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- Sodium
Nitrite. A Q&A about
sodium nitrite - an antioxidant used to cure
meat like hot dogs, ham and bacon.
- Avian Influenza. Avian
influenza or AI is a virus that primarily
affects poultry. The disease can cause varying
amounts of illness, and even death, among
poultry that become infected. The virus can
infect chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail,
ducks, geese, and guinea fowl, as well as a
wide variety of other birds. Migratory
waterfowl have proved to be the natural
reservoir for this disease.
Fortunately,
humans rarely become infected and when they do,
it is typically through direct contact with the
live bird - not the poultry consumers purchase
in grocery stores.
- Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
or "BSE" is an animal disease that was
first diagnosed in cattle in the United Kingdom
in 1986. BSE, which is sometimes referred to as
"Mad Cow Disease," results when a protein in a
cow's brain becomes abnormally folded; these
proteins are called prions. In cattle, these
misshapen prions are concentrated largely in
the brain and the spinal cord.
- Choking Prevention in
Children. Young children can be at greater
risk of choking from a variety of objects,
including coins, beads, balloons and foods like
grapes, peanuts, hard candy and hot dogs.
Parents can take some easy steps to ensure that
nutritious meat and poultry are safe for young
children.
- Declines in
Bacteria. Throughout the 1990s and into the
new millennium, the industry's ability to
prevent bacteria on meat and poultry products
has increased dramatically as a result of
various new in-plant technologies like steam
pasteurization and the transition of the
industry to the use of the prevention- oriented
HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control
Points) system. At the same time, the ability
to detect pathogens on products has increased
dramatically. In addition, the ability to track
food borne disease and tie it to a specific
food product has evolved into a practical
technology.
- Foodborne
Illness. Bacteria are a natural part of our
environment and are found in air, water, in
food and even in our bodies. All raw
agricultural products - including meat and
poultry - naturally carry bacteria. Most
bacteria are harmless. Some bacteria - like
acidophilus - have health benefits. Pathogenic
bacteria however, can cause human illness.
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