A Food Favorite That May Be Dangerous
Colleen Murray
Issue date: 1/28/09 Section: Health
by COLLEEN MURRAY
Health Editor
Since September, there have been over 100 cases of food poisoning across the country from salmonella found in one popular food item: peanut butter.
The Federal Drug Administration has recalled popular cracker brands such as Austin Quality Foods, Keebler, Little Debbie, and ShopRite. Other brands of popular snack items are also listed on the agency's website.
On Jan. 17, government officials issued an announcement warning consumers to "avoid eating cookies, cakes, ice cream and other foods containing peanut butter until health officials learned more about the contamination," MSNBC.com reported.
While the government is trying to figure out who is responsible and which products are safe, here are some facts about food poisoning, its effects, and how to keep yourself from getting sick.
There are about six to eight million deaths worldwide caused by food poisoning, and as MSNBC reported, there have been seven deaths related to the current salmonella outbreak. Some common illness-causing bacteria are E. Coli and Staphylococcus.
The symptoms of food poisoning are similar to other illnesses. Symptoms include headache, throwing up, fever, cramps, and general weakness. A doctor diagnoses it usually after other causes have been ruled out. Occasionally, tests such as lumber punctures, which consists of taking a small amount of fluid from the spine, are necessary.
According to University Health Care, there has never been a confirmed case of food poisoning on campus.
"We've had some suspected cases" one nurse commented. "However; the students never came back with items to be tested."
Treatment is quite simple for the most common types. Patients must drink water or electrolyte beverages to avoid becoming dehydrated. Usually, people recover quickly. However, some types can be fatal if not treated properly.
In order to avoid getting sick, it is important to follow safety precautions. Always clean dishes and items you plan to use before cooking with them. Do not use the same objects for raw and cooked meat without washing it first. If cans are broken, or out of date, throw the items away. Do not eat anything that has expired, does not look, or smell right. It is also important to heed the advice of the government, which is to avoid peanut butter snacks or other potentially dangerous foods for the time being.
Colleen Murray can be reached at cm30943n@pace.edu
Health Editor
Since September, there have been over 100 cases of food poisoning across the country from salmonella found in one popular food item: peanut butter.
The Federal Drug Administration has recalled popular cracker brands such as Austin Quality Foods, Keebler, Little Debbie, and ShopRite. Other brands of popular snack items are also listed on the agency's website.
On Jan. 17, government officials issued an announcement warning consumers to "avoid eating cookies, cakes, ice cream and other foods containing peanut butter until health officials learned more about the contamination," MSNBC.com reported.
While the government is trying to figure out who is responsible and which products are safe, here are some facts about food poisoning, its effects, and how to keep yourself from getting sick.
There are about six to eight million deaths worldwide caused by food poisoning, and as MSNBC reported, there have been seven deaths related to the current salmonella outbreak. Some common illness-causing bacteria are E. Coli and Staphylococcus.
The symptoms of food poisoning are similar to other illnesses. Symptoms include headache, throwing up, fever, cramps, and general weakness. A doctor diagnoses it usually after other causes have been ruled out. Occasionally, tests such as lumber punctures, which consists of taking a small amount of fluid from the spine, are necessary.
According to University Health Care, there has never been a confirmed case of food poisoning on campus.
"We've had some suspected cases" one nurse commented. "However; the students never came back with items to be tested."
Treatment is quite simple for the most common types. Patients must drink water or electrolyte beverages to avoid becoming dehydrated. Usually, people recover quickly. However, some types can be fatal if not treated properly.
In order to avoid getting sick, it is important to follow safety precautions. Always clean dishes and items you plan to use before cooking with them. Do not use the same objects for raw and cooked meat without washing it first. If cans are broken, or out of date, throw the items away. Do not eat anything that has expired, does not look, or smell right. It is also important to heed the advice of the government, which is to avoid peanut butter snacks or other potentially dangerous foods for the time being.
Colleen Murray can be reached at cm30943n@pace.edu
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