HealtyDayS

Being careful and planning ahead can help you and your family prevent foodborne illness.

Foodborne illness, often called the stomach flu, can be caused by eating food that is not prepared or served safely. Your strongest ally against foodborne illness is soap and water. Wash your hands before you prepare foods so you don’t serve germs with it.

Hot summer temperatures and meals served outside are another recipe for potential illness. “When it’s hot outside bacteria on food grows faster. Plan your picnic or potluck so food is kept cold, cooked well and served safely,” said Janet Anderberg, food safety advisor with the state Department of Health. Enjoy the tastes of summer and stay healthy by following these recommendations:

# Wash hands thoroughly and often during food preparation.

# Always wash fruits and vegetables at home.

# Don’t let ready-to-eat foods touch juices from raw meats. Keep raw meats separate from other foods. Also prepare meats for barbeques at home and always use clean utensils.

# Serve only enough food for the group and use small dishes. Store extra food in the cooler to keep it cold. Keep the cooler under a tree for shade.

# Use a thermometer to make sure food is fully cooked before serving. Barbequed meat can look and feel done, but be undercooked — only a thermometer can show you if the food is safe. See recommended cooking temperatures below:

# Ground beef and hamburger - 160 °F;

# Hot dogs - 165 °F;

# Steaks and roasts - 145 °F;

# Chicken breasts - 165 °F;

# Fish - 145 °F; Pork - 160 °F;

# Egg dishes - 160 °F;

# Ground chicken or turkey - 165 °F;

# Casseroles or stuffing - 165 °F

# Bring disposable wet-wipes, paper towels and garbage bags for clean up.

Throw away prepared items that have been sitting out for more than two hours. Leftover barbequed meat, salad, melon and sandwiches are not safe to eat later. Only take home food that has been kept cold.

Kumasi Sambirano Dark Chocolate Bar Recall

Artisan Confections Company is voluntarily recalling its Scharffen Berger Kumasi Sambirano 68 percent Cacao Pure Dark Chocolate bars because they may contain undeclared milk.

No other Scharffen Berger items are involved in this recall. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the Kumasi Sambirano product.

The 3 ounce bars are wrapped in distinctive green packaging and were sold over the Internet and through specialty retail outlets nationwide from March 2006 to June 2007. All lot numbers of the item are covered by the recall. This was a limited-edition item that is no longer in production.

The recall was initiated after a consumer contacted Artisan Confections about an allergic reaction, and it was discovered that Kumasi Sambirano packaging did not reveal the possible presence of milk.

Gerber organic baby food recall

Choking hazard has caused a Gerber baby food recall. FDA is aware and “concurs,” but no press release or any information as of this morning, Saturday, July 14,  from Gerber or FDA on the subject baby food recall.

AP Reports that Gerber “recalled all packages of its organic rice and organic oatmeal cereals Friday because of potential clumping of the baby food, which can pose a choking hazard. … The company said a “limited quantity” of the cereals could contain lumps that do not dissolve in water or milk.”

Gerber recall was issued after the company said it has received “complaints of choking but no reports of injury.”

Gerber food recall is mainly about the organic cereals. While there is no announcement about this baby food recall from Gerber or FDA please see below the fact sheet about organic cereals from Gerber.

Gerber® ORGANIC Cereals Fact Sheet*

• Organic – Made from organic whole grains, Gerber ORGANIC Cereals, like all of Gerber’s original single grain cereals, are an excellent source of iron and zinc for infants and continue to provide essential nutrients into toddlerhood. Gerber ORGANIC Cereals are also a good source of calcium and many other essential vitamins and minerals.

• Developmentally Appropriate – The perfect introduction of solid food for babies.

• Convenient – Completely cooked and ready to serve – just add liquid!

• Flavor Variety – Gerber ORGANIC Whole Grain Oatmeal and Gerber ORGANIC Whole Grain Rice.

Fortified to help with healthy growth …

• Iron is an essential nutrient for babies’ healthy physical growth and mental development. The recommended daily amount of iron for infants is 15 mg, and 10 mg for toddlers. Gerber ORGANIC Cereals are a great product solution, with each serving providing 45% (6.75 mg) of the daily value of iron to infants and 60% to toddlers!

Quick Facts

• Gerber’s ORGANIC Cereals are USDA Organic Certified.
• ORGANIC Cereals will be available at mass grocery retail outlets.
• The suggested retail price is $2.59.

Hawai’i State Department of Health is reminding residents to  carefully clean produce to minimize the risk of food-borne illness.

This is particularly important  during the summer months, when food-borne illness tends to increase.   
 
Last month DOH and Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. launched a statewide public  awareness campaign called Fruits and Veggies. Good Choice! to encourage Hawai’i residents  to eat one more serving of fruit and one more serving of veggies every day.  But while fruits and  veggies provide health benefits, during last year’s national outbreak of E. coli from contaminated  spinach, consumers became more aware that it’s possible to become sick by eating something  that’s supposed to be healthy. 
 
“A diet that’s rich in fruits and vegetables is important for a healthy lifestyle. Just be sure that  what you consume is adequately cleaned,” says Lance Wong, supervisor of the Hawai’i State  Department of Health Food and Drug Branch. “No matter what, wash it before you eat it.
 
“Before you prepare produce, wash your hands well using soap and water.  Then wash your  produce carefully, including vegetables that come in packages or bags that are labeled as ‘prewashed’,” said Wong.

“There’s no need to use soap to clean produce but you should let water run through lettuce  leaves, and use a vegetable brush to scrub off any seen or unseen dirt on firm produce such as  melons, cucumbers or potatoes.  
 
“It’s not just the food that requires thorough cleaning,” Wong added. “It’s important to use soap  and hot water to wash counter tops, cutting boards, serving plates and utensils. Doing so will  minimize the risk of transferring bacteria from one surface to the next.”
 
There’s a risk of cross contamination if raw juice from poultry or meat is spilled onto a counter,  the counter is not well cleaned, and produce is placed on the same cutting surface. 
 
Harmful bacteria that may be in the soil or water where produce is grown can also come into  contact with fruits and vegetables causing contamination. Contaminated produce – even fruit  and vegetable juices made from contaminated produce – can cause food poisoning.  
 
Symptoms of food-borne illnesses include diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fever, blood or even  pus in the stool, headache, vomiting and severe exhaustion. These symptoms may occur  shortly after eating or be delayed for several days or even weeks.
 
According to the FDA, children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are  particularly vulnerable to food-borne illness from raw bean, alfalfa, clover, or radish sprouts.   Sprouts should cooked before they’re consumed. Rinsing sprouts with water is not enough to  remove bacteria. 

Codex Alimentarius Commission has adopted 44 new and amended food standards and set up a comprehensive set of risk analysis principles to help governments establish their own standards, especially for food items that are not covered by Codex standards.

Codex food safety standards are developed using scientific advice from FAO/WHO expert committees that enables the rigorous standard setting procedures within Codex. According to Dr. Kazuaki Miyagishima, Secretary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, “This is why Codex standards are so successful globally and the reason they hare recognized by the World Trade Organization (WTO) Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement.”

“Because governments often adopt Codex Standards into their national legislation and sometimes even see the need for additional measures in areas not covered by Codex guidance, it is important that the extra safety measures are taken using the same rigorous and internationally recognized principles, not only to protect consumers, but to ensure they are consistent with multilateral trade rules” explained Dr. Miyagishima.

Codex moving to study new food issues

FAO and WHO welcomed the move of the Codex Commission to look for methods to prevent antimicrobial resistance in bacteria in food. FAO and WHO are ready to support Codex in areas such as the use of nanotechnology and the risk-benefit assessment of fish consumption.

To raise the necessary funding to conduct this new work the two Organizations launched the Global Initiative for Food related Scientific Advice (GIFSA) in an effort to encourage donors and civil society to support such international scientific investigations.

Additional guidelines on Salmonella and Campylobacter to be considered

The Codex meeting decided to develop additional guidelines to lower the frequency of Salmonella and Campylobacter in chicken. Together these two bacteria cause a significant proportion of food-borne diseases all over the world. Finding efficient ways of dealing with this problem from farm to table could result in the prevention of hundreds of thousands of foodborne disease cases every year.

This year’s Codex gathering was attended by 133 countries, the highest number ever to attend an annual Commission meeting.

Developing countries begin contributing to Codex Trust Fund

This year for the first time, two emerging developing countries, Brazil and Malaysia said they intend to contribute to the Codex Trust fund, which assists developing countries to participate in Codex meetings. Currently, around 250 participants from developing countries receive assistance to attend a broad variety of Codex meetings. Brazil and Malaysia’s contribution is the first example of countries with developing economies pledging development support to other countries in the food safety area.

“Hopefully this example will lead several more major emerging economies to follow suit enabling a more efficient global food safety system,” said Dr Jorgen Schlundt of WHO.

African countries need special consideration

Many developing countries, particularly countries in Africa, have asked FAO, WHO and donor countries to step up technical assistance programmes for them. These countries need help to improve their food production, processing and distribution systems in order to meet Codex requirements and to help them develop their capacity to participate more regularly and effectively in Codex work.

This year’s adopted Codes and Standards

This year’s Codex meeting adopted several important new codes and standards, including:

A code that would prevent or reduce Ochratoxin A contamination in wines across the production chain (Ochratoxin A is a mycotoxin known to be toxic to the kidneys);

A revised standard for infant formulae and formulas for special medical purposes that is expected to help save many infant lives worldwide; and

A revised code of hygienic practice for eggs and egg products that will protect consumers from disease-causing bacteria such as Salmonella Enteritidis and make international trade in eggs and egg products safer.

The inks used in tattoos and permanent makeup (also known as micropigmentation) and the pigments in these inks are subject to FDA regulation as cosmetics and color additives. However, FDA has not attempted to regulate the use of tattoo inks and the pigments used in them and does not control the actual practice of tattooing. Rather, such matters have been handled through local laws and by local jurisdictions.

But with the growth in popularity of tattooing and permanent makeup, FDA has begun taking a closer look at related safety questions. Among the issues under consideration are tattoo removal, adverse reactions to tattoo colors, and infections that result from tattooing.

Another concern is the increasing variety of pigments and diluents being used in tattooing — more than fifty different pigments and shades, and the list continues to grow. Although a number of color additives are approved for use in cosmetics, none is approved for injection into the skin. Using an unapproved color additive in a tattoo ink makes the ink adulterated. Many pigments used in tattoo inks are not approved for skin contact at all. Some are industrial grade colors that are suitable for printers’ ink or automobile paint.

Nevertheless, many individuals choose to undergo tattooing in its various forms. For some, it is an aesthetic choice or an initiation rite. Some choose permanent makeup as a time saver or because they have physical difficulty applying regular, temporary makeup. For others, tattooing is an adjunct to reconstructive surgery, particularly of the face or breast, to simulate natural pigmentation. People who have lost their eyebrows due to alopecia (a form of hair loss) may choose to have “eyebrows” tattooed on, while people with vitiligo (a lack of pigmentation in areas of the skin) may try tattooing to help camouflage the condition.

Whatever their reason, consumers should be aware of the risks involved in order to make an informed decision.

 The following are the primary complications that can result from tattooing:

Infection . Unsterile tattooing equipment and needles can transmit infectious diseases,such as hepatitis. The risk of infection is the reason the American Association of Blood Banks requires a one-year wait between getting a tattoo and donating blood.

It is extremely important to make sure that all tattooing equipment is clean and sterilized before use. Even if the needles are sterilized or never have been used, it is important to understand that in some cases the equipment that holds the needles cannot be sterilized reliably due to its design. In addition, the person who receives a tattoo must be sure to care for the tattooed area properly during the first week or so after the pigments are injected.

Removal problems . Despite advances in laser technology, removing a tattoo is a painstaking process, usually involving several treatments and considerable expense. Complete removal without scarring may be impossible. See “The Most Common Problem: Dissatisfaction” and “Removal Techniques,” below.

Allergic reactions .Although allergic reactions to tattoo pigments are rare, when they happen they may be particularly troublesome because the pigments can be hard to remove. Occasionally, people may develop an allergic reaction to tattoos they have had for years.

Granulomas .These are nodules that may form around material that the body perceives as foreign, such as particles of tattoo pigment.

Keloid formation . If you are prone to developing keloids — scars that grow beyond normal boundaries — you are at risk of keloid formation from a tattoo. Keloids may form any time you injure or traumatize your skin, and according to Office of Cosmetics and Colors (OCAC) dermatologist Ella Toombs, M.D., tattooing or micropigmentation is a form of trauma. Micropigmentation: State of the Art, a book written by Charles Zwerling, M.D., Annette Walker, R.N., and Norman Goldstein, M.D., states that keloids occur more frequently as a consequence of tattoo removal.

MRI complications . There have been reports of people with tattoos or permanent makeup who experienced swelling or burning in the affected areas when they underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This seems to occur only rarely and apparently without lasting effects.

There also have been reports of tattoo pigments interfering with the quality of the image. This seems to occur mainly when a person with permanent eyeliner undergoes MRI of the eyes. Mascara may produce a similar effect. The difference is that mascara is easily removable.

The cause of these complications is uncertain. Some have theorized that they result from an interaction with the metallic components of some pigments.

However, the risks of avoiding an MRI when your doctor has recommended one are likely to be much greater than the risks of complications from an interaction between the MRI and tattoo or permanent makeup. Instead of avoiding an MRI, individuals who have tattoos or permanent makeup should inform the radiologist or technician of this fact in order to take appropriate precautions, avoid complications, and assure the best results.

The Most Common Problem: Dissatisfaction

According to Dr. Toombs, the most common problem that develops with tattoos is the desire to remove them. Removing tattoos and permanent makeup can be very difficult.

Skill levels vary widely among people who perform tattooing. According to an article by J.K. Chiang, S. Barsky, and D.M. Bronson in the June 1999 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the main complication with eyelid tattooing is improperly placed pigment. You may want to ask the person performing the procedure for references and ask yourself how willing you are to risk permanently wearing someone else’s mistake.

Although tattoos may be satisfactory at first, they sometimes fade. Also, if the tattooist injects the pigments too deeply into the skin, the pigments may migrate beyond the original sites, resulting in a blurred appearance.

Another cause of dissatisfaction is that the human body changes over time, and styles change with the season. The permanent makeup that may have looked flattering when first injected may later clash with changing skin tones and facial or body contours. People who plan to have facial cosmetic surgery are advised that the appearance of their permanent makeup may become distorted. The tattoo that seemed stylish at first may become dated and embarrassing. And changing tattoos or permanent makeup is not as easy as changing your mind.

 Methods for Tattoo Removal include laser treatments, abrasion, scarification, and surgery. Some people attempt to camouflage an objectionable tattoo with a new one. Each approach has drawbacks:

Laser treatments can lighten many tattoos, some more easily and effectively than others. Generally, several visits are necessary over a span or weeks or months, and the treatments can be expensive. Some individuals experience hypopigmentation — a lightening of the natural skin coloring — in the affected area. Laser treatments also can cause some tattoo pigments to change to a less desirable shade.

Unfortunately, knowing what pigments are in your tattoo or permanent makeup has always been difficult and has become more so as the variety of tattoo inks has multiplied. Inks are often sold by brand name only, not by chemical composition. Because the pigments are sold to tattoo parlors and salons, not on a retail basis to consumers, manufacturers are not required by law to list the ingredients on the labels. Furthermore, because manufacturers may consider the identity and grade of their pigments “proprietary,” neither the tattooist nor the customer may be able to obtain this information.

There also have been reports of individuals suffering allergic reactions after laser treatments to remove tattoos, apparently because the laser caused allergenic substances in the tattoo ink to be released into the body.

Dermabrasion involves abrading layers of skin with a wire brush or diamond fraise (a type of sanding disc). This process itself may leave a scar.

Salabrasion, in which a salt solution is used to remove the pigment, is sometimes used in conjunction with dermabrasion, but has become less common.

Scarification involves removing the tattoo with an acid solution and creating a scar in its place.

Surgical removal sometimes involves the use of tissue expanders (balloons inserted under the skin, so that when the tattoo is cut away, there is less scarring). Larger tattoos may require repeated surgery for complete removal.

Camouflaging a tattoo entails the injection of new pigments either to form a new pattern or cover a tattoo with skin-toned pigments. Dr. Toombs notes, however, that injected pigments tend not to look natural because they lack the skin’s natural translucence.

What About Temporary Tattoos?

Temporary tattoos, such as those applied to the skin with a moistened wad of cotton, fade several days after application. Most contain color additives approved for cosmetic use on the skin. However, the agency has issued an import alert for several foreign-made temporary tattoos.

According to OCAC Consumer Safety Officer Allen Halper, the temporary tattoos subject to the import alert are not allowed into the United States because they don’t carry the FDA-mandated ingredient labels or they contain colors not permitted by FDA for use in cosmetics applied to the skin. FDA has received reports of allergic reactions to temporary tattoos.

In a similar action, FDA has issued an import alert for henna intended for use on the skin. Henna is approved only for use as a hair dye, not for direct application to the skin. Also, henna typically produces a reddish brown tint, raising questions about what ingredients are added to produce the varieties of colors labeled as “henna,” such as “black henna” and “blue henna.”

 FDA has received reports of adverse reactions to some temporary skin-staining products. The following information is intended to respond to questions about the safety and legality of such products.

What about “decal”-type temporary tattoos?

Temporary tattoos, such as those applied to the skin with a moistened wad of cotton, fade several days after application. Many contain color additives approved for cosmetic use on the skin. However, FDA has received reports of allergic reactions to some temporary tattoos.

An import alert is in effect for several foreign-made temporary tattoos. According to Consumer Safety Officer Allen Halper of FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors, the temporary tattoos subject to the import alert are not allowed into the United States because they don’t have the required ingredient declaration on the label or they contain colors not permitted for use in cosmetics applied to the skin.

What about henna, or mehndi?

Henna, a coloring made from a plant, is approved only for use as a hair dye, not for direct application to the skin, as in the body-decorating process known as mehndi. This unapproved use of a color additive makes these products adulterated and therefore illegal. An import alert is in effect for henna intended for use on the skin. FDA has received reports of injuries to the skin from products marketed as henna.

Since henna typically produces a brown, orange-brown, or reddish-brown tint, other ingredients must be added to produce other colors, such as those marketed as “black henna” and “blue henna.” So-called “black henna” may contain the “coal tar” color p-phenylenediamine, also known as PPD. This ingredient may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. The only legal use of PPD in cosmetics is as a hair dye. It is not approved for direct application to the skin. Even brown shades of products marketed as henna may contain other ingredients intended to make them darker or make the stain last longer.

In addition to color additives, these skin-decorating products may contain other ingredients, such as solvents.

How do I know what’s in a temporary tattoo or henna/mehndi product?

Cosmetics including temporary skin-staining products that are sold on a retail basis to consumers must have their ingredients listed on the label. Without such an ingredient declaration, they are considered misbranded and are illegal in interstate commerce. FDA requires the ingredient declaration under the authority of the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA).

Because the FPLA does not apply to cosmetic samples and products used exclusively by professionals–for example, for application at a salon, or a booth at a fair or boardwalk–the requirement for an ingredient declaration does not apply to these products.

Does FDA approve color additives?

By law, except for coal tar colors used in hair dyes, color additives used in cosmetics must be approved by FDA for their intended uses. Some may not be used unless FDA has certified in its own labs that the composition of each batch meets the regulatory requirements. Cosmetics–including temporary tattoo products–that do not comply with restrictions on color additives are considered adulterated and are illegal in interstate commerce.

Does FDA approve other cosmetic ingredients?

Except for color additives, FDA does not have the authority to approve cosmetic products or ingredients, although the use of several substances in cosmetics is prohibited or restricted due to safety concerns. However, if the safety of the product or its ingredients has not been substantiated, the product is misbranded–and therefore illegal in interstate commerce–if it does not have this warning on the label:

“Warning-The safety of this product has not been determined.”

How do I report an adverse reaction to a temporary tattoo or other cosmetic?

FDA encourages consumers to report any adverse reactions to cosmetics either to their nearest FDA district office or to FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors. Here’s how:

• To contact your nearest FDA district office, you can find their phone numbers on FDA’s Web site. These phone numbers also are included in the U.S. Government listings in the Blue Pages of the phone book under United States Government/Health and Human Services.
• To contact FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) Adverse Event Reporting System (CAERS), call (301) 436-2405 or email CAERS@cfsan.fda.gov.

Tattoo Removal and Prisoners

National’s Law & Order spokesman, Simon Power, says the Corrections Department’s tattoo removal scheme has proved to be a waste of $278,000 of taxpayers’ money.

He is commenting on replies from the Corrections Minister to questions regarding the scheme, which was designed to see if removing prisoners’ visible tattoos reduced serious offending.

In one reply the department admits ‘The re-offending rate was not significantly different from that of a control group of prisoners.’

Mr Power says this supports what had long been suspected: “The scheme is a waste of money.”

“It has cost an average of $891 for each of the 312 prisoners who have taken part since 1999 and has achieved virtually nothing. The department admits that.”

“Its own figures cite some serious re-offending by prisoners despite having their tattoos removed – crimes like assaults on females, kidnapping and aggravated robbery, burglaries, and breach of parole.”

“It is time to ditch the scheme and spend the money on something more useful. Corrections’ resources are really stretched right now so there are plenty of things to choose from,” says Mr Power.