In 2017, live poultry was responsible for 10 Salmonella outbreaks in the United States, sickening more than 1,100 people across 48 states and killing one.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns individuals that contact with live poultry or their environment can make people sick with Salmonella infections.  Live poultry can carry Salmonella bacteria while still appearing […]

Several recent stories in the news media have reintroduced questions related to two chemicals which may be in our food, especially perchlorate and BPA.  Perchlorate is a chemical used in fireworks, road flares, explosives, and rocket fuel.  It is also sometimes present in bleach and in some fertilizers.  Perchlorate forms naturally in the environment in small amounts.  Perchlorate […]

As we start a new year and look ahead to spring cleaning, there are three kitchen items that can help keep you and your family food-safe: 1. A digital thermometer.  A tip-sensitive digital thermometer will make checking the internal temperature of meat, soups, and casseroles accurate and easy.  These days, food thermometers aren’t just for your holiday roasts—they’re […]

There’s been almost an explosion of products available in the grocery store containing coconut oil and other coconut by-products.  Is coconut oil a healthy choice?  Coconut oil is a plant-based fat that is about 90% saturated, higher than butter or the fat associated with meats, and much higher than other plant-based fats such as olive oil […]

I am old enough that I heard the term “organic” defined in chemistry class long before the term was widely applied to food products.  So, what does it mean when a food product is “organic?”  A recent post by the American Council for Science and Health attempts to address some of the confusion. “Organic” may be one […]