COMMUNITY CORNER

HEALTH ALERT!

HEALTH ALERT!

HEALTH ALERT!

HEY READERS!

We are always trying to keep at the head of the game on health topics, right?

Have you ever thought about the food that you eat? I'm going a little bit further than how you prepare it or the fat calories that are in your favorite food.

I'm going a bit deeper than that. Have you thought about what condition your food is in BEFORE you get it from the grocers? Well, if you haven't then you need to! You also need to consider WHO handles your food BEFORE YOU take it home from the grocers! There are some troubling things going on even in your FAVORITE GROCERS! The store looks clean and smells clean, but is your food REALLY safe and clean?

I was watching Dr. Oz's talk show...

(my friend D's most fa-vo-rite show beside the "Traveling Antiques Road Show"!) and he showed facts on the safety of prepared deli food, pre-packaged fresh food, such as meats AND the handling of the food BY THE CUSTOMERS! The latter was the thing that really got me! One lady was up on a pile of plantain (like bananas, only tougher and larger) with her knees and feet on the fruit as she put her hands on many pieces in order to choose what she wanted. Wow! I have never seen anyone do that! What was wrong with the fruits closer to her where they were easily reachable? What was going on through her head! The point is, she contaminated the food in several ways. Not only with her hands but with her body and especially with her feet! No telling what she had stepped in before she went into that grocers place, not to mention just in her everyday walking! Wow!

While many people were found to do the right thing by using tongs to gather up fresh bread or muffins from the open food bins, others were not! Here are some other examples that were caught by hidden video: Some people actually reached in the fresh bread bins with their BARE HANDS! We watched as these people, one by one, systematically reached in with their bare hands and touched not only the bread that they chose, but other pieces as well BEFORE they actually made their choices! The thing that startled me most is when I started thinking about where their hands may have been! OK!...I need a moment. My gosh!

Before you defend these people, the video caught these people red handed. They were not seen washing hands or using some sort of disinfectant gel or spray! This is really such a serious problem, that in fact, a food inspector on the show said many times, the grocers have reported r disgusting things at the bottom of those bins at the end of the day! He said, they almost always find FAKE FINGERNAILS that have fallen off while the people were digging for their bread! EWWWWW!

Think about that reader! All of that nasty under nail dirt and bacteria on those nails getting on YOUR bread!

Another example is when they showed people licking their fingers to get those plastic bags open, you know the ones that are used in the fresh produce sections. The problems with that is when the people licked their fingers to get the bags open, they most often used the same hand to reach in and get their fresh produce, beans, grapes and other things like that! You may say huh? The thing is, after they've done that, then someone else, YOU, come along and touch the same, now contaminated fruits and veggies that you end up taking home with your purchases! Disgusting!

I KNOW, THIS HELPED ME TO RE-THINK MY GROCERY TRIPS! YOU TOO?

OK! Though I didn't get to watch the whole show, which I am sad about, because it was great info. The thing is, I did catch Dr. Oz's 5 recommended ways that you can ensure SOME cleanliness of your food choices. By applying more safe methods in choosing and HANDLING THE food while your still at the grocers!

So, here goes!

#1. CHECK THE DATES:-Did you ever wonder why your breads and things did not last as long as you though they should?

Check the dates, Both the Sell by date and the Use by date.

They are often very different. That is OK, but be very careful!

While the SELL By date is put on by the grocers at Their discretion! The USE BY date is put on by the food companies!

#2. CHECK TEMPERATURES:

KEEP COLD food cold and hot food hot!

Look at the thermometers in these sections.

Cold food should read 41 degrees Celsius or less. At 42 degrees and up, COLD FOOD starts to develop bacterium for food poisoning (which people die from every year!)

HOT FOOD should be at least, 135 degrees Fahrenheit and above!

If these foods at your grocers do not have this temperature, DO NOT purchase them AND bring this to the attention of THE MANAGEMENT OF YOUR GROCERS immediately! If you see this re-occurring, report the store to proper authorities.

#3. PACK MEAT PROPERLY: Especially when purchasing fresh packaged meat, put the meat in a plastic produce bag, BEFORE putting it in your cart with your other foods. Again, after purchasing, put fresh meats in entirely separate bags also. This will help keep the meat "juice" from dripping on and contaminating your other foods! REMEMBER, where that meat juice is escaping from in the package is the same place that bacteria can get in, also!

OH YEAH! ALWAYS! ALWAYS, PICK YOUR FRESH MEATS, AND DAIRY LAST, just before you head up to the cashier. This is to ensure that they stay cold longer!

#4. KEEP RE-USABLE SHOPPING BAGS CLEAN: The cloth bags need not be washed every use, but make sure that they get wash thoroughly every 5 to ten uses and especially when you see them get visibly dirty. If you are using plastic re-usable bags, make sure to wipe them down on a much regular basis. Use a bacteria killing agent or you can even use white vinegar.

The grocery store plastic bags, throw them away!

#5. AVOID THOSE FRESH FOOD BINS:

Get the pre-packaged foods similar to what you are looking for in those bins. IE. fresh baked breads, donuts, muffins etc.

Those bins are not safe as described earlier in this article.

Stay safe people! And STAY HEALTHY!

Peace, Meetta