Food Safety

Microwave popcorn is quick, convenient and tasty. Unfortunately, it also has some hidden health risks that go well beyond fire hazards from overcooking.

Chicken salad is a wonderful, cool addition to a meal, but must be made and stored properly. Cooking the chicken to the appropriate temperature, storing it so that it stays cold and only keeping...

The Food and Drug Administration regulates not only the actual food products that we eat, but also the packaging materials that keep them fresh. Because these packaging materials come into contact...

Fresh produce often is more susceptible to harmful bacteria and foodborne illness than packaged or preserved foods are, so it's important to handle it carefully and use food safety guidelines to...

Drinking and using tap water can possibly cause serious health problems over time. An article in The New York Times states, "Only 91 contaminants are regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act, yet...

According to the Washington State Department of Health, the most common cause of food-borne illness is bacteria in the food we eat. Leaving cooked food out at room temperature allows bacteria to...

Most brands of tonic water contain quinine, a substance that is used to treat malaria by killing the parasite that causes it. Quinine has been used since the seventeenth century to treat malaria.

Glycerin is a thick, clear and odorless liquid that is a by-product of soap making, bio-diesel production and cooking oil refinement. It's widely used in foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Manufacturers of peanut brittle can taint their products with salmonella if the products or their ingredients are not handled safely. In 2009 a salmonella contamination in peanut products,...

Reusable water bottles are a way to be good to the body while staying kind to the environment. Most people who use these bottles do so frequently, and therefore need ways to keep the bottles free...

Smoked fish is prepared by cooking the meat in a smoker at a low temperature, which gives the fish a smoky flavor without drying it out. Although smoked fish is high in vitamins and nutrients,...

Alcohol and caffeine are two commonly consumed drugs that are often believed to contribute to dehydration. While alcohol has been proven to contribute to dehydration, the effects of caffeine on...

Pewter has been produced for thousands of years and, although the metals used in its composition have changed over the years, the alloy is recognized by its distinctive grayish patina. Today's...

Mealworms appear as tiny, white worms in stored grains. They are the larval form, or infants, of the mealworm beetle, and one grain they favor is rice. Mealworms like to borrow into the warm, dry...

Salad bars are popular in many restaurants and even grocery stores. It affords consumers the opportunity to choose what they want in their salad and how much. Proper sanitation and safety...

Ultraviolet (UV) light is a clean and safe alternative to chlorine and sodium hypochlorite, which are used widely for bacteria sterilization. While it is proving to be a promising technology, its...

Magnesium stearate is commonly found as an additive in pills. It is a binder used to hold the active ingredients together. It is completely safe as a pill additive.

As of December 3rd, 2009 Slim Fast has recalled over 10 million of its ready-to-drink products. This is what you should do if you have purchased any of them recently. Please note: this recall...

A salmonella bacterium lives within the intestines of animals, birds, and people. Foods that have been contaminated by feces can cause salmonella poisoning in the people or animals that ingest it.

SIMPLY SCATTER A THIN FILM OF ARM & HAMMER BAKING SODA TO PLACES ROACHES MOST LIKE TO GO, LIKE UNDER THE TOASTER OR, EVEN BETTER IN THE CREVICES WHERE THEY COME FROM. LEAVE IT FOR ABOUT A...

Salmonella is a group of bacteria most widely known for causing food-borne illness (salmonellosis) and typhoid fever in developing countries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)...

When melamine, an organic chemical compound, is combined with formaldehyde, it creates melamine resin. The resin can be molded as dinnerware; it dries into a hard plastic that is nearly unbreakable.

Salmonella is a bacteria that causes the most food-borne illnesses, mostly diarrhea, in humans. Salmonella is a rod-shaped microscopic living thing that is easily transferred through food and...

It is mandatory that professional caterers take a course to obtain a license to cater food for public and private functions. Licensing requirements and certifications vary from state to state, and...

Salmonellosis, often called food poisoning, is caused by the bacterium Salmonella spp. This bacterium is present in the meat and waste of many farm animals, including poultry and beef. It is also...

Handling food requires a host of precautionary measures to avoid contamination by harmful bacteria that can cause illness and even death. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there...

Sodium chloride, or salt, has endless uses in our everyday life. Salt helps our bodies function properly. Additionally, salt's ability to prohibit the growth of bacteria makes it a valuable...

A sneeze guard is the shield placed over foods in restaurants, buffets and outdoor food booths, to protect food customers from viruses and bacteria spread by other food customers' sneezes and coughs.

Using Styrofoam is an extremely controversial topic. Styrofoam is nonbiodegradable and while not completely harmful to the planet, the product can take up to 500 years to break down in landfills,...

A freezer can postpone the expiration date of food, allowing you more leeway for when you decide to cook that roast. In order for the freezer to do its job, however, it must be kept at a safe...

Clostridium botulinum causes the human illness botulism, which results from a toxin produced by the bacteria. Fortunately, only around 110 cases are reported each year to the Centers for Disease...

Sulfate in water causes it to have a bitter taste. Drinking it can lead to dehydration, as it also has a laxative effect. Water that has hydrogen sulfide in it smells like a rotten egg and can...

With salmonella outbreaks affecting fruits and vegetables, knowing how to properly wash fresh produce at home is especially important. It's critical to ensure that produce is properly prepared,...

Most of the public relies on public water systems for their supply of water. Before water enters public treatment plants, it is typically contaminated with parasites and bacteria. The water is...

Salmonella and E. coli are two intestinal diseases that are caused by bacteria. They are very similar in regards to symptoms and method of infection, so it is sometimes difficult to tell one...

If you have eggs in your refrigerator that have passed the expiration date on the package, don't throw them out! Sometimes eggs last for weeks past their expiration date. You'll be wasting your...

It's Christmas time again and many people will be making the traditional turkey dinner. Many turkeys that people buy nowadays are frozen and before you can start your meal you will need to thaw...

Salmonella infection occurs with the consumption of undercooked foods or foods that have been contaminated with feces. While it is the most frequently reported source of food-borne illness,...

Over the past few years, there have been several studies revolving around aspartame and the effects that it has on the human body. If aspartame does affect liver function, why is it allowed on the...

Reverse osmosis (RO) refers to a method of treating contaminated water. It is proven method for creating large volumes of pure, clean water. The treatment process works by applying pressure to the...

Sildenafil citrate phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) is a chemical agent employed in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It was approved for use in Viagra by the FDA in 1998. As a regulated chemical,...

Food packaging consists of both the label that gives written information about a product and also the material that encases it. FDA requirements for food packaging labels serve to honestly inform...

Following restaurant safety procedures is important and a must to ensure the well-being and safety of patrons and employees. Safety procedures cover all aspects of the restaurant operation,...

Stevia, also known also by its Latin name, Stevia rebaudiana, is marketed by several companies as a natural sweetener. Available at health food stores, stevia is an herb that grows wild as a...

Chances are that the label on the milk in your refrigerator makes some kind of reference to rBGH, commonly called rBST. A gallon of Great Value milk from Walmart, for example, has the following...

Stevia, an all-natural dietary supplement and sweetener, is marketed and manufactured by companies such as Sweet Leaf Products and Whole Earth Sweetener Company. Find the sweetener at your local...

Salmonella is a rod-shaped bacterium that lives in the intestines of people and animals and is spread from feces of people or animals. Salmonella accounts for most reported food-borne illnesses....

Whether a bacteria or a virus causes your gastrointestinal infection, you caught it in one of four ways: from person to person, by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your mouth, by...

In order to control intestinal parasites, stimulate growth, improve the color of chicken meat and reduce their stress on the commercial farms, producers of commercial chickens tend to feed their...

Water may be oxygenated (have a higher level of dissolved O2) by the diffusion of gaseous oxygen through it. Temperature and air pressure affect the amount of dissolved oxygen (DO) in water, so...