Category Archives: Food

Food

Food Recalls May Have a Negative Impact on Supermarket Shopping

Have you ever suffered from a food-borne ailment?

We all need to eat food, whether we eat it at home or outside. Whatever the quality (and cost) of the food, there is always a possibility that anyone can get some kind of food borne illness. This can occur no matter how and when and where. It must be rare that nobody has suffered from a food related illness at any time of their lives. Bacteria and viruses thrive on food and often food safety is compromised due to myriad reasons. Sometimes you don’t even know what is responsible for the problem.

What is worse is when foods and food products sold by reputed companies and manufacturers are recalled. This really shakes people’s confidence in bought foods, which are supposed to be safe to eat. A study conducted by Deloitte Consulting LLP that consisted of an online survey showed that 57 percent of the people polled stopped eating certain foods due to recalls either temporarily or permanently. On the whole people do feel that foods in the U.S. are generally safe, though more than 50 percent do have apprehensions about food safety from meat producers and even restaurants. People also feel that foods that come from China or Mexico are not very safe.

Food recalls

Manufactured foods can be recalled due to a variety of reasons that include the presence of contaminants in the food, mislabeling or branding mistakes or the presence of allergens in the foods. Among recent food recalls are:

Almonds have been recalled due to high levels of cyanide.

Bean Sprouts contaminated by Listeria resulted in two deaths and three hospitalization cases.

Raw Macadamia Nuts made by various manufacturers were contaminated by Salmonella.

Mexican style dairy products were contaminated with Listeria causing at least one death.

Some products made with pre-cooked rice contained a toxin called Bacillus cereus linked to vomiting.

Fresh cilantro was contaminated with Salmonella.

Some chicken products was recalled due to contamination with Salmonella.

Gluten free chicken products recalled due to contamination with Staphylococcal enterotoxin.

The supermarket minefield

When you buy any food product at a supermarket, you probably don’t even think that it can result in serious illnesses or even death. As the list above shows, the foods can be pre-cooked or raw or even fresh and they can likely cause problems. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many products that simply do not make headlines or the list, because the incidences may slip under the radar.

Some infections can strike immediately and sometimes the contaminants result in food poisoning after 2-5 days, by which time you may not even be able to make the link between the food you ate and the illness. Listeria, for instance, can manifest between 7-30 days. Other food poisoning ailments due to different bacteria or viruses may cause an immediate reaction, which is actually better because it is easier to make the connection between food and the food poisoning and get the treatment quicker.

Usually cooking at high temperatures and for a stipulated time is enough to kill most bacteria and viruses. The presence of allergens in the food is a different matter, though as allergic reactions can often be fatal if not caught in time. And when you eat out, you really have no control over cooking conditions and other food safety measures that the restaurant or food service is supposed to maintain.

Food

What Eating Non Acidic Foods Instead Of Acidifying Foods Can Do For Us

The foods we eat are either acidic or non acidic. They break down, burn and turn to ashes. This final product, ash, can be acidic, alkaline or neutral based on what we eat. The nutrients we include in our regular diet consist of various elements such as calcium, Zinc, silver, copper, iron and magnesium, which are basics, whereas phosphorus, chlorine, sulphur and iodine forms are not advisable.
 
Specific food items turn acid or alkaline let us check them out. Animal products and processed foods such as meat, eggs, dairy products, processed and fermented food and beverages, grains and artificial sweeteners, specific fruits, alcohol, coffee, black tea and aerated drinks are the type of foods that most likely harm our body. These creates various discomforts and inconveniences to us. The food items that fight acid and form alkaline are fruits, tomatoes, bell peppers, sprouts, nuts, citrus fruits and raw vegetables but once cooked, you should not overdo it as it will not be as helpful to our body as expected.
 
A good diet is focused on reducing cholesterol content and fat deposits. While unhealthy diet such as junk and processed foods can sometimes be addictive and appetizing, alkaline foods are satisfying and soothing. You can even compare the addictive feeling to any of the illegal drugs that offer you ecstatic pleasure. Just as some individuals have an urge to take drugs repeatedly, it is sometimes pretty irresistible to just eat anything to satisfy your cravings. Just a look at the food and you lose. The fatty content will not only contribute in adding weight to your body but also induce disorders and illnesses.
 
Vegetarian and alkaline food offers various benefits. Vegetables and fruits tops the list, which promote a healthy diet. How do we distinguish between acidic and non-acidic? Well there is an easy way to distinguish. The food items that have a soothing effect inside the stomach and intestines are alkaline. The ones, which create uneasiness and an uneasy feeling inside the body are acidic. A few food items might cause acidity but they act as alkaline inside the body whereas few food items that are cool and alkaline in looks might become acidic when consumed.
 
Milk is a major example of an acidic food. You may think it isn’t, but it is when taken inside the body. Likewise, vinegars are acidifying but apple cider vinegar is a good source of alkaline. Most fruits are alkaline and fresh green vegetables act as non-acidic food. There are exceptions such as legumes, which are acidifying. Our body requires 80% alkaline and 20% fatty to stay stable and healthy.
 
Healthy foods contribute to the pH content of the body and enable the smooth functioning of all parts of our system. The two main organs, the heart and the brain, are affected by the pH levels of the body. To keep them working in order, one has to maintain the alkaline content by not eating too much of the foods enumerated above. These causes acidity, or a person being highly acidic. It is a must that non nutritious foods can only bring harm to our body. So it is proper to really take time out in choosing the right kind of diet. Eating fruits and vegetables won’t cost you that much, don’t you think so?