Food Safety Bulletin
Dona Eisenbart
SCI/220
August 31, 2011
TP Narayan

Food Safety Bulletin
Hot Dogs Recalled Doe to E. coli
By Dona Eisenbart.
August 31, 2011- More than 75,000 packages of St. Johns beef hot dogs sold at local grocery stores in the San Diego County have been recalled due to possible E. coli contamination. The hot dogs were supplied by St. Johns packaging Company, and were sold throughout the county by Fatco, Lucky Stores, and Black Checker Foods. The USDA reports that routine testing at a San Diego Health facility revealed the presence of E. coli 0157.H7 bacteria and found the St. Johns Packaging Company to be the source. The USDA states that only five cases have been reported to have been hospitalized, however more than 100 cases reported ill. E. coli 0157.H7 is a potentially fatal bacteria that causes diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most serious cases, kidney failure. Children, the elderly, and those with a weak immune system are more likely to be effected. Officials say that the hot dog recall affects products sold in San Diego and the surrounding counties including Riverside, San Bernardino, and as far as Los Angeles. People should return any affected hot dogs to their stores for a full refund. For more information on the recall, contact the American Association of Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Common Safety Issues Related to Food Purchase, Storage, and Presentation
Some common safety issues related to food purchase are not checking the expiration dates, just because it is on the shelf does not mean it is safe. Damaged packaging, temperature, and freshness are all common safety issues. Also another common safety issue to look for when purchasing is proper rotation.
Common Illnesses and Problems caused by Safety Issues
Some of the common illnesses and problems that safety issues may cause are bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea and vomiting. Some more serious issues include pale skin, fever, weakness, bruising, and passing only small amounts of urine due to kidney problems, caused by E. coli. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms see your doctor immediately, or contact your local poison control for assistance. Some online resources include WebMD, World Health organization, and USDA.
Criteria of Creditable Nutritional Information
The following are some ways to determine if a source is credible or not. (NDSU n.d.) * Who is the author? * What are their credentials? * Is a credible sponsoring institution identified? * What is the purpose of the information? * Is the site promoting or selling a product? * Is the date listed? How current is the information? * Is the information based on scientific research or opinion? * Are there links to other sources of information? * Are the facts documented with reliable resources? * Is there an editorial board that oversees the content? * Is the information well written in terms of grammar and spelling?
All these are important factors when determining credible sources.
The Importance of Using Criteria When Searching for Information
The importance for using the above criteria when searching for information on nutrition and health is to help people to get the appropriate food safety and education on preventing food borne illnesses. Time after time we hear how food is contaminated due to the improper handling and preparation of food. Remember to always prepare food in a clean area. Separate raw foods from cooked food. Cook food thoroughly, and keep food at a safe temperature. By following these simple but important guidelines, there should be less chance of contamination.
References
American Association of Poison Control
World Health Organization. (2010). Prevention of Foodborne Disease: Five Keys to a Safer Food. Retrieved from http://www.who.int?foodsafety/consumer/5keys/en/
WebMD.(n.d.).What is an E. coli Infection?. Retrieved from http;// www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/e-coli-infection-topic-overview.
NDSU.(n.d.).Finding The Truth II: Are popular Nutrition and Health Sources Reliable? Retrieved from http: // www.ag.ndsu.edu.
EBOOK COLLECTION: Wardlaw, G. M., & Smith, A. M. (2009). Contemporary nutrition (8th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
WILEY PLUS: Grosvenor, M. B., & Smolin, L. A. (2010). Visualizing nutrition: Everyday choices. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley