Alaska Seafood is Safe from Fukushima Radiation

The Alaska departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Health and Social Services (DHSS) have received further results from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the latest radiation testing of Alaska seafood. The results confirm information from federal, state and international agencies that seafood in Alaska waters poses no radiation-related health concerns to those who consume it.

This testing of cod and three species of salmon (chinook, chum, and sockeye) showed no detection of the Fukushima-related radioisotopes iodine-131, cesium-134, or cesium-137. The results indicate no appreciable risk from any tested radionuclide in these fish and support previous radionuclide testing results of sablefish, pollock and halibut from Alaska waters. DEC and DHSS have posted the findings on their websites and will update the web pages with any future sampling results.

All samples were analyzed by standard techniques routinely used by the FDA to evaluate food safety. The fish samples were composites, containing tissue from several fish, and were collected using a statistical protocol. Samples were collected from the Aleutian/Bering Sea, Bristol Bay and Gulf of Alaska.

The state of Alaska continues to collaborate with its partners, including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Cook Inlet Keeper, North Slope Borough, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), FDA, and others to compile and evaluate additional environmental sample data.

Early Treatment Benefits Infants with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency

Early transplantation of blood-forming stem cells is a highly effective treatment for infants with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a group of rare, life-threatening inherited immune system disorders, a study funded by the National Institutes of Health suggests.

Approximately three-quarters of SCID infants who received transplants survived for at least five years. Infants who received transplants within the first 3.5 months of life had the best outcomes. Researchers from the Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium (PIDTC), funded by NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), report their findings in the July 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

SCID is caused by defects in genes involved in the development and function of infection-fighting T and B cells. Infants with SCID appear healthy at birth but are highly susceptible to infections. If untreated, SCID is fatal, usually within the first year of life. Development of a newborn screening test has made it possible to detect SCID before symptoms appear. The test was added to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Recommended Uniform Screening Panel  for newborns in 2010, but to date, only 21 states have implemented newborn screening for SCID.

“The findings from this study highlight the positive impact of treating SCID early in life,” said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. “They also suggest that widespread use of newborn screening tests for SCID is warranted to ensure that infants with this rare syndrome receive life-saving transplants.”

Stem cell transplantation can fully correct the T-cell and, less consistently, the B-cell deficiencies of SCID infants. To identify factors that contribute to successful transplant outcomes, PIDTC investigators analyzed data from 240 SCID infants who received transplants at 25 clinical centers across the United States and Canada between 2000 and 2009.

The researchers found that younger infants and those without infections had excellent survival rates. Almost all 68 babies transplanted within the first 3.5 months of life survived, with 64 still alive five years after transplant. Many of these babies had a family history of SCID and were diagnosed before the onset of infections. Survival rates for older infants who never had infection or whose infections cleared before transplant also were high — 90 percent and 82 percent, respectively. Only 50 percent of babies who had infections at the time of transplant survived for five years.

“These findings indicate that early transplantation and absence of infection are critical to achieving the best transplant outcomes for infants with this serious disorder,” said Daniel Rotrosen, M.D., director of NIAID’s Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation. “The results of this study pave the way for further work to identify optimal stem cell transplant procedures for infants with SCID.”

Donor type also affected transplant success, with the best outcomes resulting from sibling donors whose human leukocyte antigens (HLA) — proteins that help regulate immune responses — matched those of the recipient. HLA matching reduces the risk of graft-versus-host disease, in which transplanted cells attack the recipient’s cells. Because HLA markers are inherited from both parents, siblings have a one-in-four chance of being a perfect match.  In the PIDTC study, 97 percent of infants who received transplants from HLA-matched siblings survived at least five years.

Regardless of donor type, survival rates were high for infants transplanted within the first 3.5 months of life and those of any age without infection at time of transplant. SCID infants with active infection and lacking a matched sibling donor did not fare as well. These infants were most likely to survive if they received specially treated bone marrow from a parent, but did not receive any pre-transplant chemotherapy, which often is administered to help the transplanted cells survive. This finding indicates that treatment and prevention of infection and avoidance of chemotherapy if an infection cannot be cleared are important considerations before transplantation.

Transplants from matched siblings led to the best restoration of immune function. Among survivors of transplants from non-sibling donors, use of certain pre-transplant chemotherapy regimens was associated with higher T-cell numbers and more consistent B-cell function. However, chemotherapy carries the risk of severe early side effects, which can reduce chances of survival. Survivors may experience long-term chemotherapy side effects, such as poor growth. Future research will focus on developing transplant procedures that improve survival and immune recovery while avoiding harmful side effects.

Six VR Green Products Recalled After Being Associated With Two Cases of Botulism

California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Health Officer Dr. Ron Chapman warned consumers today not to eat VR Green Farms jarred food products because they may have been improperly produced, making them susceptible to contamination with Clostridium botulinum.

Ingestion of botulism toxin from improperly processed jarred and canned foods may lead to serious illness and death. CDPH is coordinating with the US Food and Drug Administration and the Ohio Department of Health in the investigation of two cases of suspected food-borne botulism infections that may be associated with consumption of the firm’s Pine Nut Basil Pesto.

VR Green Farms of San Clemente, California, is voluntarily recalling the following varieties of jarred food products: Pine Nut Basil Pesto, Pickled Farm Mix, Old World Tomato Sauce, Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil, Tuscan Grilling Sauce, and Pasta Sauce. These food products were sold under the VR Farms label and packaged in Mason-style glass jars with screw-on metal lids. The product labels do not include any coding or “use by” dates. Photographs can be found on Recalled Product Photos Page. The products were sold at the VR Green Farms stand in San Clemente, California and via the Internet to consumers throughout the United States.

Botulinum toxin is odorless and colorless. Consumers who have any of these products or any foods made with these products should discard them immediately. Double bag the cans in plastic bags and place in a trash receptacle for non-recyclable trash. Wear gloves when handling these products or wash your hands with soap and running water.

Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The initial symptoms frequently experienced are double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, and dry or sore throat. Progressive descending paralysis, usually symmetrical, may follow. Infants with botulism appear lethargic, feed poorly, are constipated, have a weak cry and poor muscle tone. CDPH recommends consumers experiencing any ill effects after consuming these products should consult their healthcare provider. Consumers that observe the product being offered for sale should report the activity to CDPH at (800) 495-3232.

Recall For Various Chunks of Energy Products due to Listeria

Salmonella is 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 often experience fever, diarrhea, 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 infection (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Products impacted by the recall include Natural Grocery bulk food brand labeled as follows:

CHUNKS OF ENERGY CAROB GREENS

Packed On dates: 155-14, 167-14, 175-14

CHUNKS OF ENERGY DATE / FLAX /TURMERIC

Packed On dates: 125-14, 133-14, 147-14, 155-14, 170-14, 181-14

Packed On dates appear near the bottom of the label affixed to each bag.

These products were repackaged by Natural Grocers and sold in small bags in the refrigerated bulk foods section of the stores. A black and white printed label is affixed to each bag. The product was distributed only to Natural Grocers 84 stores located in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Consumers can find the specific locations of Natural Grocers stores at: http://www.naturalgrocers.com/store-locations.

Consumers who have purchased this item are urged to not eat the product, and to dispose of it or return it to the store where it was originally purchased for credit.

This precautionary action was taken because the products contain Carob Powder that was part of Ciranda Inc.’s Organic Carob powder recall. Ciranda Inc.’s Organic Carob powder was used as an ingredient in the Chunks of Energy products listed above.

Consumers with questions may contact the company by calling Customer Service at 303-986-4600, ext. 531 Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Mountain Standard Time or by using the web contact form at http

Australia' Cadbury Marvellous Creations Jelly Popping Candy Beanies Were Recalled

The Best Before dates were 25/02/15 and 26/02/15 and batch code was 9 30017000815

The recall is due to foreign matter contamination (small pieces of plastic).Food products containing plastic may cause injury if consumed.

The product was sold Nationally by Coles, Woolworths, IGA, Kmart, Big W, convenience stores and some petrol stations. The 50g bar can also be found in the 'Cadbury Fundraiser Joyville Sweet Treat Box' and 'Cadbury Dairy Milk Variety Box' sold only at Costco, as well as some Cadbury showbags.

These candies were Supplied by Mondelez Australia

Consumers should not eat this product and should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. For further information contact: Mondelez Australia Pty Ltd on 1800 034 241 or via their website at www.mondelezinternational.com.au.

African Medical Education is Being Transformed by US Program

Medical education in sub-Saharan Africa is being revitalized and expanded through a U.S.-funded effort that is dramatically increasing enrollment, broadening curricula, upgrading Internet access and providing cutting-edge skills labs and other technologies.

MEPI Principal Investigator, Dr. Nelson Sewankambo, leads a discussion with a group of medical students at Makerere University. Photo by Richard Lord for Fogarty/NIH.

In the first substantial publication by participants of the $130 million Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI), more than 225 authors detailed progress being made at the African institutions. Their reports are in a supplement being published today by the journal Academic Medicine. Begun in 2010, MEPI is funded by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the National Institutes of Health, and is co-administered by NIH’s Fogarty International Center and the Health Resources and Services Administration.

“MEPI is a major venture in international educational innovation that has generated new thinking, energy and optimism in the field of medical education in Africa,” the program partners write in a foreword article to the supplement.

The 32 articles include case studies of national strategies to increase numbers of doctors and health professionals trained; educational innovations such as e-learning and regional training sites; research capacity development, and partnerships that leverage advances across the MEPI network.

MEPI participants provided details of accomplishments made through the program, including:

• In Zimbabwe, medical student and postgraduate enrollment have both nearly doubled, from 260 in 2010 to 513 in 2013, and the Ministry of Higher Education has committed additional financial support to sustain the progress.
• A decentralized training network of 14 regional hospitals has been established in Kenya, and has provided instruction for more than 300 medical, nursing, dental and pharmacy students.
• Internal medicine (IM) physicians were in short supply in Mozambique, so salary supplements, Internet access, and notebook computers were offered to encourage  recruitment, resulting in an increase in IM residents from 10 before MEPI to 75 in 2012.
• Fourteen new master’s level programs were begun in Zambia, including physiological sciences, pharmacology, anatomy, pathology, microbiology and nursing.
• A virtual microscopy system was introduced in Zambia, containing 4,000 electronic images, which increased student access and is more cost-effective than optical microscopy using glass slides.
• A research administration office was created in Ethiopia to assist faculty in grant writing and management, and 18 faculty members were supported to present their research at international conferences.

The supplement on MEPI progress also includes commentaries from global health experts such as former U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Dr. Eric Goosby, MEPI Coordinating Center principal investigator Dr. Francis G. Omaswa and Fogarty International Center Director Dr. Roger I. Glass.

The critical shortage of physicians, researchers and health care workers across sub-Saharan Africa spurred MEPI’s creation. While the region suffers 25 percent of the global burden of disease, it has only 3 percent of the world’s health care workers, according to the World Health Organization. The impact of HIV/AIDS created an urgent need to increase capacity, wrote Goosby and his co-author Deborah von Zinkernagel, former PEPFAR deputy. “Although concerns arose that resources were being diverted from “services,” it was evident to PEPFAR leadership that the ongoing and expanding needs of the HIV-infected community could not be successfully sustained without increasing the number of trained health professionals,” they added.

By awarding the grants directly to African institutions, MEPI is cultivating sustainable local leadership, Omaswa maintained. “For Africa to accelerate the speed of the ongoing transformation, it is necessary for Africans to step up and take ownership and responsibility for what happens in their own backyards,” he said.

Research is embedded in curricula developed through MEPI, to expand local capacity that will drive innovation. African scientists have already contributed to many “game-changing” HIV-related advances such as development of rapid diagnostics for detecting and monitoring HIV infections, noted Glass and his Fogarty co-authors. “The research perspective provided to students and faculty, the ability to raise and answer questions and the idea that medical knowledge and practice are continually changing are being supported by MEPI sites and will hopefully endure long after the program ends,” they continued.

Initially conceived as a five-year program, MEPI funders and participants are now developing plans for a second phase of investment in Africa’s medical education.

Fogarty, the international component of the NIH, addresses global health challenges through innovative and collaborative research and training programs and supports and advances the NIH mission through international partnerships. For more information, visit: http://www.fic.nih.gov.

7/31/14 Health News; BILL INTRODUCED TO TAX SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES ♦ Labels detect contaminated meat ♦ RAW MILK SEIZURE ♦ Tainted meat scandal bites McDonald's

DELAURO INTRODUCES BILL TO TAX SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES NATIONWIDE

On Wednesday, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) introduced the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Tax (SWEET) Act — a tax on drinks such as sodas, energy drinks, sweet teas and sports drinks that she first announced at the National Soda Summit in Washington, D.C., on June 5. The SWEET Act would institute an excise tax of 1 cent per... Continue Reading

Smart labels detect contaminated meat before it hits shelves

Have you ever worried about getting salmonella or E. coli poisoning from meat? Researchers at the University of Alberta are working on a new way to spot spoiled meat before it hits grocery-store shelves. Anastasia Elias and Dominic Sauvageau, professors in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, are developing smart materials to detect harmful microbes that cause … continue reading

RAW MILK SEIZURE STIRS DEBATE IN MICHIGAN

Michigan farmers and some of their downstate customers are still talking about an enforcement action taken two weeks ago by the Michigan Department of Agriculture. The incident has prompted hundreds of comments on local newspaper and Facebook pages. A delivery truck from Standish, MI-based My Family Co-Op was making its run south on Interstate 75... Continue Reading

Tainted meat scandal bites McDonald's

The fast food chain's Japanese unit said Tuesday that it will fall short of profit and sales targets for the year, after a longtime meat supplier was shut down last week by authorities for unsanitary practices. As meat from the supplier has been pulled out of circulation, McDonald's outlets in China, Hong Kong and Japan have stopped selling items such … continue reading

Raw Goat Milk Mild Cheddar Cheese recalled

SW Wisc Dairy Goat Products Coop of Mt Sterling, Wisc is recalling Raw Milk Mild Cheddar Cheese Lot Code 103-114 because it may be contaminated with Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O111:H8 bacteria. 

This is one of the 6 STEC strains that have been deemed to be of serious health concern as it can cause diarrheal illness, often with bloody stools, and may lead to more severe complications like Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is most likely to occur in young children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals and can lead to severe kidney damage and even death.

This product was distributed in the Midwest and Southwest regions of the US. This product was sent through distributorship in Wisconsin and Georgia. From these two states this product was then sent to retail stores in the Midwest and Southwest.

This product was packed as an 8oz cryovac retail size piece with the code 103-114 on a sticker attached to the side of the cheese. This product is all white in appearance and has a front and back separate label. The back label is a black and white nutrition and ingredient label and the front label is a yellow and blue colored label with the Mt Sterling Coop Creamery brand name. "No illnesses have been reported to date."

The recall was initiated after a case of two five pound loafs in the original packaging was collected on 7-8—14 from an offsite warehouse. The product sample tested positive for Shiga toxin 1and was contaminated with E. coli O111:H8.

Consumers who may have purchased this product with the code date listed are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-608-734-3151.

Cord Blood: What You Need to Know

July is National Cord Blood Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to learn more about cord blood—a biological product regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Found in the blood vessels of the placenta and the umbilical cord, cord blood is collected after a baby is born and after the umbilical cord is cut—an important point.

“Because cord blood is typically collected after the baby is delivered and the cord is cut, the procedure is generally safe for the mother and baby,” explains Keith Wonnacott, Ph.D., Chief of the Cellular Therapies Branch in FDA’s Office of Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapies.

Approved Uses

Cord blood is approved only for use in “hematopoietic stem cell transplantation” procedures, which are done in patients with disorders affecting the hematopoietic (blood forming) system. Cord blood contains blood-forming stem cells that can be used in the treatment of patients with blood cancers such as leukemias and lymphomas, as well as certain disorders of the blood and immune systems, such as sickle cell disease and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

“Cord blood is useful because it is a source of stem cells that form into blood cells. Cord blood can be used for transplantation in people who need regeneration, that is, ‘regrowth,’ of these blood-forming cells,” Wonnacott says.

For instance, in many cancer patients, the disease is found in the blood cells. Chemotherapy treatment of these patients kills both cancer cells and the healthy blood-forming stem cells. Transplanted stem cells from cord blood can help regrow the healthy blood cells after the chemotherapy.

However, cord blood is not a cure-all.“Because cord blood contains stem cells, there have been stem cell fraud cases related to cord blood,” says Wonnacott. “Consumers may think that stem cells can cure any disease, but science doesn’t show this to be the case. Patients should be skeptical if cord blood is being promoted for uses other than blood stem cell regeneration.”

About Cord Blood Banking

After cord blood is collected, it is frozen and can be safely stored for many years. “The method of freezing, called ‘cryopreservation,’ is very important to maintain the integrity of the cells,” Wonnacott says. “Cord blood needs to be stored carefully.”

You may choose to store your baby’s cord blood in a private bank so it can be available if needed in the future by your child or first- or second-degree relatives. Private cord banks typically charge fees for blood collection and storage.

Or you may donate the cord blood to a public bank so that doctors can use for a patient who needs a hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

FDA regulates cord blood in different ways, depending on the source, level of processing and intended use.

Cord blood stored for personal use, for use in first- or second-degree relatives, and that also meets other criteria in FDA’s regulations, does not require the agency’s approval before use. Private cord banks must still comply with other FDA requirements, including establishment registration and listing, current good tissue practice regulations, and donor screening and testing for infectious diseases (except when cord blood is used for the original donor). These FDA requirements ensure safety of these products by minimizing the risk of contamination and transmission of infectious diseases.

Cord blood stored for use by a patient unrelated to the donor meets the legal definitions of both a “drug” and a “biological product.” Cord blood in this category must meet additional requirements and be licensed under a biologics license application, or be the subject of an investigational new drug application before use. The FDA requirements help to ensure that these products are safe and effective for their intended use.

Not every cord blood unit will meet requirements for public banking, adds Safa Karandish, M.T., an FDA consumer safety officer. If that happens, some of this donated cord blood may be used for non-clinical research.

If you’re considering donating to a cord blood bank, you should look into your options during your pregnancy to have enough time to decide before your baby is born. For public banking, ask whether your delivery hospital participates in a cord blood banking program.

If you have questions about collection procedures and risks, or about the donation process, ask your healthcare provider.

FDA also offers a searchable database that maintains information on registered cord blood banks.

Be skeptical of claims that cord blood is a miracle cure—it is not. Some parents may consider using a private bank as a form of “insurance” against future illness. But remember that, currently, the only approved use of cord blood is for treatment of blood-related illnesses.

Also know that in some cases your stored cord blood may not be suitable for use in the child who donated it. “For instance, you can’t cure some diseases or genetic defects with cord blood that contains the same disease or defect,” Karandish says.

Parents from minority ethnic groups may especially want to consider donation to a public bank, says Wonnacott, because more donations from these populations will help more minority patients who need a stem cell transplant. (The recipients must be “matched” to donors, so doctors are more likely to find a good match among donors from the recipient’s ethnic group.)

“When it comes to public banking, there’s a proven need for cord blood,” Wonnacott says. “And there’s a need especially among minorities to have stem cell transplants available. Cord blood is an excellent source for stem cell transplants.”

And these transplants can be life-changing for patients.

Organic Raw Carob Powder Recalled Due to Salmonella Contamination

Organic Raw Carob Powder Recalled Due to Salmonella Contamination

Hummingbird Wholesale in Eugene Oregon has been notified by its supplier of a recall of Organic Raw Carob Powder due to possible health risks related to potential Salmonella contamination.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometime 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.

Products in question were sold to processors and retail outlets in Oregon, Washington, and California and to the end consumer in Oregon in 20 lb boxes and 5 lb bags between the dates of 5/22/14 through 7/24/14.

HW Item #	Lot #	Sunfood UPC Code	Exp Date
C110	14069, 14059	803813-04429 8	6/5/2015, or 11/2015
C110-5#	14189, 14177, 14156, 14142	N/A	No expiration date on these packages

No other Hummingbird Wholesale products are affected by this recall and no illnesses have been reported to date. This recall is initiated as a precautionary measure due to a possibility of contamination as notified by our suppliers.

Consumers that have purchased these products with the above stated lot numbers and expiration dates are asked not to consume the product and discard it or return the product to the original point of purchase.

Consumers with questions may contact Hummingbird Wholesale at 541-686-0921 ext 105, Monday – Friday from 8 am-4 pm PST.

New Zealand::Whittaker's brand Almond Gold Mini Slab recalled..

Recalled food products: Whittaker's brand Almond Gold Mini Slab – 180g pack

Food Product:	Confectionery – Chocolate products
Name of Product and Identification	Batch number: LO944 Best Before: 4 April 2015
Package Description & Size:	This product is sold in a 180g pack containing 12 individually wrapped mini slabs.
NZ Distribution:	This product is sold in major supermarkets and other food retail outlets throughout New Zealand.
Overseas Distribution:	Affected product has been exported to Malaysia and Korea.
Reason for Recall:	Whittaker’s are initiating a recall of the above batch of Whittaker’s brand Almond Gold Mini Slabs after discovering pieces of blue plastic in some product.
Comments:	Consumers are advised to check the batch information on the product packaging. Affected product has the batch information listed above and should not be consumed. Food products containing foreign matter may cause injury. If you have consumed any of this product and have any concerns about your health, please contact your doctor or seek medical advice. Customers should return the product to their retailer for a full refund or phone 0800 11 99 68 with any queries.

7/29/14 Health news: Fears About Ebola Spread Beyond Africa ♦ Do foam cups contain cancer-causing chemicals? ♦ US Food Producers Turning GMO-Free

Ebola Outbreak: New Fears About Ebola Spread Beyond Africa

DAKAR, Senegal—No one knows for sure just how many people Patrick Sawyer came into contact with the day he boarded a flight in Liberia, had a stopover in Ghana, changed planes in Togo, and then arrived in Nigeria, where authorities say he died days later from Ebola, one of the deadliest diseases known to man.Continue Reading

Do foam cups contain cancer-causing chemicals?

A chemical used in foam cups and disposable food containers may cause cancer, scientists have warned.Styrene can be 'reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen', the National Research Council in the U.S. said yesterday.The conclusion was reached by a team of 10 experts in toxicology, chemistry and medicine.Continue Reading

US Food Producers Turning GMO-Free with Little to No Advertising

MOSCOW, July 29 (RIA Novosti) - US food producers have been eliminating genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from their products without any special announcements, NPR reported. While some companies, like ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s, are advertising their healthy switch as loudly as possible, others are experimenting with the elimination of GMO “cautiously and quietly.” “ … continue reading

Lyme Disease Epidemic In the Hamptons

It's the Hamptons' [Suffolk County, Long Island, New York] dirty little secret: dozens of children and adults are being diagnosed with Lyme disease each day as officials mount a campaign to battle ticks. The problem has gotten so bad that Southampton Hospital launched the Tick-Borne Disease Resource Center to help residents bugging out over the tiny blood-suckers.

One physician, Dr Blake Kerr, told The Post he treats 100 patients a week for Lyme disease. "It's an epidemic," said Kerr, who runs Wainscott Walk-In Medical Center and last summer contracted Lyme and 2 other tick-borne illnesses simultaneously. Pediatrician Dr Nadia Persheff of Hampton Pediatrics in Southampton sees as many as 4 children a day for Lyme disease and 20 for tick bites -- including one 3-week-old baby who came in with 4 ticks on his back. "You have to check every kid and every baby," Persheff said. "We're much busier than last summer. I've never seen it like this."

Suffolk County was ground zero for Lyme disease in 2012, leading the state [New York State] with 689 reported cases, data show. In 2013, the number of reported cases dropped to 566, according to state data.

Still, locals believe the ticks -- and tick-related illnesses -- are growing every year. The culprits are often deer ticks, which carry Lyme or malaria-like diseases such as babesiosis and -- at the size of a poppy seed -- are much smaller than common wood ticks.

Lyme disease, a bacterial illness with symptoms of skin rash, headache, and fatigue can cause neurological damage and other serious problems if left untreated. Early treatment typically includes a single dose of antibiotics.

Brian Kelly, owner of East End Tick and Mosquito Control, said he has fielded frantic calls from out-of-towners who want him to remove ticks from their bodies. "People are realizing they're everywhere -- you can't even go to the beach without getting a tick," Kelly said.

, Curry Powder withdrawn Due to Salmonella

Booker has withdrawn a batch of Chef's Larder Madras Curry Powder due to the presence of salmonella

Booker has withdrawn a batch of Chef's Larder Madras Curry Powder, as a precautionary measure, due to the detection of salmonella during routine testing.

Product: Chef's Larder Madras Curry Powder

Pack sizes: 410g

Batch code: LEP 048771

'Best before' end: March 2017

The above product has been distributed only to caterer establishments and Booker has instructed all their customers to withdraw the product. A product notice has been published on Booker's website advising customers of the withdrawal and what they can do if they have bought the affected product.