World Day for Safety and Health at Work Foodborne Disease Control and Prevention

"Worldwide, occupational diseases continue to be the leading cause of work-related deaths. According to ILO estimates, out of 2.34 million occupational fatalities every year, only 321,000 are due to accidents. The remaining 2.02 million deaths are caused by various types of work-related diseases, which correspond to a daily average of more than 5,500 deaths. This is an unacceptable Decent Work deficit.

The inadequate prevention of occupational diseases has profound negative effects not only on workers and their families but also on society at large due to the tremendous costs that it generates; particularly, in terms of loss of productivity and burdening of social security systems."

On Apr 28, 1970 (signed into law in 1971) was the founding of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Safety in Restaurants

Slips and Falls

Foodborne Disease OSHA Standards

Control and Prevention

Control of foodborne diseases is based on avoidance of contaminated food, destruction of contaminants, and prevention of further spread of contaminants. Prevention is dependent upon proper cooking and storing practices, and personal hygiene of food handlers.

The quality of food and controls used to prevent foodborne diseases are primarily regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local public health authorities. These diseases may be occupationally related if they affect the food processors (e.g., poultry processing workers), food preparers and servers (e.g., cooks, waiters), or workers who are provided food at the worksite.

Section 5(a)(1) of the OSHA Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause, requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees". Section 5(a)(2) requires employers to "comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act".

Note
No, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA Act), also known as the General Duty Clause, has not been substantively changed since the Trump administration. However, the Trump administration did focus on rolling back existing regulations and slowing down the development of new ones, which could have indirectly affected the interpretation and enforcement of Section 5(a)(1). 

Resources

1. Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention for Healthcare Workers - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

National Office
U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210

From Tree to Table: Celebrating Arbor Day with Garden Fresh Delights

A Tour through Our Garden

From Tree to Table:
Celebrating Arbor Day with Garden Fresh Delights

"Arbor Day is a time to celebrate the wonders of nature
and to plan for an even greener future by
planting and caring for trees."

Our Mango Trees

Last year, our mango tree produced over 80 fruits.
This year looks like another high yield.

Our Banana Plant(s)

I asked for a Banana Plant for my birthday (July 5, 2020).
It stood about 2 feet high. In less than 10 months, the
banana plant grew to a height exceeding 10 feet.
In November 2021, the Banana Plant produced an
amazing first harvest. In addition, that
one Banana Plant is now 4 Banana Plants.
Banana plants appear to multiply as fast as rabbits.

John Denver - Plant a Tree

While growing up in East Meadow, New York, we had a huge apple tree in our yard. I would climb up the tree and sit on the branches for hours, eating the apples while watching the world below.

When Jake and I moved into our home in 1998, we planted a mango tree. We watched it grow and flourish. Then, in 2005, Hurricane Wilma hit and damaged the tree. We tried to nurse the tree back to health for years, but the infection had spread into the roots.

Finally, on April 25, 2012, we removed the old tree and replanted a new Valencia pride mango tree. Today, the tree stands tall, even after surviving Hurricane Irma.

In April 2018, we decided to plant another Mango Tree. This time, we planted it near the road so that if people walked or drove by, they could grab a mango.

Planting a fruit tree is good for the environment and economics and marks special moments.

Visit the Arbor Day Foundation. Resources, membership, free trees, and a lot more.

Our Nation's Forests are National Treasures

Safe and Savory: Your Guide to the Perfect Picnic

Picnic Food Safety

Before you begin setting out your picnic feast, make sure hands and surfaces are clean.

Place cold food in a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs. Cold food should be stored at 40°F or below to prevent bacterial growth. Meat, poultry, and seafood should be packed while still frozen so that they stay colder longer.

Pack beverages in one cooler and perishable foods in another. This will prevent the perishable foods from being exposed to warm outdoor temperatures.

Limit the number of times the cooler is opened so as to keep the contents cold longer.

Be sure to keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood securely wrapped. This keeps their juices from contaminating prepared and cooked foods or foods that will be eaten raw, such as fruits and vegetables.

Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under running tap water before packing them in the cooler.

For more food safety tips, visit 

http://www.fightbac.org

Forks, Fields & Future: An Earth Day Reflection

Earth Day

What Is Your Ecological Footprint?  

Small Changes Make a Big Difference

April 22, 1970, marked the first Earth Day, which awakened nearly 20 million Americans from all walks of life to launch the modern environmental movement. From that first Earth Day came the passage of the landmark Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and many other environmental laws. Today the Earth Day Network (EDN) works with over 75,000 partners in 192 countries to broaden diversify and mobilize the environmental movement. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

Earth is Our Home—Let's Protect It
National Geographic 

Earth - Small Changes Make a Big Difference

YouTube has a wide range of resources, from the young, older, news, family, scientist, schools, communities, governments, and industry describing how they are making a difference and how we can make a difference in saving our Earth.

Mobilize The Earth

Green Mom

Cost of Food

Americans have been spending less and less on what we eat. But those savings come with a high cost: obesity, diabetes, and big health care bills. Here's a look at how our diet has changed over the last 50 years, and what we can do to make it better.

Recycle Guys

Purple Basil

It’s a vibrant purple color with larger-than-normal leaves. It’s not as sweet as other basil varieties, and it has a strong clove flavor. Not recommended in cooking as it turns a black color when heated. Perfect for use in salads, pesto, or any of your other favorite ways to use fresh basil.

There are a few varieties of purple basil, but all are cultivars of the same basil plant, which is a true annual. Purple basil grows from seed and dies again all in one season, and does not return year after year. They may, however, self-seed if the flowers are left on until the seeds grow to maturity and fall from the plant. A healthy patch of self-seeding basil may return year after year almost as though it were the same plant.

Grow this basil along with tomato plants, as it encourages growth and repels pests of the tomato. Grow it in containers on the deck or near outdoor seating areas to help keep mosquitoes and stinging insects at bay. 

Store leaves, fresh or dried, for use during the time your plants no longer grow. Freeze them whole or preserve in layers of sea salt. You may also chop basil and combine with other herbs and oil to freeze in ice cube trays and save in freezer bags once frozen. This attractive purple color stands out in many dishes.

Purple Basil and Tomatoes with Mozzarella Cheese

National Garlic Day Garlic: A Flavorful Fusion of Taste and Health

Garlic comes from the lily family and is the edible bulb from a plant. It is used as a spice to enhance the flavor of foods and in medicine, Garlic claims have been made to cure heart disease, cancer, colds, hair loss, bug repellant, and many other medical conditions.

The medical research on the safety and effectiveness of garlic has been limited, flawed, inconclusive, or failed to prove its curative powers in most of the claims made.

The following conditions have been rated based on the scientific evidence available as to the effectiveness of Garlic as a treatment. From Medline, service to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health Department of Health and Human Services. 

Ratings
A: Strong scientific evidence for this use;

B: Good scientific evidence for this use;
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use;
D: Fair scientific evidence against this use;
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use.

High Cholesterol (Rate B). Multiple studies in humans have reported small reductions in total blood cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins ("bad cholesterol") over short periods of time (4 to 12 weeks). It is not clear if there are benefits after this amount of time. Effects on high-density lipoproteins ("good cholesterol") are not clear. This remains an area of controversy. Well-designed and longer studies are needed in this area.

Antifungal, applied to the skin (Rate C). Several studies describe the application of garlic to the skin to treat fungal infections, including yeast infections. Garlic can cause severe burns and rash when applied to the skin of sensitive individuals.

Anti-platelet effects, blood thinning (Rate C).   Garlic has been associated with several cases of bleeding, therapy should be applied with caution (particularly in patients using other agents that may precipitate bleeding).

Atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries (Rate C).   Preliminary research in humans suggests that deposits of cholesterol in blood vessels may not grow as quickly in people who take garlic. It is not clear if this is due to the ability of garlic to lower cholesterol levels, or to other effects of garlic.

Cancer (Rate C).  Preliminary human studies suggest that regular consumption of garlic (particularly unprocessed garlic) may reduce the risk of developing several types of cancer including gastric and colorectal malignancies. Some studies use multi-ingredient products so it is difficult to determine if garlic alone may play a beneficial role. Further, well designed human clinical trials are needed to conclude whether eating garlic or taking garlic supplements may prevent or treat cancer.

High blood pressure (Rate C).  Numerous human studies report that garlic can lower blood pressure by a small amount, but larger, well-designed studies are needed to confirm this possible effect.

Tick repellant (Rate C).  In early study, self-reports of tick bites were significantly less in people receiving garlic over a placebo "sugar" pill. Further, a well-designed study is needed to confirm these results.

Upper respiratory tract infection (Rate C).  Preliminary reports suggest that garlic may reduce the severity of upper respiratory tract infections. However, this has not been demonstrated in well-designed human studies.

Diabetes (Rate D).  Animal studies suggest that garlic may lower blood sugar and increase insulin release, but human studies do not confirm this effect.

Heart Smart® Tip of the Day: Garlic with

Darlene Zimmerman, RDN

Why go to the market,
when you can grow garlic in your garden.

National Animal Crackers Day

Animal crackers are usually in the shape of circus animals such as lions, tigers, bears, and elephants. During the late 1800's, animal crackers were imported from England to the United States. The first batch of animal crackers was made by Stauffer's Biscuit Company in 1871 in York, Pennsylvania. Other local bakeries soon came together under the National Biscuit Company, or "Nabisco Brands." In 1902, the animal cracker's box officially became "Barnum's Animals" with the circus-themed box.

Animal Cracker Nutrition

Create Fun and Healthier Snacks

Shirley Temple - Animal Crackers in My Soup

Go Bananas: A Journey from Tree to Table

National Banana Day

Nutrition Profile

Selection

Choose bananas that are firm and free of bruises. Bananas are best to eat when the skin color is solid yellow and speckled with brown. Bananas with green tips or with practically no yellow color have not developed their full flavor. Bananas are overripe when they have a strong odor.

Storage

To ripen bananas leave at room temperature for a couple of days. Once ripe store in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. The peel may turn brown in the refrigerator, but the fruit will not change.

Recipes

If you love bananas, Eating Well has a collection of Banana Recipes you are sure to enjoy.

Chiquita Banana The Original Commercial 

Produced by Disney Studios in the '40s, this commercial appeared only in movie theaters, and for over 50 years kept us humming its catchy tune.

DOLE Banana Growing and Planting
Dole explains the growing and planting of bananas.

Banana Farm

The banana farm at EARTH University uses socially and environmentally responsible practices at every stage of the process. The farm plants trees along river banks to promote biodiversity and reduce harmful erosion. In addition, they do not use herbicides. The farm's eco-friendly practices produce some of the most flavorful bananas in the world.

April, Parkinson's Awareness Month Nutrition and Parkinson's Disease

Nutrition and Parkinson's Disease Webinar

Kathrynne Holden is a registered dietitian who specializes in nutrition for Parkinson's disease (PD). Drawing on her former hospital experience, she has pioneered the understanding of the unique nutrition needs of people with Parkinson's. Her aim is to provide the knowledge needed to prevent nutrition-related hospitalizations, make the best use of PD medications, and maintain an independent lifestyle.

“Some Parkinson medications can cause edema
(a build-up of fluid in the tissues,
often in the ankles, lower legs, and wrists).
If you have edema, it’s important to get plenty
of potassium in the diet,
avoid too much salt and highly-processed
foods (potato chips, canned soups, pickles for example),
and stay in close touch with your physician.”

- Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD

Kathrynne Holden has written books and articles for the public, produced and has authored the professional's manual "PARKINSON'S DISEASE: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy." She has also developed the first nutrition risk assessment tool specific to PD. Kathrynne regularly speaks at Parkinson's symposiums and conferences and has conducted presentations in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Research. Gerald C. McIntosh, M.D., Kathrynne E. Holden, M.S., R.D.: Risk for malnutrition and bone fracture in Parkinson's disease: a pilot study. Journal of Nutrition for the Elderly. Spring 1999; Vol. 18, No. 3.

Abstract. Conditions relating to Parkinson's disease include tremors, impaired balance, falls, constipation, food-medication interactions, and anorexia. Weight loss, bone thinning, and muscle wasting are common, raising the risk for malnutrition and bone fracture. This pilot study examines the lifestyle and dietary choices of 24 Parkinson's patients. Unplanned weight loss and falls were common, and most had multiple risk factors for malnutrition and fracture. Results support findings in previous studies and call for early nutrition intervention to help prevent fractures, muscle wasting, bowel impaction, and dehydration. The findings indicate that such intervention could prevent hospitalizations and related costs.

Review of the literature on

Nutrition and Parkinson's Disease

There is no special diet for people with Parkinson's disease. The nutritional goals include:

• Eat well-balanced meals.
• Consume adequate calories to maintain body weight within a normal range.
• Minimize food and drug interactions.
• If chewing, choking or excessive coughing becomes a problem, provide food consistency easily tolerated.
• Feeding may become difficult and a referral to an occupational therapist may be necessary for adaptive eating utensils.

Eat Well-Balanced Meals

Eat a variety of foods. Include foods rich in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, bran, cereals, rice, and pasta. Limit intake of salt, sugar, and foods high in saturated fats and cholesterol. Drink eight cups of water per day. Balance exercise and food in order to maintain your weight within a healthy range. Ask your doctor if alcohol will interfere with any of your medications.

Medication and Food Interactions

Medication used to treat Parkinson's disease may cause nausea. Let your doctor know if nausea is a problem. There are several ways to control nausea, including:

• Drink clear liquids, such as water, broth, fruit juices without pulp (apple juice, grape juice or cranberry juice), Clear sodas, sports drinks, and plain gelatin.
• Avoid juices with pulp and orange and grapefruit juices.
• Eat and drink slowly.
• Beverages should be consumed between meals, not with the meal.
• Choose bland foods such as saltine crackers. Avoid greasy and fried foods.
• Eat smaller meals, more frequently throughout the day.
• Foods should be eaten cold or at room temperature.
• After eating keep your head elevated and avoid brushing your teeth.

Some medications for Parkinson's disease may cause thirst or dry mouth. Include 8 or more cups of liquid each day, unless other medical conditions require you to limit your fluid intake. Add sauces to foods to make them moister. Try sour candy or an ice pop to help increase saliva.

Malnutrition may become a problem for a person diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. This could be related to depression, nausea, difficulty feeding, problems with swallowing, chewing, coughing, and/or a loss of interest in food.

Patients who experience swallowing difficulties should consult a physician. The doctor may recommend a swallow study to determine the food consistency best tolerated. If feeding becomes difficult, a referral to an occupational therapist may be necessary for adaptive eating utensils.

The Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) is a leading national presence in Parkinson's disease research, education, and public advocacy. PDF is working for nearly one million people in the US who live with Parkinson's by funding promising scientific research and supporting people with Parkinson's, their families, and caregivers through educational programs and support services. Since its founding in 1957, PDF has funded over $85 million worth of scientific research in Parkinson's disease, supporting the work of leading scientists throughout the world.

Click the following link to learn more about Parkinson's Awareness Month.

Tomato Tales: From Garden to Table

Tomato Tales: From Garden to Table

Florida Tomatoes - So Delicious

Ten Health Benefits of Tomatoes
1. Tomatoes are the most concentrated food source of lycopene. Lycopene is an antioxidant that may play a role in preventing and treating some cancers, such as colon, prostate, breast, lung, and pancreatic cancers.

2. Tomatoes are low in calories. One medium-sized tomato (about five ounces) has 25 calories, making it a great snack in a weight control program.

3. Tomatoes are high in Vitamin C. One cup tomato provides about 78 percent of the daily value (DV)1. Consuming foods rich in vitamin C helps the body resist infection and heal wounds.

4. Tomatoes are a good source of fiber. One cup of diced tomatoes provides 7.9 percent of the DV for fiber. Studies show fiber may lower high blood cholesterol levels, aid in maintaining stable blood sugar levels and help an individual feel full longer.

5. One cup of tomatoes contains 22.4 percent of the DV for vitamin A. Vitamin A plays an important role in vision and night blindness.

6. Tomatoes are a good source of potassium (11.4% DV per one cup). Research indicates diets high in potassium can reduce the risk of heart disease and hypertension.

7. Tomatoes enhance the flavor and color of meals, making food more appealing.

8. Tomatoes contain chromium, a mineral associated with helping people with diabetes control their blood sugar levels.

9. Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, is found in tomatoes. One cup of tomatoes provides 5.1 percent of the DV for riboflavin. Studies on riboflavin show that it may prevent migraines.

10. Tomatoes are a source of folate (6.8% DV per one cup). Folate has been shown to reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease, and neurological defects in the fetus.

11. The Daily Value (DV) of foods comes from the Reference Daily Intake or Recommended Daily Intake (RDI). DV provides a frame of reference for evaluating the nutrients consumed.

Tomato Wellness – Snacks

Are you looking for some ideas of affordable, healthy snacks, that you can make out of products you already have in your cupboard? Corinne Dobbas, MS, RD stops in to show us some great easy treats that will keep your body nourished and provide you some great disease-fighting dishes that everyone will enjoy!

Growing Tomatoes


Recipes

Yellow Squash with Tomatoes 

John Denver sings about "Homegrown Tomatoes"
and includes suggestions on
How do you use them in your favorite recipes?

Mini Pizza with Spinach, Diced Tomato, Onions,
Butternut Squash, Blue Cheese, Oregano, Scallions

From Our Garden

 Gazpacho

Tabouli Salad with Grape Tomatoes and String Beans.
Canon EOS T3i; f/5.6; expt 1/25 sec; ISO 3200;
focal length 47 mm; artificial light;
78 calories/servings

Resources
Florida Tomatoes

Charlie the Tuna Day

Charlie the Tuna Day

Charlie the Tuna is the cartoon mascot and spokes-tuna for the StarKist brand. He was created in 1961 by Tom Rogers. 

Recipe: Tuna Wrap with tri-color peppers, green onions, spinach, and light mayonnaise (can substitute with your favorite mustard). Tied with chives. Serve on side zucchini, orange sections, and blueberries.

1983 Classic Star-Kist Charlie the Tuna Commercial