Nutrition News & Views

January 31, 1997
Nutrition News & Views January 1997

Contents

FOOD SAFETY INFORMATION

PRESTO ELECTRIC GAUGE TESTER --NEED TO BE SERVICED!!!!
Food preservation season is right around the corner so the Presto Electric Gauge Tester should be tested for accuracy. The only charge to you is the postage to mail the pot to Presto. Presto will service the unit free of charge and if the testing unit is mailed to Presto's Service Department early, the turn-around time is 2 to 3 weeks. As food preservation season gets closer, it will take longer to get your unit back.

Carefully wrap the WHOLE UNIT in tissue or newspaper and pack it in a sturdy corrugated box. Allow about 1 inch of packing materials around the unit to prevent shipping damage. Place a note in the box requesting the unit be serviced and include your name, address and telephone number. Mail to: Service Department National Presto Industries, Inc. Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54703-3703

If you do not have a Presto Gauge Tester and would like to purchase one, the cost of a new unit is $45.00 (including shipping). Order at the address above.

FOOD SAFETY NEEDS ASSESSMENT As we look to the future of the Extension Food Safety Program your input is vital to its continued success. Please take a few minutes and complete the attached needs assessment questionnaire. Your input is very important to me. Several of you have given me input on an informal basis, which I very much appreciate, now I am asking for formal input. Please feel free to expand on the questionnaire if I have not asked the question you need to answer. Thank you in advance for your participation.
Return it by January 30, 1997 to:
Melissa Mixon
Box 9745
Mississippi State, MS 39762
or
Mail stop 9745

MARCH NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH THEME STRESSES TOTAL DIET

"All foods can fit" is the theme for the 1997 National Nutrition Month (NNM). NNM is sponsored by the American Dietetic Association (ADA). This year's objective is to help consumers understand that a healthy eating style is based on the overall pattern of foods eaten, not any one food or any one meal. NNM also teaches consumers that good nutrition does not require great sacrifice or restriction and that all foods can be a part of health eating, if consumed in moderation. Enclosed is a packet of materials for your use in promotion of NNM. Feel free to duplicate as you see fit.

FEBRUARY AMERICAN HEART MONTH THEME STRESSES PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

"Get in on the Action" is the theme of the 1997 American Heart Month. Each year, millions of people volunteer their time and talent to the American Heart Association to help fight in the fight against cardiovascular disease. Enclosed is a packet of materials for your use in promotion of heart month. Be sure to note that there is an order blank to order 25 free bookmarks and 5 posters.

Escherichia Coli 0157:H7 Alert

E. coli 0157:H7 infection has been reported in Mississippi since the fall of 1993. One case was reported in 1994, and 3 in 1995. So far, in 1996, 9 cases have been reported, 4 from the Meridian area. Cases are being investigated to determine the source of the bacteria.

E. coli 0157:H7 was first identified as a cause of illness in 1982. Since that time it has been found to be a common cause of bloody and non-bloody diarrhea in North America. Most infected persons will have non-bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps that last about a week, then resolve. About 40% will develop bloody diarrhea on the second or third day of illness. Two to 7% of infected patients will develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is more likely to occur in patients less than 5 years of age or the elderly, and in those with bloody diarrhea.

This is an organism which is often spread from person to person through the fecal oral route, as the infectious dose appears to be small. Day care centers have been found to be particularly susceptible to outbreaks of E. coli 0157:H7 from person to person. Transmission of the bacteria may also be through consumption of raw or undercooked (still red in the middle) ground beef, or of unpasteurized milk, as about 1% of healthy cattle have the bacteria in their intestines, and the process of grinding beef may transfer the organism from the surface to the interior of the product. Outbreaks have been traced to contaminated apple cider, other contaminated foods, unchlorinated water supplies and swimming in fecally contaminated lakes.

Any person with bloody diarrhea should have stools cultured for E. coli 0157:H7. During outbreaks, it is also a good idea to culture persons with non-bloody diarrhea.

At this time recommended treatment of E. coli 0157:H7 infection is supportive. There is some evidence that antimicrobial agents may be contraindicated, since they may increase the production of the toxin.

Prevention is through thorough cooking of ground beef, through washing of foods eaten raw, and avoidance of unpasteurized milk. Proper handwashing and sanitizing routines can prevent contamination of other foods being served, as well as person to person transmission. Mississippi Morbidity Report, Mississippi State Department of Health 15(3):4 (October 1996)

ANISAKIDOSIS FROM RAW FISH

An orange-colored Pseudoterranova decipiens larva was extracted from the epigastric mucosa of a 40-year-old Frenchman of Cambodian origin who had complained of intense epigastric pain for 10 days. The larva was still alive. The man's pain, which was his only symptom, had begun three hours after eating a meal of uncooked coalfish, prepared with lemon according to a Tahitian recipe. The incidence of anisakidosis has been low in France in the past, but may be expected to increase because of the popularity of Asian raw-fish dishes and the high level of infestation of the parasite in sea-fish. After removal of the larva, the patient recovered without incident. Food Safety Notebook 7(9):75 (September 1996).

ENCLOSURES

(Unless otherwise noted, the enclosures were sent to the county Extension office)

Food Safety Needs Assessment Survey

1997 National Nutrition Month reproducible packet

1997 American Heart Month reproducible packet

Melissa Mixon, Ph.D.,R.D.,L.D.
Human Nutrition Specialist

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