HEALTHY ADVANCES DURING 2010

After the nationwide recall of eggs in August new restrictions were placed on the diabetes drug rosighitazone (Avandia) in September and raised questions about medication safety. The new Food Safety Modernization Act has now gone to press and offers hope. The Food and Drug Administration will inspect all high-risk facilities at least yearly in the U.S. The strongest line of defense remains how we choose and handle food.

*Wash all produce again, even though it says pre-washed.
* Hands, utensils and cutting boards that have been in contact with raw meat before they touch other food and cooking meat, fish and eggs thoroughly.
*Refrigerate leftovers promptly.

The outbreak of salmonella from tainted eggs sickened more than 1600 people, is a small part of the problem. About 76 million people in the U.S. get food borne illnesses each year and were hospitalized and 5,000 died.