Saturday, June 08, 2019

Five Keys To Safer Food and Prevention of Food Borne Diseases Poster

WHO has prepared a poster, Five Keys To Safer Food Poster. It is very valuable and available in 88 languages. Use it yourself and share with you community. Knowledge provides empowerment and prevention of many a diseases.
Click on the photo to download the poster or scroll down to down load in all 88 languages.
5keys to food safety PDF


Keep clean 
Wash your hands before handling food and often during food preparation 
Wash your hands after going to the toilet 
Wash and sanitize all surfaces and equipment used for food preparation 
Protect kitchen areas and food from insects, pests and other animals
While most microorganisms do not cause disease, dangerous microorganisms are widely found in soil, water, animals and people. These microorganisms are carried on hands, wiping cloths and utensils, especially cutting boards and the slightest contact can transfer them to food and cause food borne diseases

Separate raw and cooked 
Separate raw meat, poultry and seafood from other foods 
Use separate equipment and utensils such as knives and cutting boards for handling raw foods 
Store food in containers to avoid contact between raw and prepared foods
Raw food, especially meat, poultry and seafood, and their juices, can contain dangerous microorganisms which may be transferred onto other foods during food preparation and storage.

Cook thoroughly 
Cook food thoroughly, especially meat, poultry, eggs and seafood  
Bring foods like soups and stews to boiling to make sure that they have reached 70°C or 158°F. For meat and poultry, make sure that juices are clear, not pink. Ideally, use a thermometer 
Reheat cooked food thoroughly
Proper cooking kills almost all dangerous microorganisms. Studies have shown that cooking food to a temperature of 70°C can help ensure it is safe for consumption. Foods that require special attention include minced meats, rolled roasts, large joints of meat and whole poultry.
Keep food at safe temperatures 
Do not leave cooked food at room temperature for more than 2 hours 
Refrigerate promptly all cooked and perishable food (preferably belowC / 41F) 
Keep cooked food piping hot (more than 60°C / 140F) prior to serving 
Do not store food too long even in the refrigerator 
Do not thaw frozen food at room temperature
Microorganisms can multiply very quickly if food is stored at room temperature.By holding at temperatures below 5°Cor above60°C,the growth of micro organisms is slowed down or stopped. Some dangerous microorganisms still grow below 5°C.
Use safe water and raw materials 
Use safe water or treat it to make it safe 
Select fresh and wholesome foods  
Choose foods processed for safety, such as pasteurized milk 
Wash fruits and vegetables,especially if eaten raw 
Do not use food beyond its expiry date
Raw materials, including water and ice, maybe contaminated with dangerous microorganisms and chemicals. Toxic chemicals may be formed in damaged and mouldy foods. Care in selection of raw materials and simple measures such as washing and peeling may reduce the risk.  

Poster in Other languages.

Other languages

The Five Keys to Safer Food poster is available in 88 languages in total.

Thursday, June 06, 2019

The risks associated with consuming unprocessed donor human milk - Health Canada

Health Canada reminds Canadians of the risks associated with consuming unprocessed donor human milk

Starting date:
June 5, 2019
Type of communication:
Information Update
Subcategory:
Affects children, pregnant or breast feeding women
Source of recall:
Health Canada
Identification number:
RA-70133


Issue

OTTAWA - Health Canada is aware of reports that Canadians are sharing and purchasing unprocessed human donor breast milk, and would like to remind Canadians of the potential health risks of consuming this milk.
Obtaining human donor milk from the Internet or directly from individuals raises health concerns because, in most cases, the donor's medical history is unknown and it hasn't been tested. Human milk is a bodily fluid and can transmit substances, such as prescription and non-prescription drugs, and can be contaminated with viruses, such as HIV. Human milk can also spoil or become contaminated with bacteria or viruses as a result of improper extraction, storage, or handling.
In Canada, milk banks are the only way to access safe donated human milk. There are currently four human milk banks in Canada operating in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. These milk banks abide by strict operating procedures, which include donor screening, medical supervision, bacteriological and viral testing, pasteurization, storage, and distribution.
Health Canada recommends that Canadians consult their health care professional should they have questions about breastfeeding or if they are considering using donor human milk.
For more information on child health and breastfeeding, visit:

Media enquiries

Health Canada
613-957-2983

Public enquiries

613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709

Keep an Eye on your Eyes and Your Family's Eyes

Eye Care Tips

There are things you can do to help keep your eyes healthy and make sure you are seeing your best:
  • Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Your diet should include plenty or fruits and vegetables, especially deep yellow and green leafy vegetables. Eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut can also help your eyes.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or having obesity increases your risk of developing diabetes. Having diabetes puts you at higher risk of getting diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma.
  • Get regular exercise. Exercise may help to prevent or control diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. These diseases can lead to some eye or vision problems. So if you exercise regularly, you can lower your risk of getting these eye and vision problems.
  • Wear sunglasses. Sun exposure can damage your eyes and raise your risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Protect your eyes by using sunglasses that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
  • Wear protective eye wear. To prevent eye injuries, you need eye protection when playing certain sports, working in jobs such as factory work and construction, and doing repairs or projects in your home.
  • Avoid smoking. Smoking increases the risk of developing age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts and can damage the optic nerve.
  • Know your family medical history. Some eye diseases are inherited, so it is important to find out whether anyone in your family has had them. This can help you determine if you are at higher risk of developing an eye disease.
  • Know your other risk factors. As you get older, you are at higher risk of developing age-related eye diseases and conditions. It is important to know you risk factors because you may be able to lower your risk by changing some behaviors.
  • If you wear contacts, take steps to prevent eye infections. Wash your hands well before you put in or take out your contact lenses. Also follow the instructions on how to properly clean them, and replace them when needed.
  • Give your eyes a rest. If you spend a lot of time using a computer, you can forget to blink your eyes and your eyes can get tired. To reduce eyestrain, try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds.

Eye Tests and Exams

Everyone needs to have their eyesight tested to check for vision and eye problems. Children usually have vision screening in school or at their health care provider's office during a checkup. Adults may also get vision screenings during their checkups. But many adults need more than a vision screening. They need a comprehensive dilated eye exam.
Getting comprehensive dilated eye exams is especially important because some eye diseases may not have warning signs. The exams are the only way to detect these diseases in their early stages, when they are easier to treat.
The exam includes several tests:
  • A visual field test to measure your side (peripheral) vision. A loss of peripheral vision may be a sign of glaucoma.
  • A visual acuity test, where you read an eye chart about 20 feet away, to check on how well you see at various distances
  • Tonometry, which measures your eye's interior pressure. It helps to detect glaucoma.
  • Dilation, which involves getting eye drops that dilate (widen) your pupils. This allows more light to enter the eye. Your eye care provider examines your eyes using a special magnifying lens. This provides a clear view of important tissues at the back of your eye, including the retina, macula, and optic nerve.
If you have a refractive error and are going to need glasses or contacts, then you will also have a refraction test. When you have this test, you look through a device that has lenses of different strengths to help your eye care professional figure out which lenses will give you the clearest vision.
At what age you should start getting these exams and how often you need them depends on many factors. They include your age, race, and overall health. For example, if you are African American, you are at higher risk of glaucoma and you need to start getting the exams earlier. If you have diabetes, you should get an exam every year. Check with your health care provider about if and when you need these exams.

Start Here

Diagnosis and Tests

Prevention and Risk Factors

Related Issues

Specifics

Statistics and Research

Did You Have A Problem with Dietary Supplements? Stop Using, Seek Help And Please Report To The FDA



If you think that a dietary supplement may have caused you or someone you know to have a serious reaction or illness, immediately stop using the product. The symptoms could be any of these;
Serious reactions or illnesses may include:
  • itching, rash, hives, throat/lip/tongue swelling, wheezing
  • low blood pressure, fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, irregular heart beat
  • severe, persistent nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain
  • difficulty urinating, decreased urination
  • fatigue, appetite loss, yellowing skin/eyes, itching, dark urine
  • severe joint/muscle pain
  • slurred speech, one-sided weakness of face, arm, leg, vision (stroke)
  • abnormal bleeding from nose or gums
  • blood in urine, stool, vomit, or sputum
  • marked mood, cognitive, or behavioral changes, thoughts of suicide
  • visit to Emergency Room or hospitalization

.  and fill out a safety report here

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