RSS Feed

Category: food

0

Obvious and Not So Obvious Signs of a Potential Food Poisoning Hazard Once the Food is at Your Table

The examination of your food, once you’ve received it, is possibly the most important final aspect of avoiding food poisoning or food-borne illness. There are definite obvious and not so obvious signs that you can lookout for in this last stand you have in preventing yourself from becoming ill.


RETURN RULE:

I have one main rule that I recommend when any of these hazardous or potentially hazardous signs noted below are present in your food. Of course do not eat it, but also do not reorder the same food again. There is a good chance that either the server will possibly re-serve you what they just took away, or that all the servings of your food are unsafe, especially if it came from a batch processed food or dish, such as lasagna.


OBVIOUS HAZARDOUS SIGNS:

This means anything you can see, smell or taste. If any of the following conditions are found in your food, utensils, plates, glasses, etc., do not eat it, or immediately stop eating, call back your server or the manager and either leave or order something else all together, if you still have an appetite. Also, always do an inspection of your children’s food before and after they take a bite looking for these signs. Children, elderly and people who are chronically ill or with weakened immune systems are most susceptible to food-borne illness.


Obvious signs include any of the following:

–Foreign Objects. This is generally a non-food object that can be anything that is not supposed to be there. Some of the ones I have responded to as an inspector include bugs (commonly flies, cockroaches), fingernails, gloves, hairs (human and animal), chips of glass or plates, wood chips or pieces of a broken utensil. Though these objects are mostly accidentally introduced into your food, they are nonetheless dangerous and a violation of the health & safety code.


–Unfamiliar or Unappetizing Odors. This generally means a spoilage, but can also mean a food poisoning bacteria has produced to very large numbers causing an obvious odor. Much of the time food poisoning microorganisms are undetectable, but occasionally you can detect something out of the ordinary if bacteria were allowed to reproduce to large enough numbers.


–Unfamiliar or Unappetizing Tastes. Again, it could be related to a spoilage, but also a possible food poisoning bacteria or toxin produced by the bacteria that in large quantities can be detectable. Sometimes a person may recall after experiencing an obvious food-borne illness, that the food they suspected was the source of their illness had an unusual taste or smell that was just a little out of the ordinary, but not enough to stop them from eating it. Keep this in mind, especially if you are familiar with and have eaten this food before. You may just save yourself a few days of time off work and a lot of painful symptoms.


–Undercooked or Raw. You may not see it until you actually bite into it and if you do see it immediately spit it back out, especially raw chicken or hamburger and send it back following the Return Rule. Hamburger makes it more into the news these days, but raw or undercooked chicken can be just as dangerous.


–Insufficiently Cleaned Utensils. Smudge marks on glasses, food or encrusted food debris left on washed or clean plates or utensils indicate incomplete and insufficient washing and sanitizing. The dishwasher could be overworked or is not working correctly.


NON-OBVIOUS SIGNS:

Though microorganisms are too small to see with the naked eye, and bacterial toxins are generally not detectable by taste, there are still subtle clues to alert you, as well as practices you can take to decrease your likelihood of contracting a food-borne illness.


Undercooked food may appear at first to be at the right temperature, but once you cut or bite into it and see signs of rare or raw, it’s best to follow the Return Rule.


Assume that all food you are served at a restaurant, if it is served hot or cold, is potentially hazardous. This means it can contain and support the rapid and progressive growth of infectious or toxin producing microorganisms – mainly bacteria. A good rule to follow is that if your food is supposed to be hot, it should be hot to the touch and possibly steaming, and if cold, you have to be able to feel or sense cold at your first bite. If anywhere between, or it feels just warm or room temperature, send it back and order something else altogether (Return Rule). If the food has been out of temperature for some period of time, there is a greater chance that bacteria have taken hold and reproduced to dangerous enough numbers such that reheating, normal cooking, or refrigeration and/or freezing will not guarantee that the food is safe to consume.


Most studies of food-borne illness causes I have seen conclude that a violation in the maintenance of the food’s temperature (temperature abuse) somewhere in the storage or processing steps, is the main contributing factor for the illness. Potentially hazardous foods must be stored and processed so as to minimize the time the food must spend in what is known as the food temperature danger zone – between 41 and 135 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mr. Doom has worked as a Environmental Health Specialist for more than 20 years. He has conducted thousands of inspections and educated more than a thousand, food facility owners, managers and employees on food sanitation and safety, and how to prevent food poisoning hazards. To learn more visit http://www.FoodPoisoningPrevention.com.


Article from articlesbase.com

Related Food Articles

categories food

0

The Impact of the Economic Downturn on Employment in the Food Manufacturing Industry 2008

Copyright (c) 2008 Ianson Internet Marketing

The impact of the economic downturn on employment in the Food Industry today is worldwide. The US processed food sector had steady growth in the ten year period after 1997, with slight decline near the end. Many employed in the food manufacturing industry are multinationals. Growth in processed food goods can be attributed to several factors, including two income families, less time at home for food preparation, and more take home and restaurant food purchases. Over that ten year period, the value of food shipments increased about 27 percent.

Many smaller food manufacturing companies are hit harder by economic downturns. They employ fewer people in food jobs; pay more for food products, deliveries, and for manufacturing costs than large companies. The few large companies hire more multinationals, who account for about a third of all food industry jobs. About 89 percent of the smaller companies have less than 100 workers. Many smaller companies are swallowed up in acquisitions by large companies.

The impact of the economic downturn on employment in the Food Manufacturing Industry affects automation and technology purchasing also, as these allow companies to operate at even higher output levels with fewer employees, adding to less employment in food manufacturing jobs. Employment in that ten year period declined about 5 percent. Wages and salaries showed virtually no increase when compared to the general economy (US) which had a projected growth of 11 percent.

Supermarkets have added more prepared meals to their shelves, and people want ready to serve snacks and frozen entrees. This demand is caused by two parent or single parent working families who have possibly more income yet less time for food preparation. It is not uncommon for families to eat out several times a week on a regular basis instead of just on special occasions. An aging population and a dieting population has also contributed to the demand for convenience foods, ready to eat, and restaurant foods. As ethnic populations of countries change with immigration, so do demands on the food manufacturing industry. A green trend towards eating locally produced food, organic foods, and medical allergy problems also affect food product demands and manufacturing costs.

Rising cost of fuel such as gasoline has also caused the impact of the economic downturn on employment in the Food Manufacturing Industry. A worldwide jump in costs for grains and vegetables has caused shortages of certain products and high prices everywhere. Some industries, like milk in the UK, are cutting back products and employment as costs rise. The fight over corn and grains for food or fuel has costs skyrocketing, with a boomerang effect on items like beef, which not only has encountered rising costs for feed, but transportation and processing. The plumping of humans causes another increase in vegetable prices, as people want more products; it is a supply and demand plus costs situation there.

Rising cost of ingredients has put the hammer down on small companies, like mom and pop bakeries or bagel companies, because they are unable to absorb high prices of ingredients like flour or wheat. They raise prices, and may lay off employees to combat costs, where the larger producers can find ways to absorb increases in commodity prices. Combine the stress of food product demands with rising energy costs and any adverse weather conditions, and the industry cannot help but feel the pinch and react by lowering employment overall.

During the past few years, there have been several catastrophic weather events, such as hurricanes, tsunamis, and earthquakes, which have wreaked havoc in people’s normal living conditions. The ability to obtain food, and to grow food is impacted by this, and with higher energy costs and higher food demands worldwide, the cost of all food products has risen. Competition between animals and humans is another factor, and so is competition between animal food stocks and fuel demands. Alternative energy sources, like solar and wind, and hybrid engines are one answer. To use food for fuel seems to go against basic human sensibilities and interest. Using corn and wheat to power machines instead of humans will only increase food prices and lessen employment in the industry.

For the future, there is widespread demand to get away from high costs of oil fuels, and to develop “free” fuels for powering machinery and electricity. Food production technology is an ongoing science that does increase output per acre, a major benefit to the world food supply. The weather, however, is beyond control. All that can be done in that area is better long term forecasting, and crop science improvements in output and planting techniques. There should be some increases in worldwide employment in those areas. The Food Manufacturing Industry, like many others in this modern age, must adjust and revise plans and make improvements to maintain its lifeblood.

Louise G Author, SEO and Management Consultant wrote this article about food jobs. For furthe information relating to food jobs visit http://www.peoplemax.co.uk Food Jobs


Article from articlesbase.com

categories food

0

Fish Food: Tips For Feeding Your Aquarium Fish

Many of us dream of having an aquarium filled with beautiful fish. Did you recently take the jump and make the purchase? If so, you are likely to have many questions. One of those questions likely focuses on aquarium fish food. Continue reading on for helpful tips that can ensure your fish are well cared for, as well as how to get the best value for your money.

There are many different types of fish food available for sale. Take a walk through your local fish or pet store and you will be surprised with the selection. Wait until you shop online, your options seem endless. Which fish food should you choose? You want to get the best value for your money, but don’t automatically think lowest price. You want to have a highly rated and recommended fish food, one that stays fresh longer, and one that provides your fish with added benefits. Depending on the contents of your aquariums, this may include frozen fish food, flake food, pellet food, and freeze-dried fish food.

Frozen and freeze-dried fish foods have the best nutritional value. Flake style fish food is often a mixture of different foods. This makes it difficult to monitor and estimate the value your fish are getting. Generally speaking, frozen fish food is best, but freeze-dried comes in a close second. You will see that frozen fish food has higher costs. This is generally due to the added nutritional benefits, long shelf life, and the resealable freezer safe package. Luckily, you can feed your aquarium fish a mixture, also keeping the costs down.

Flake style fish food is the most common food fed to aquarium fish. Your first thought may be to opt for the cheapest package available. Know however, that flake fish food comes in many different formats too. Look at your options. You can purchase vegetable flakes, those with added protein, and more. Although the nutritional value of flake fish food is not as high as frozen, keep it in mind. The proper nutrients can increase the energy of your fish and highlight their beautiful colors.

Pellet fish food is not as popular among new fish owners, but it is available. This type of fish food is ideal for carnivores. This is due the shape. In the water, it looks more like live food than fish food with flakes. You should find your fish going to the food quicker and eating a healthier diet. Pellet food is available for sale in different sizes. When making your choice, consider the size of your fish.

Know your fish’s needs. If you are a new aquarium owner, you may have done little research in terms of fish food. Now is the time to get started. As previously stated, flake fish food is the most common food feed to aquarium fish. It is cheaper and easy to find, but should not be the only food your fish eats. As mentioned above, you can mix it up between flake, freeze-dried, and frozen fish food. For marine fish, flake food is best used as a supplement, not their main source of diet.

Always consider use when buying fish food, especially flakes. Frozen, pellet, and freeze-dried food will stay better longer. You may run into a problem with open flake fish food. Your fish’s food will lose the little nutritional value it does have. There is also the risk of bacteria and mold growth. When buying flake fish food, only buy what you can use in a reasonable amount of time. Stocking up and bulk purchases can save you money at first, but not if must discard contaminated food later.

It is easy to overfeed your fish. The best approach is to divide up the feedings. Two small feedings a day is usually better for aquariums fish than one large feeding. If there is noticeable food left over in the acquarium after a few minutes, you have likely overfeed your fish. Other telltale signs include cloudy water and mold growths in the tank. These are both signs of leftover fish food.

In short, buying fish food for your aquarium fish is an important purchase. You have many choices and it may seem impossible to make the right one. Most important, know your fish’s needs. Fresh water and salt water fish not only require different aquarium setups, but different nutrients too.

Frozen fish food has many benefits. If you want to provide your fish with the best, try it. To purchase your fish food at an affordable price and from a quality supplier, visit FishTanksDirect.com.


Article from articlesbase.com

categories food

0

Gourmet Raw Food-Paleo Raw Food Diet Recipes

 

Raw food dieting is a growing trends. Raw food diet consists of non proceeded and uncooked plant foods: fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, seeds, grains, beans, nuts, dried fruit, beans, grains, legumes, unprocessed organic foods and seaweed. The Paleo Diet does not allow beans, grains or legumes. If food is cooked above approximately 116 degrees F destroys enzymes. Enzymes aids in the digestion and absorption of foods in the body’s digestion system. Cooking foods is believed to reduce the nutritional value of food. Enjoy The Raw Chef’s Recipes and the Paleo Diet Raw Food Recipes.

 Mini Flax Pizza Bites

Gourmet Raw Food Diet Recipe
Raw Diet Recipes

Ingredients:
-1/2 cup flax seeds
-1/2 cup flax meal
-6 medium tomatoes
-1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, soaked 2 hours or more
-1 tablespoon lemon juice
-1/4 cup fresh basil
-3 tablespoons dried Italian herb mix
-3 medium onions
-1 clove garlic
• Grind all ingredients in a food processor
• Spread evenly and thinly over 2 Paraflexx dehydrator trays, right to the edges and then use a knife or spatula to score into individual squares .
• Dehydrate at 105 degrees for 3 hours then invert onto another mesh dehydrator tray to finish drying in the dehydrator for a further 10 – 18 hours.

Pine Nut Cheese Spread
Ingredients

-1/2 cup pine nuts
-1/2 cup macadamias
-2 teaspoons lemon juice

-1/4 teaspoon salt
-2 teaspoons nutritional yeast
-1/4 cup water
• Grind all ingredients in a food processor.

Tomato Sauce
-4 medium tomatoes, de-seeded
-1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, soaked 2 hours or more
-1 soft date
-1 clove garlic
-2 teaspoons olive oil
-1 tablespoon fresh basil
-1 tablespoon dried oregano
-2 teaspoons lemon juice
-Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth.

Pesto
-2 cups basil, tightly packed
-1 tablespoon minced rosemary
-1/4c pine nuts
-1T olive oil
-1/4t salt
-2t lemon juice
• Pulse all ingredients in a food processor until broken down, but leaving some texture to the finished pesto.

Assembly
- Start with the flax cracker as a base to which you’ll add a layer of the nut cheese spread.
-Next comes the tomato sauce and then top off with some pesto.
- Garnish with olives, capers and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning.

Variation: This recipe works great using marinated whole mushrooms as a base instead of flax crackers.

• Marinate 12 mushrooms in 1/4c tamari and 1/4c olive oil for 2 hours or more.
• Fill the mushroom caps with the nut cheese, tomato sauce and pesto. Going heavier on the amount of pesto works really nicely with mushrooms.
• Once the mushrooms are stuffed, place in the dehydrator at 105 degrees F to warm through 1 – 2 hours.
Provided: Russell James the Raw Chef

 

Fresh Fruit Salad

This fruit salad combines chopped peaches, strawberries, bananas, blueberries or blackberries, red and green grapes, dressed with a simple fresh lime and pineapple juice dressing. Fruits are seasonal in Winter months may substitute peaches and strawberries with grapefruits, cantaloupe, kiwi or oranges. Substitute to taste.
Paleo Raw Food Recipe

Paleo Raw Food Diet Recipe

Ingredients:

-6 peaches, peeled, pitted and chopped
-1 pound strawberries, rinsed, hulled and sliced
-1/2 pound seedless green grapes
-1/2 pound seedless red grapes
-3 bananas, peeled and sliced

-1/2 pound blackberries or blueberries (to taste)
-small amount of honey (topping to taste)

Dressing:
-juice of one lime
-1/2 cup pineapple juice
-1 teaspoon ground ginger

Preparation:
Combine chopped and sliced fruits in a large serving bowl; toss ????????Add small amount of honey to taste. Whisk together remaining ingredients in a small bowl or 1 cup measure. Pour dressing mixture over fruit and toss gently to combine. Cover and chill the fruit salad thoroughly before serving.
This fruit salad recipe makes enough to serve about 10 to 12 people.

Organic Foods: Raw food diets recommend eating only organic foods. Organic foods are not grown with pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers or other toxic chemical harmful to your health. Recommended to eat organic as versus to conventional food but is it 100% practical? For raw food dieters totally eating only raw organic food may not suit their life-style. Therefore, for some their raw food diets maybe a mixture of organic and conventional. A raw food diet does not necessitate only organic foods a conventional foods can be used. Organic foods are recommended for optimal health benefits.

The Gourmet Raw Food Diet Series of 6 Raw Food Recipe Cookbooks: Christmas, Thai, Mexican, Chocolate, No Dehydrator and Raw Nut Cheese Order: The Raw Chef‘s Recipe Cookbooks Raw Paleo Diet Gluten, Dairy and Preservative free diet. . 310 delicious recipes. Order: Paleo Recipe Cookbook

Like most people I am a multi-tasker. I am a wife, mom and businesswoman. Recently, I have been researching foods, ingredients and recipes. I have a collection of favorite recipe secrets. The cookbook vary from Copycat Famous and Favorite Restaurant Recipes Secrets, Gluten Free, Dairy Free and Preservative Free Cookbooks. We all have to eat. Why not learn to cook varied healthy meals.


Article from articlesbase.com

Find More Food Articles

categories food

0

The Importance Of Eating Seasonal Foods

Life always comes in a full circle. In which previously people consumed particular foods only when these were in season, things have become different a great degree wherein people can buy any type of food items within the food store, regardless of the seasonal availability. But this time, just as before we are moving to the old method, however there happens to be notable variation. Previously consumers did not understand any better, and so they were not residing in the highly advanced time period where non seasonal food has been basically available to them.

These days, technology makes it practical for all of us to have strawberries in winter season but scientists as well as researchers are informing us that people should avoid them. Here’s exactly why:

When you buy seasonal create as well as fresh fruit, you know for a fact that just a time once again the fruit as well as vegetable you are about to chop up and serve in your salad was initially a part of the vegetable. The nutrition numbers of healthy, seasonal food can be superb and it’s not surprising until this stage goes down considerably, the more time the food stays unconsumed.

Therefore, it is a eat newly picked fresh fruit, or freshly collected produce. By doing so, you will probably be helping the local farmers and local markets, which, in turn, can be useful for the whole overall economy.

Supermarkets add gloss to the fruit and veggies to maintain them looking delicious and appealing. Through gloss, most of us signify food markets and also huge food restaurants take time in order that food is eye-catching though it is not really in season. To do this, they will naturally give up on the nourishment volume of the meals. Which means that, exactly who will lose over eventually? We, the consumer.

Seasonal foods are generally essentially organic and if you are going to be consuming non seasonal foods, do keep in mind that they’re probably filled with inorganic pesticides at the same time. Well-balanced eating decreases many steps once you give in to consuming non-seasonal foods.

Seasonal meals are fantastic for the surroundings too. Even if you do not have a specific green thumb, many of us could be great environmentalists by lowering the number of foods miles which the foods needs to make before it extends to your table. The greater local you consume, the lower probability of using food that has been flown in from midway around the globe, in place consuming that much more fuel.

Everyone is little by little gearing towards locally produced seasonal food. Highly commended culinary chefs and foodies like Gordon Ramsay create it a level to introduce locally produced seasonal food within their menus and which often a reason for this shift. These days, the focus is definitely on style, flavor and nutritionary advantages which you obtain through meals.

Meals that are developed out of season are often sprayed through chemicals of all sorts because it takes a small folding of nature’s principles for these foods in order to live the strange season in which they are brought into the world.

Seasonal foods are also cheap since it does not cost the earth to produce them each time whenever they shouldn’t be around essentially. Seasonal foods tend to be cheaper to provide and hence, cheaper to purchase too.

Nature has a routine of its own for an excellent cause. The foods that show up throughout winter are usually because they are of the heating kind and make you stay warm. Moreover, throughout summer you could have cooling foods which keep your body cool. If we revert this natural sequence, we are probably to not get any of nature’s rewards which are meant for us. In addition to this, most of us could be executing more harm than good by consuming foods that are obviously not in season.

Exactly the same veggies or fruit produced in seasons wherein they are not meant to be available, appear to have unique nutritional values. This goes a lot to display that certainly there’s some thing to always be said for eating seasonal foods. In reality, investigation conducted by researchers proves this very concept, so it’s always a good idea to consume fresh, seasonal food.

The greater chemical preservatives which were put into unseasonal foods the greater vitamins and nutrients they lose and provide you no health advantages in any way. And so, essentially you’re spending money on harmful preservatives but not for nutrition whenever you buy unseasonal foods.

One of the biggest causes why you should opt for seasonal foods is since they’re filled with anti-oxidants that are consequently healthy for you. Anti-oxidants fight free radicals, make you stay young and keep illnesses at bay. Try to find fresh seasonal berries and indulge in them once you can since they are exceptionally good for your health.

Seasonal fruits and berries can be incorporated into your daily diet without any issues. Mix them into shakes or make fruit juices out of them and relish the health benefits that they give.

Seasonal foods are a good way of reconnecting using the routine which nature intended for us. It will help you become an organic getting instead of somebody who can be ruled through the vagaries of supermarkets.

Our forefathers could have enjoyed seasonal food because they did not have much choice. All of us conversely might make an informed and educated choice by choosing to consume only those foods which are produced seasonally. Eating healthy is essential because or else, your are performing your body a massive disservice. Eat seasonal and stay healthy is the new age mantra certainly.

For more information on Importance of Seasonal Foods, please visit our health related website bewellbuzz.com


Article from articlesbase.com

twitter.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5

categories food

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »