Raw bean sprouts need to be washed and thoroughly cooked before being eaten

This is because of the risk of Salmonella infection. See WebMD article.

A 'survival kit' for NHS patients to take into hospital to protect them from viruses like MRSA has been produced for consumers.

NHS survival kit goes on sale to protect against hospital bugs like MRSA
Article in the Telegraph

Extract:

"The PatientPak contains wipes and sprays which kill MRSA, e-coli, norovirus, capylobactor, salmonella, listeria and even bird flu within 10 seconds.

The pack, which costs £15.99 and is available in high streets, includes anti-bacterial surface wipes, hand wipes, hair and body wash and a fabric spray for sanitising bedsheets and curtains.

The product has been launched amid growing concern amongst patients to protect themselves while in hospital.

PatientPak uses products containing Clinell, known for killing infections. However, the formula cannot kill C.diff - which can only be tackled with skin-toxic sporicide - but the pack contains soap and nail brushes to encourage people to clean hands."

Sounds a good idea.

Young children should not keep hamsters, baby chicks, lizards, turtles or hedgehogs as pets, report advises.

Hamsters and chicks are dangerous, doctors warn
Article in the Guardian

Extract:

"Young children should not keep hamsters, baby chicks, lizards, turtles or hedgehogs as pets, according to the leading US paediatricians' group, in a new report about dangers from exotic animals.

Besides evidence that they can carry dangerous and sometimes potentially deadly germs, exotic pets may be more prone than cats and dogs to bite, scratch or claw ... putting children younger than five particularly at risk, the report says.

Young children are vulnerable because of developing immune systems, plus they often put their hands in their mouths. That means families with children younger than five should avoid owning "non-traditional" pets. Young children should also avoid contact with these animals in petting zoos or elsewhere, says the American Academy of Paediatrics report.

"Many parents don't understand the risks from various infections these animals often carry," said Dr Larry Pickering, the report's lead author and an infectious disease specialist at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About 11% of salmonella illnesses in children are thought to stem from contact with lizards, turtles and other reptiles, Pickering said. Hamsters also can carry this germ, which can cause severe diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps."

Traces of salmonella have been found in jars of Bovril beef extract and have prompted recall of the product.

Salmonella found in Bovril prompts recall
Article in the Telegraph

Extract:

"Manufacturer Unilever has recalled 15,000 jars and 72 plastic tubs from stores across the UK "as a precautionary measure".

The alert followed routine checks which identified traces of salmonella in a small number of packs produced during a specific period.

The products being recalled are 250g glass jars of Bovril Beef Extract with a best-before-end date of January 2010 and batch codes of L8201XX795, L8206XX795, L8207XX795 and L8208XX795.

Bovril Beef Extract in 600g plastic tubs with a Jan 2010 best-before-end date and batch code L8207XX795 are also being recalled.

The information can be found on the back label of glass jars or on the base of plastic tubs."

Many pre-packaged salads contain bacteria which can cause potentially deadly food poisoning.

One in 10 salads has poisonous bacteria - Sunday Telegraph

Extract:

"Food safety experts are calling for stricter production controls on ready-to-eat salads after tests revealed that many contain bacteria which can cause potentially deadly food poisoning.

A report compiled by the government's Health Protection Agency (HPA), found that one in 10 pre-packaged salads containing meat or seafood was contaminated with the listeria bacteria. Evidence of E. coli and salmonella was found in some bags of salad.
The HPA report, which involved testing more than 2,600 ready-to-eat salads, concluded that the control of bacteria in food manufacturing and in shops was essential to minimise the potential for hazardous food contamination."


Lose weight by eating less salt! Go on! - Try it! - You will feel so much better!
How to Lose weight!

See my website http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/.html
(The site does not sell anything and has no banners or sponsors or adverts - just helpful information.)

Read my Mensa article on Obesity and the Salt Connection

See Sodium in foods and Associated health conditions

I can be contacted via my website if you need my further help. My help is free...

£1,000,000 fine for confectionery giant Cadbury

Cadbury hit with £1m fine - Guardian

Extract:

"Confectionery giant Cadbury has been fined £1m following last summer's salmonella outbreak in which 42 people fell ill.

The fine was handed down at Birmingham crown court this afternoon. Cadbury had earlier pleaded guilty to a total of nine food safety offences, including not informing the authorities about positive salmonella tests.

The company was also ordered to pay costs of more than £152,000.

The court heard last Friday that the salmonella outbreak followed a decision to change the company's product testing system. Cadbury's had tried to save money and reduce wastage by introducing an "allowable tolerance level" for salmonella in its products, the court was told. Previously it had destroyed any chocolate which tested positive for the bacteria. "


Lose weight by eating less salt! Go on! - Try it! - You will feel so much better!
How to Lose weight!

See my website http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/.html
(The site does not sell anything and has no banners or sponsors or adverts - just helpful information.)

Read my Mensa article on Obesity and the Salt Connection

See Sodium in foods and Associated health conditions

I can be contacted via my website if you need my further help. My help is free...

Cadbury in court yesterday about the salmonella contamination in its products

Cadbury allowed salmonella in chocolate to save cash, court told - Guardian

Extracts:

"The confectionery giant Cadbury introduced an "utterly inappropriate" new testing system for salmonella in an attempt to save money by reducing wastage, a court heard yesterday.

But the change led to a "major food poisoning outbreak" last year in which more than 30 people became ill. The company was last June forced to recall more than a million bars of chocolate in one of the biggest public health alerts of its kind."

"At the opening of a hearing at Birmingham crown court at which Cadbury will be sentenced, Barry Berlin, prosecuting for Birmingham city council, said that in 2003 Cadbury altered its testing system to allow for what it considered to be "safe" levels of salmonella in its products. But in fact, official guidelines say that there should be no salmonella in ready-to-eat products such as chocolate and confectionery at all.

Referring recorder James Guthrie QC to research literature on salmonella, Mr Berlin went on: "Cadbury knew perfectly well, we submit, that outbreaks of salmonella had been associated with very low levels in chocolate." Although the potentially fatal organism was identified by Cadbury in its products in January last year, the company failed to report it until June. "


Lose weight by eating less salt! Go on! - Try it! - You will feel so much better!
How to Lose weight!

See my website http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/.html
(The site does not sell anything and has no banners or sponsors or adverts - just helpful information.)

Read my Mensa article on Obesity and the Salt Connection

See Sodium in foods
and Associated health conditions

I can be contacted via my website if you need my further help. My help is free...

Cadbury Schweppes faces unlimited fines after pleading guilty to charges in connection to last summer's 'salmonella in chocolate' scare

Cadbury faces unlimited salmonella fines - Telegraph

Extract:

"Chocolate and confectionery giant Cadbury Schweppes faces unlimited fines after pleading guilty to charges in connection to last summer's salmonella scare.

Around a million bars of Cadbury's chocolate were recalled from supermarket shelves last June after the company discovered that a leaking tap had contaminated batches of chocolate in one of its factories with a strain of salmonella.

The group confirmed today that it will be pleading guilty to the three charges brought by Birmingham City Council.

Following a nine-month inquiry, Birmingham City Council announced in April that Cadbury would be prosecuted for putting "unsafe" chocolate in the shops and failing to "immediately inform" the authorities.

Cadbury also faces a third offence of failing to "identify hazards" from chocolate bars contaminated with salmonella and of failing to identify "corrective actions."

Each of the three offences carries an unlimited fine.

The Health Protection Agency said Cadbury's chocolate was the most likely cause of the outbreak that affected more than 30 people."


Lose weight by eating less salt! Go on! - Try it! - You will feel so much better!
See my website www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk
(The site does not sell anything and has no banners or sponsors or adverts - just helpful information.)

Exposure to low doses of tea tree oil causes pathogens like MRSA, E-coli and salmonella to become more resistant to antibiotics: University of Ulster

Scientists: Tea tree oil users risk superbug infections

Extract:

"Tea tree oil, commonly found in beauty and health products, could raise users' chances of contracting superbug infections, it has emerged.

Repeated exposure to low doses of the oil causes pathogens such as MRSA, Ecoli and salmonella to become more resistant to antibiotics, according to research from the University of Ulster."