damaging habitat and rangeland. The tool was built as part of USDA’s ongoing Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) and presents geospatial data covering a 100 million acre landscape in eight western States. “Bringing this data together in an easy-to-use online resource helps federal, state and private partners better target our work to restore and protect this vast landscape – supporting wildlife, rural economies, and the Western way of life," said NRCS Chief Jason Weller. “This is another great example of how using scientific data and technology makes partnerships like the Sage Grouse Initiative more effective.” Terrell Erickson, director of NRCS’ Ecological Sciences Division, unveiled the new mapping tool today at the Sagebrush Conference in Salt Lake City. Now available at map.sagegrouseinitiative.com, this first version of the tool currently allows farmers, ranchers, conservationists and other partners to analyze data on the encroachment of conifers and cheatgrass on key rangeland. “This is just the first step,” said Erickson. “SGI partners are in the process of adding more data layers of value to the application based on input from our partners.” Brady Allred, a rangeland specialist with University of Montana, developed the tool for SGI using Google Earth Engine, a platform for scientific analysis and visualization of geospatial datasets, both for public benefit and for business and government users. SGI will continue to build on the tool over time. The eight states with territory covered by the first two data sets include California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Public and private land managers can now use the free SGI map tool in planning where and how best to target available resources to achieve the biggest gains in the battle against invasive species. “By focusing on such a large area we are able to provide the big picture – a better view of what’s occurring across boundaries, so each effort supports the greater goal and helps reduce future threats,” Allred said. The Tree Canopy Cover layer, developed by professor Michael Falkowski of Colorado State University, shows where conifers are degrading critical sagebrush-steppe across the range. NRCS and partners use this data to target the removal of invading conifers when the trees are young and more easily eradicated. Another map layer provides an index of ecosystem resilience and resistance to cheatgrass based on underlying soil temperature and moisture. Each data layer creates a visual representation of available research covering one of the threats targeted by Sage Grouse Initiative 2.0 investment strategy, a four-year $211 million effort to help restore and protect sagebrush habitats in 11 western states. The strategy guides conservation efforts through 2018. Since 2010, NRCS has partnered with ranchers to restore and protect more than five million acres of sage grouse habitat through SGI. This work was part of a large landscape-level effort that led the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conclude last year that the sage grouse did not warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. Learn more about NRCS’ conservation efforts for sage grouse habitat. For more on technical and financial assistance available through conservation programs, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted. Since 2009, USDA has invested more than $29 billion to help producers make conservation improvements, working with as many as 500,000 farmers, ranchers and landowners to protect over 400 million acres nationwide, boosting soil and air quality, cleaning and conserving water and enhancing wildlife habitat. For an interactive look at USDA's work in conservation and forestry over the course of this Administration, visit http://medium.com/usda-results. #

Battery Safety


Monday, February 22, 2016

Tartar Sauce Recall

Fresh Creative Foods is recalling 8oz containers of H-E-B Tartar Sauce due to an undeclared fish (anchovy) allergen. Some plastic tubs have the correctly labeled Cocktail Sauce lid with a container labeled as Tartar Sauce when the actual contents are Cocktail Sauce.

Friday, February 19, 2016

Wild Blue Yonder Foods Issues Recall for Chappaqua Crunch Granola with Blueberries and Bananas Because of Possible Health Risk

WBY Foods of Marblehead, MA, is recalling its Chappaqua Crunch Simply Granola with Blueberries and Bananas, in 13 ounce packages, because they have 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. 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.

Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Virchow Infections Linked to Garden of Life RAW Meal Organic Shake & Meal Products

Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Virchow Infections Linked to Garden of Life RAW Meal Organic Shake & Meal Products
Posted February 19, 2016 10:45 AM ET
What's New?
Seven more ill people have been reported from seven states. The most recent illness started on February 3, 2016.
Six states have been added to the list of states with ill people: Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Texas.
·         The Utah Public Health Laboratory and the Oklahoma Public Health Laboratory isolated the outbreak strain of Salmonella Virchow from open containers of Garden of Life RAW Meal collected from ill people's homes in Utah and Oklahoma.
Highlights
·         CDC, multiple states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Virchow infections.
·         Eighteen people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Virchow have been reported from 15 states.
o    Four ill people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
·         Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicates that RAW Meal Organic Shake & Meal products made by Garden of Life, LLC are the likely source of this outbreak.
o    Of the 14 ill people who were interviewed, 14 (100%) reported consuming powdered supplements or meal replacement powders in the week before illness onset, and all 14 (100%) specifically reported consuming Garden of Life RAW Meal products.
o    The Utah Public Health Laboratory and Oklahoma Public Health Laboratory isolated the outbreak strain of Salmonella Virchow from open containers of Garden of Life RAW Meal collected from ill people's homes in Utah and Oklahoma.
o    FDA sampling confirmed the presence of the outbreak strain of Salmonella Virchow in Organic Moringa Leaf powder used in RAW Meal Organic Shake & Meal Replacement products.
·         As a result of this investigation, Garden of Life, LLC voluntarily recalled several lots of RAW Meal Organic Shake & Meal products, available in chocolate, original, vanilla, and vanilla chai, on January 29, 2016 (initial recall) and February 12, 2016 (expanded recall).
·         Consumers should not eat and retailers should not sell the recalled RAW Meal products.
o    These products have a long shelf life and may still be in people's homes.
o    A complete list of the recalled Garden of Life RAW Meal products is available on the Recall & Advice to Consumers and Retailers page(http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/virchow-02-16/advice.html).
o    The recalled products were available for purchase nationwide in many retail stores and online.
·         Updates will be posted when more information is available.
February 19, 2016
Case Count Update
Since the last update on February 2, 2015, seven more ill people have been reported from seven states.
As of February 17, 2016, 18 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Virchow have been reported from 15 states. The number of ill people identified in each state is as follows: Florida (1), Massachusetts (1), Maryland (1), Minnesota (2), New Jersey (2), New Mexico (1), North Carolina (1), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (1), Rhode Island (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Utah (2), and Wisconsin (1).
Among people for whom information is available, illnesses started on dates ranging from December 5, 2015 to February 3, 2016. Ill people range in age from 1 year to 76, with a median age of 34. Fifty-six percent of ill people are male. Among 12 ill people with available information, four (33%) reported being hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
Illnesses that occurred after January 24, 2016 might not be reported yet. This takes an average of 2 to 4 weeks. Please see the Timeline for Reporting Cases of Salmonella Infection(http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/reporting-timeline.html) for more details. The recalled products have a long shelf life and may still be in people's homes, and illnesses may continue to be reported.
Investigation Update
In ongoing interviews, ill people answered questions about foods eaten and other exposures in the week before they became ill. Of the 14 ill people who have been interviewed, 14 (100%) reported consuming powdered supplements or meal replacement powders in the week before illness onset; all 14 (100%) specifically reported consuming Garden of Life RAW Meal products.
The Utah Public Health Laboratory and Oklahoma Public Health Laboratory isolated the outbreak strain of Salmonella Virchow from open containers of Garden of Life RAW Meal collected from ill people's homes in Utah and Oklahoma. Both products that were tested were from lots covered under the recalls announced by Garden of Life, LLC. FDA sampling confirmed the presence of the outbreak strain of Salmonella Virchow in Organic Moringa Leaf powder used in RAW Meal Organic Shake & Meal Replacement products.
On February 12, 2016, Garden of Life, LLC issued an expanded recall of its RAW Meal Organic Shake & Meal products available in chocolate, original, vanilla, and vanilla chai to include these additional lots.
This investigation is ongoing. CDC will provide updates when more information is available.
Initial Announcementexpandcollapse
February 2, 2016
CDC is collaborating with public health officials in multiple states and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Virchow infections. Public health investigators are using the PulseNet(http://www.cdc.gov/pulsenet/) system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. PulseNet, the national subtyping network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories, is coordinated by CDC. DNA fingerprinting is performed on Salmonella bacteria isolated from ill people by using a technique called pulsed-field gel electrophoresis(http://www.cdc.gov/pulsenet/pathogens/pfge.html), or PFGE. PulseNet manages a national database of these DNA fingerprints to identify possible outbreaks. One DNA fingerprint (outbreak strain) is included in this outbreak investigation. The outbreak strain is new to the PulseNet database.
A total of 11 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Virchow have been reported from nine states. The number of ill people identified in each state is as follows: Minnesota (2), New Jersey (2), New Mexico (1), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (1), Tennessee (1), Utah (1), and Wisconsin (1).
Illnesses started on dates ranging from December 5, 2015, to January 21, 2016. Ill people range in age from 8 years to 76, with a median age of 35. Fifty-five percent of ill people are male. Among 10 ill people with available information, one reported being hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
This outbreak can be illustrated with a chart showing the number of people who became ill each day. This chart is called an epidemic curve or epi curve. Illnesses that occurred after January 8, 2016, might not yet be reported due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. This takes an average of 2 to 4 weeks. Please see the Timeline for Reporting Cases of Salmonella Infection(http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/reporting-timeline.html) for more details. The recalled products have a long shelf life and may still be in people's homes, and illnesses may continue to be reported.
Investigation of the Outbreak
The epidemiologic and laboratory evidence available at this time suggest that RAW Meal Organic Shake & Meal products made by Garden of Life, LLC are a likely source of this outbreak. This investigation is ongoing.
In interviews, ill people answered questions about foods eaten and other exposures in the week before they became ill. Of the 10 ill people who were interviewed, 10 (100%) reported consuming powdered supplements or meal replacements powders in the week before illness onset; all 10 (100%) specifically reported consuming RAW Meal products made by Garden of Life, LLC.
On January 29, 2016, Garden of Life, LLC voluntarily recalled a limited quantity of its RAW Meal Organic Shake & Meal products available in chocolate, original, vanilla, and vanilla chai because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Virchow. The recalled products were available for purchase nationwide in many retail stores and online.
On January 31, 2016, the Utah Public Health Laboratory reported it isolated Salmonella from an open container of Garden of Life RAW Meal collected from an ill person's home. On February 1, 2016, Oregon health officials also reported Salmonella was isolated from an open container of Garden of Life RAW Meal collected from an ill person's home. DNA "fingerprinting" is being conducted for both samples to determine the PFGE pattern of the Salmonella isolated from this product. Results will be reported when they become available.
CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing laboratory surveillance through PulseNet to identify additional ill persons and to interview ill persons about foods they ate before they became ill.
At A Glance
·         Deaths: 0
·         Hospitalizations: 4
Garden of Life RAW Meal Organic Shake & Meal Product
More Information
People infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Virchow, by state of residence(http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/virchow-02-16/map.html)

Monday, February 8, 2016

Using Volt for a Healthy Future

Healthy Teen Network is pleased to release a comprehensive set of adolescent and young men’s health materials through Volt, our project to generate energy around adolescent and young adult men’s (AYAM) health and wellbeing. Volt seeks to increase AYAM knowledge on, access to and utilization of primary care, sexual and reproductive, and other health services. Healthy Teen Network developed the materials for adolescent and young men, parents and caring adults (such as coaches, mentors, pastors, and youth workers), and health education professionals audiences. The materials will position AYAM themselves and the adults who support them to improve young people’s knowledge in 20 health subjects and increase their access to and utilization of health care services. The Volt resource suite includes: • Generate My Healthy Future Plan, a health assessment and planning tool for AYAM; • Facilitator Guide, a companion guide for parents and caring adults; • Health Educator Resource and Opportunity (HERO) Guide and additional educational and training materials for health professionals; • AYAM Focus Group Facilitator Guide to support organizations that wish to learn more about the health and wellness concerns of the AYAM • Webinar recording and slides on available resources, for health professionals • Promotional poster encouraging AYAM to take charge of their health and pointing them to Volt’s products for youth. • Promotional postcard for parents and caring adults to direct them to Volt resource • Webpages designed for AYAM, parents and caring adults, and youth-supporting professionals Volt resources are available—for widespread use and without charge—at www.HealthyTeenNetwork.org/Volt. Healthy Teen Network has also compiled a Volt media kit, complete with sample announcements and social media posts, to support dissemination of Volt products, for parents and caring adults, as well as AYAM. Please consider posting announcements about these important, first-of-their-kind health education resources for adolescent and young adult men and the adults who care about their well-being. Please contact Gina Desiderio, Director of Marketing and Communications, for further information or assistance.

Ten Ideas for Building Meaningful Mentoring Relationships

Sometimes people say they can’t be mentors because they don’t know what to do. Here are ideas you can use to build positive mentoring relationships that will have a lasting impact on kids’ lives. The ideas build on Search Institute’s research on essential actions that deepen developmental relationships (http://www.search-institute.org/research/developmentalrelationships ) and help young people become their best selves. • Follow your mentee’s interests. When adults willingly participate in activities or conversations chosen by the young person, not only will the young person be more engaged, but the adult can also see and experience what really matters to the young person. This builds a stronger connection. • Listen to understand. Make an effort to understand your mentee’s point of view when he or she shares ideas or opinions. Rather than immediately dismissing an idea, ask questions to learn more about the thinking behind the idea. (Remember that adolescents sometimes need to “try on” ideas as they sort out what they really think or believe.) • Highlight future goals. Talk with your mentee about their future possibilities, particularly the things they look forward to or dream about. This future orientation can motivate young people to keep moving forward when they encounter obstacles or distractions. • Help your mentee work through failures. The ways adults respond to failures can either help or hurt motivation and self-confidence. Emphasize that failure and mistakes are a necessary part of learning. We can’t grow without reaching beyond our grasp, and we don’t always make it on the first try. • Break it down. Sometimes young people (and adults) get overwhelmed with major tasks or problems. Break down bigger problems, challenges, or tasks into more manageable pieces. Then the young person can develop a plan to accomplish one step at a time—with your encouragement, feedback, and problem-solving help along the way. • Shift levels of support. Provide more support when your mentee is struggling and less when he or she is succeeding or making progress. Pull back as your mentee improves so he or she gains more control and confidence. Doing too much for young people takes away their opportunity to grow. In each case, keeping a warm and positive attitude boosts motivation, whereas becoming irritated or critical of the young person’s performance or abilities can shut it down. • Make decisions together. Whenever you can, make choices together, rather than just deciding on your own or turning the responsibility for deciding over to your mentee. In the process, they learn how to articulate what’s important to them, they practice decisionmaking skills, they learn to work with others, and, in the end, they develop selfconfidence and their sense of responsibility. • Learn from them—and show it. Young people have a lot to teach adults—whether it’s about youth culture, technology, a subject they’re mastering in school, or an activity or talent they are cultivating, such as music, art, or sports. As you discover things that really interest you, let your mentee know. For example, if your mentee introduces you to a new artist you enjoy, let her or him know you’ve added that artist to a “favorites” playlist. • Inspire your mentee to see future possibilities. As you learn about your mentee’s interests, talents, hopes, and dreams, float ideas about education, activities, or careers they might explore as they grow up. Instead of saying, “You should be a dentist,” try something like, “Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a dentist? What do you think you might enjoy about that?" Introduce new ideas and experiences. Young people shape who they are and who they are becoming by trying out different ideas and experiences. Find ways to expose your mentee to people, belief systems, places, cultures, vocations, and opportunities that may not have ever occurred to them. Start with low-risk and low-commitment introductions. For example, you might begin by watching a good movie about an important political or social movement, then talk together about how it compares to the young person’s own beliefs or experiences. ==========================

Which skills are key for the workplace of the future?

Which skills are key for the workplace of the future? Culturally agile people skilled at communicating and interested in learning will thrive in the workplace of the future, some experts say. These professionals also must be adept at resolving conflict and comfortable with analyzing data, the experts note. Fast Company online - http://www.fastcompany.com/3055352/the-future-of-work/eight-career-skills-you-need-to-becompetitive-in-2016

Youth skills initiative

JPMorgan Chase launches youth-skills initiative JPMorgan Chase this week announced its New Skills for Youth Initiative, a five-year, $75 million program to connect students to in-demand jobs as nurses, technicians, coders and other roles. "[T]he point of all this is a good, well-paying job, not just a degree. It's a degree with a certificate that leads to a job," JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said. CBS MoneyWatch - http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jpmorgan-chase-takes-aim-at-youth-unemployment/

Mentorship

Students who have both formal and informal mentors are more likely to succeed in school and beyond, according to some research studies. "Just as the federal government can see something like health care as a basic need, mentoring should be that, too," David Shapiro, CEO of The National Mentoring Partnership, said. The Atlantic online - http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/01/mentorship-in-public-schools/423945/

Getting Hired

 Getting hired: A few words of wisdom to my former self In this career advice article on the ASCD Job Ramp, ASCD Emerging Leader Aubrie Rojee shares some insights she has gained over her decade-plus in education. Now that she is in position to interview candidates, she thinks about some of the best advice she would have given herself when she was a new teacher on the job hunt, including tips to prepare for an interview at a particular school and make a good impression - http://www.ascd.org/jobramp/pathfinder/getting-hired-a-few-words-of-wisdom-to-my-former-self.aspx

Poverty and Academic Success

 Five ways family income affects academic success Education can help put students on a path out of poverty, neuroscientist Martha Burns writes in this blog post. She highlights five ways poverty can affect neurological development and discusses how neuroscience can shape teaching and learning to meet these students' needs. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Education - http://smartblogs.com/education/2016/01/06/how-povertyaffects-school-success/?utm_source=brief

Stopping Bullies

 Researchers ID potential solution to stop bullying Students are more likely to stop bullying if they hear anti-bullying messages from their peers, according to a study of 56 middle schools in New Jersey. Researchers say the findings have the potential to overhaul how schools address bullying and conflict among students. New York magazine - http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2016/01/end-bullying-get-the-cool-kids-to-help.html#

How to Develop a Good Survey Question

How to Develop a Good Survey Question Dozens of online tools make it easy to create a survey these days. These tools are great resources. But a good survey platform doesn't make it easy to create a good survey. A good survey depends on asking really good questions--particularly when you're asking about abstract or subjective experiences, skills, or priorities. For the past three years, Search Institute has been working with colleagues at West Virginia University and the University of Rochester to develop new measures of young people's civic development through a major project supported by the John Templeton Foundation titled the Roots of Engaged Citizenship Project (http://www.civicroots.org). In this effort, we spent a lot of time focused on developing and testing good questions. So, what makes a question good? 1. A good question is clear. This is harder than it sounds. A survey question may mean something completely different to an 11-year-old in Palo Alto, California, than to an 18-year-old in rural West Virginia or a 14-yearold in Malawi. The best questions are simple yet concrete, and use language that is accessible to all potential participants. We try to avoid questions that: are too long, are too vague, are worded in the opposite direction of the other questions, are too similar to other questions, are idiomatic to a particular language or culture, and include multiple ideas. To help ensure question clarity, we often conduct one-on-one interviews with youth or other survey respondents during the survey development process. We ask students to "think aloud" as they read and respond to possible survey items. This helps identify possible readability, comprehension, and interpretation issues. In the Roots of Engaged Citizenship Project, for example, interviews revealed that few middle school students knew that "e.g." was an abbreviation for "for example." Interviews have also shown us that middle school students struggle to define the word purpose; prompting us to make small but important revisions to survey questions. Read more about creating good questions and download a free measurement toolkit - http://www.search-institute.org/blog/a-good-question

Teens need more exercise

Teens need more exercise, study suggests A study in Pediatrics found US teens get an average of 39.4 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily, below the recommended 60 minutes daily. Researchers analyzed the physical activity of 549 teens ages 12 to 16 who were given GPS monitors and activity trackers, and found that although schools accounted for 55% of the students' total exercise minutes, it was also where teens were most likely to be sedentary. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-teens-exercise-school-20151207- story.html

Why are so many preschoolers getting suspended?

 Data reveal uptick in suspensions among preschool students Preschool Research shows both a rise in suspensions among preschool students and a trend of disproportionate suspensions among some student groups. Chicago, Connecticut and Washington, D.C., have banned the use of suspensions for minor infractions for preschoolers. The Atlantic online - http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/12/why-are-so-manypreschoolers-getting-suspended/418932/

Friday, February 5, 2016

Zika Virus

As you may or may not be aware, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a Health Advisory for travelers going to and from Central and South America, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Puerto Rico regarding the Zika virus.  Zika virus outbreaks have previously been reported in Africa, Asia, and islands in the Pacific.  The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti; Aedes albopictus mosquitoes might also transmit the virus.  Local transmission of the Zika virus has not been documented in the continental United States.  However, Zika virus infections have been reported in travelers returning to the United States from areas where infection has been identified.  There is some concern that imported cases may result in local spread of the virus in some areas of the continental United States, meaning the imported cases may result in human-to-mosquito-to human spread of the virus.  Experts believe additional spread is likely because the Aedes species mosquitoes that spread the virus are found in many locations throughout the world.
About one in five people infected with Zika virus become symptomatic, and those that do may see symptoms such as a fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis (pink eye) within 2 to 7 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito.  Clinical illness is usually mild, with symptoms lasting for several days to a week.  Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon and fatalities are rare.  During the current outbreak in Brazil, Zika virus RNA (Ribonucleic acid) has been identified in tissues from several infants with microcephaly (smaller than normal heads as a result of abnormal brain development) and following fetal deaths in women infected during pregnancy.  The Brazil Ministry of Health has reported a marked increase in the number of babies born with microcephaly.  However, it is not known how many of the microcephaly cases are associated with Zika virus infection and what factors increase risk to the fetus.
No specific antiviral treatment is available for Zika virus disease.  Treatment is generally supportive and can include rest, fluids, and use of analgesics and antipyretics.  Because of similar geographic distribution and symptoms, patients with suspected Zika virus infections should also be evaluated and managed for possible dengue or chikungunya virus infection.
The CDC Health Advisory includes information and recommendations about Zika virus clinical disease, diagnosis, and prevention, and provides travel guidance for pregnant women and women who are trying to become pregnant.  Until more is known, and out of an abundance of caution, pregnant women and women of childbearing age should consider postponing travel to any area where Zika virus transmission is ongoing.  Pregnant women who do travel to these areas should talk to their doctors or other healthcare providers first and strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip.  Women trying to become pregnant should consult with their healthcare providers before traveling to these areas and strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip.  Zika virus usually remains in the blood of an infected person for only a few days to a week.  The virus will not cause infections in a baby that is conceived after the virus is cleared from the blood. 
No vaccine or preventive drug is available.  The best way to prevent Zika virus infection is to:
·         Avoid mosquito bites.
·         Use air conditioning or window and door screens when indoors.
·         Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes.
·         Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellants, as appropriate for you and according to product directions, when outdoors.  Most repellents, including DEET, can be used on children older than 2 months.  Pregnant and lactating women can use all EPA-registered insect repellents, including DEET, according to the product label.

For more information on the Zika virus, you can visit the CDC’s “Zika Virus” webpage at:  http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html/.  You can access the full CDC Health Advisory at:  http://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00385.asp.

6 steps for a safe super bowl buffet

Make sure your Big Game gathering is memorable for all the right reasons! Follow these six tips to avoid food poisoning:
  1. Keep it clean.
  2. Cook it well.
  3. Keep it safe.
  4. Watch the time.
  5. Avoid mix-ups.
  6. Get it to go.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Pistachio Recall



Braga Organic Farms announces the voluntary recall of pistachios due to potential contamination with Salmonella, an organism that 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 can experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Monday, February 1, 2016

Question of the Day: Does microwave cooking destroy the nutrient density in foods?

No. Microwave ovens generally do not destroy nutrients in food. For example, cooking vegetables in water increases the loss of water-soluble vitamins, and because microwave ovens can cook foods with little or no water, more nutrients are retained. Scientists at Cornell University studied the effects of cooking on vegetables in 2006, and their results showed that spinach retained nearly all its folate (a water-soluble B vitamin) when microwaved but lost about 77 percent when cooked on a stove.

Question of the Day: Is Corn a Vegetable or a Grain?

Corn can be considered either a grain or a vegetable, based on when it is harvested. The maturity level of corn at harvest affects both its use at meals and its nutritional value. Corn that is harvested when fully mature and dry is considered a grain. It can be milled into cornmeal and used in such foods as corn tortillas and cornbread. Popcorn is also harvested when mature, and is considered to be a whole grain.

On the other hand, fresh corn (e.g., corn on the cob, frozen corn kernels) is harvested when it is soft and has kernels full of liquid. Fresh corn is considered a starchy vegetable. Its nutrient content differs from dry corn, and it is eaten in different ways -- often on the cob, as a side dish, or mixed with other vegetables.