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PubMed1975

Natural toxicants in foods.

Food constitutes the most complex part of our chemical environment. Naturally occurring substances in food, such as goitrogens and estrogens, are toxicants. However, there is a difference of degree between toxicity and hazard, and the hazard to man in normal good health from naturally occurring toxicants in food is usually slight, because of (a) the small concentrations and (b) antagonistic interactions between toxicants which provide "safety in numbers." Hazard from foods may indeed exist under some circumstances, such as the presence of abnormal contaminants, ingestion of abnormal amounts, or abnormal susceptibility existing in some disease states. However, the major hazards of the dinner table can ordinarily be ascribed to careless food handling, unbalanced or fad diets, or overeating.

Estrogens↗
PubMed2002

Foodborne illness: new developments concerning an old problem.

Foodborne illnesses continue to cause substantial morbidity and mortality in the United States, primarily as gastroenteritis but occasionally as other syndromes as well. Most of these illnesses are caused by a variety of widely known infectious agents, principally viruses, and are probably the result of common mistakes in food handling in the home or in restaurants. The epidemiology of foodborne illness is evolving. Major changes in food production, distribution, and consumption have created opportunities for new pathogens to emerge and for old ones to reemerge, and the potential for widespread outbreaks is increasing. Antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens resulting from the widespread use of antimicrobial agents in animal husbandry is also an important concern. Clinicians must be aware of the changing epidemiology of foodborne illness to recognize and manage these conditions in the clinical setting. In addition, clinicians are critical in the reporting of recognized or suspected foodborne illness, so that public health authorities are able to investigate, understand, and ultimately better control them. A number of new techniques have been employed, and others under development will improve our ability to recognize and cope with foodborne diseases.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed2000

A review of the nutritional needs of Meals on Wheels consumers and factors associated with the provision of an effective meals on wheels service-an Australian perspective.

OBJECTIVE: A review of the literature was undertaken to identify the nutritional needs of elderly MOW consumers and factors affecting the ability of existing programs to meet those needs. The focus was on the Australian experience but drawing on the world literature. DESIGN: Keyword search of English language based computer databases of the medical and health literature. RESULTS: Several studies suggest the nutritional intake of MOW consumers is below recommended levels, although the risk of nutritional deficiency has not always been identified. The literature indicates the effectiveness of Meals on Wheels programs are affected by a range of issues including the appropriateness of nutritional standards, menu selection, portion control, level of consumption and customer satisfaction. The literature recommends control of time and temperatures associated with food handling procedures, along with education of providers and customers, to assist in the provision of a safe food supply. CONCLUSIONS: Meals on Wheels is an important service, providing meals to housebound consumers. While the effectiveness of such programs is dependent on a range of variables, the nutritional impact of the service and the standard of food hygiene are fundamental assessment criteria. SPONSORSHIP: This work was supported by a grant from the NSW Meals on Wheels Association, Australia. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 275-280

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Sporadic Campylobacter jejuni infections in Hawaii: associations with prior antibiotic use and commercially prepared chicken.

Campylobacter is the most common cause of bacterial foodborne illness in the United States, and Hawaii has the highest rate of Campylobacter jejuni infections in the nation. A case-control study was conducted to determine indigenous exposures that contribute to the high incidence of sporadic C. jejuni infection in Hawaii. A total of 211 case patients with diarrhea and confirmed Campylobacter infection was enrolled, along with 1 age- and telephone exchange-matched control subject for each patient. Participants were interviewed about illness, medicines, food consumption, food-handling practices, and exposure to animals. In matched logistic regression analyses, eating chicken prepared by a commercial food establishment in the 7 days before case illness onset (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.8; P=.03) and consuming antibiotics during the 28 days before illness onset (AOR, 3.3; P=.03) were significant independent predictors of illness. Further study of the association of Campylobacter illness with commercially prepared chicken and prior antibiotic use is needed.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Changes in children's exposure as a function of age and the relevance of age definitions for exposure and health risk assessment.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to review and synthesize the existing exposure information available to support the characterization and estimation of children's environmental health risks as a function of age. METHOD: This includes a review of the existing peer-reviewed literature and reports from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) up through January 1, 2003 for information about exposure data for American children with a focus on identifying the age categories used and data gaps that limit our ability to estimate children's risks from exposure to environmental hazards. RESULTS: On the basis of this synthesis, several key data gaps emerge that suggest some areas in which exposure assessors may want to focus attention, including current breast milk consumption by infants and breastfeeding information for children over age 1 year; children's food-handling practices and how these lead to exposure (eg, by eating with dirty hands or by eating food that has dropped onto a contaminated surface); fish-intake rates for young children and for children whose families include sport fishers or whose families rely on self-caught fish for sustenance; incidental and intentional soil intake by children; soil adherence for dermal exposure; relationships between various microactivities, macroactivities, and microenvironments where children spend time; and a correlation between exposure factors and growth (ie, how children's exposure behaviors change over time). In contrast, relatively good exposure information exists for characterizing children's growth and water ingestion, and at least some exposure information exists for the wide ranges of exposures of regulatory interest. CONCLUSION: Given the currently available data, exposure assessors can estimate children's potential health risks from a number of different types of exposure, but longitudinal data are needed to reduce the significant uncertainties that arise from reliance on currently available data, and a number of dose-response challenges remain.

Aging↗
PubMed2004

OzFoodNet: enhancing foodborne disease surveillance across Australia: quarterly report, April to June 2004.

Salmonella incidence was increased during the quarter, similar to the first quarter of 2004. There were several outbreaks of different phage types of S. Typhimurium occurring in multiple Australian states. OzFoodNet held several discussions during the quarter to try to identify links between these increases. In total, Salmonella infections were responsible for 32 per cent of foodborne outbreaks. Large norovirus outbreaks were reported in association with food service industries where people had worked while ill. It is vital that people responsible for preparing and handling food do not work while they have symptoms of gastroenteritis, as the results can be devastating for food businesses. Imported Japanese oysters were again implicated in an outbreak of suspected viral illness, highlighting the need for improved control measures for these products.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Food poisoning by scombroid fish (tuna) in a communal dining room of a company].

We report a collective tuna fish poisoning which developed on June 10, 1988, in a staff dining room in Castellón. Twenty-one people were involved (attack rate 42.9%). The major symptoms were diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, facial flushing and oral burning. The mean duration of the symptoms was 15 hours. The ingestion of tuna fish was significantly associated with the illness (p less than 0.001) when the other foodstuffs were controlled. Tuna fish had been defrosted at room air temperature during 14 hours. The analysis of several foodstuffs (there were no tuna fish remains available) and the food handling staff did not disclose pathogens. We discuss the etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology and control of this type of food poisoning.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Occupational skin diseases in national servicemen and military personnel in Singapore, 1989-1999.

This is a study of occupational skin disease among military personnel and conscripts in Singapore. All military personnel and conscripts diagnosed with occupational dermatoses in the National Skin Centre, Singapore, between 1989-1999 were studied retrospectively. Conscripts and regulars comprised 7.3% of all occupational skin disease patients seen. All were male, with a mean age of 23 years. Irritant contact dermatitis was more common than allergic contact dermatitis, by 4.4:1. The most common vocations associated with occupational skin diseases are those involving vehicle repairs and maintenance (48%) and food handling (19%). The most common irritants were oil/grease (66%), wet work (23%) and solvents (18%). The most common allergens were food (40%) and chromates (20%). Military personnel and conscripts make up a significant proportion of occupational skin disease patients seen in Singapore.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Atopic contact dermatitis.

Contact urticaria appears either as wheal and flare reactions or as dermatitis resembling other types of contact dermatitis. A nonimmunologic form of contact urticaria is seen more frequently than the allergic form of the disease in experimental conditions. However, the immunologic form of contact urticaria is clinically more important. It is often seen in atopic persons working in the food industry or in kitchens. We can prevent many cases of occupational anaphylactic hand eczema by choosing proper jobs for atopic persons. Especially handling food seems to produce hypersensitivity reactions in atopic more frequently than in nonatopic persons.

Allergens↗
PubMed1995

Escherichia coli O157:H7: clinical, diagnostic, and epidemiological aspects of human infection.

E. coli O157:H7 is one of many E. coli organisms that contain genes encoding one or more toxins similar in structure and function to Shiga toxin. E. coli O157:H7 is the most frequently isolated diarrheagenic type of E. coli isolated in North America today; this pathogen can cause serious, even fatal disease. Syndromes caused by E. coli O157:H7 include diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and HUS. Poorly cooked ground beef has been the most frequently implicated vehicle of transmission, but additional vehicles are being identified. Treatment consists of rehydration during hemorrhagic colitis and support of the patient during the multiple systemic complications of HUS. A policy of routine screening for E. coli O157:H7 in clinical microbiology laboratories, without reliance on the physician to request that this organism be sought or the technician to notice blood in the stool, is the most effective way to find cases. Timely and accurate diagnosis can prevent secondary transmission, avert unnecessary and possibly dangerous procedures and/or therapies, and detect continuing outbreaks. SLTEC strains other than E. coli O157:H7 may cause diseases similar to or less severe than those caused by E. coli O157:H7. At present, however, screening for such pathogens in clinical laboratories is too labor-intensive to be practical. Education and legislation should promote safe food-preparation and food-handling practices. Research should be directed at reducing the carriage of E. coli O157:H7 at its bovine source, minimizing the microbial content of food and water, and averting systemic microangiopathic hemolytic anemia after infection with this pathogen.

Colitis↗
PubMed1990

Management of institutional outbreaks of Salmonella gastroenteritis.

The number of reports of outbreaks of salmonella gastroenteritis in hospitals has decreased since 1984 but the number of outbreaks in institutions such as old peoples' homes have increased during 1988. Foods, particularly chickens, remain a source of salmonellae and particular attention has to be paid to training and practices in food preparation areas. Staff who are convalescent are very unlikely to be sources of salmonella and do not need to be excluded unless they handle food that receives no further cooking. Outbreaks that do occur can usually be controlled by patient isolation and good control-of-infection measures and an effective Major Outbreak Control Plan is necessary. In some large old hospitals cross infection outbreaks may continue despite good control-of-infection measures. Antibiotics have been contraindicated in the treatment of salmonella gastroenteritis, but the new 4-quinolone antibiotics have demonstrated potential. Ciprofloxacin was used successfully in two outbreaks of salmonella gastroenteritis at a dose of 500 mg bd orally for seven days. Relapses did not occur and resistance did not develop. Ciprofloxacin should be considered as a therapeutic adjunct to control of infection measures in cross infection outbreaks in these situations.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Nutritional, psychological and social aspects of mothers of malnourished children].

Mothers of malnourished children were evaluated by psychologist, nutritionist, social worker and pediatrician with the objective of verifying in which ways the psychological, social and nutritional aspects interact. All mothers were from the low socioeconomic level, with extremely low family incomes, lower school levels were predominant,with 57.6% up to 4 years of formal education; 27.3% of the mothers were single, 48.5% single with male partners, 18.2% married and 6% separated. Main personality traits found: immaturity, difficulties in relationships, low self-regard, feelings of insufficiency/inferiority, aggressiveness. The intellectual level was average or below average in 82.6%. Concerning food preparation,we observed that 80% were disorganized and showed poor hygiene, 64% did not show interest, 77% wasted foodstuffs, 61.9% were insecure in handling foods and 37% prepared foods with inadequate aspect and consistency. Results confirm that social aspects effectively are a risk factor for malnutrition in families from the low socioeconomic level. Other aspects are also very relevant, since certain characteristics of the mothers personality disturb her performance and determine external disorder and absence of interest during preparation of meals, an activity directly related to child care.

English Abstract↗
PubMed2000

Recommendations for handling of mother's own milk.

Often, mothers must express their milk so it can be fed to their babies in their absence or at a later time. Research has shown that human milk is remarkably resilient as long as good food-handling techniques are used. There are some measures that can be taken to optimize both the nutritional value and the immunologic protection if the milk is to be fed to a preterm or sick infant rather than to a healthy baby who is primarily breastfeeding. Keeping milk-handling and storage instructions simple and clear can encourage a mother to provide milk for her baby when she cannot breastfeed.

Cryopreservation↗
PubMed2004

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathway in solitary nucleus mediates cholecystokinin-induced suppression of food intake in rats.

Increased food intake is a major factor in the development of obesity, and the control of meal size is a valid approach to reduce food intake in humans. Meal termination, or satiety, is thought to be organized within the caudal brainstem where direct signals from the food handling alimentary canal and long-term signals from the forebrain converge in the solitary nucleus. Cholecystokinin (CCK) released from the gut after ingestion of food has been strongly implicated in nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS)-mediated satiation, but the exact cellular and intracellular signaling events are not understood. Using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry with phosphospecific antibodies, we demonstrate here that peripheral administration of CCK in rats leads to rapid activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling cascade in NTS neurons and that blockade of ERK signaling with microinfusion of a selective mitogen-activated ERK kinase inhibitor into the fourth ventricle attenuates the capacity of CCK to suppress food intake. In addition, we show that CCK-induced activation of ERK results in phosphorylation of the voltage-dependent potassium channel Kv4.2 and the nuclear transcription factor CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein). The results demonstrate that ERK signaling is necessary for exogenous CCK to suppress food intake in deprived rats and suggest that this pathway may also be involved in natural satiation and the period of satiety between meals through coupling of ERK activation to both cytosolic and nuclear effector mechanisms that have the potential to confer acute and long-term changes in neuronal functioning.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Outbreak of Shigella flexneri linked to salad prepared at a central commissary in Michigan.

In August 1992, the Michigan Department of Public Health was notified of a cluster of persons with Shigella flexneri infections, all of whom had eaten at different outlets of a single restaurant chain. The chain prepared many foods at a central kitchen. A matched case-control study to determine risk factors for illness among patrons of the restaurant chain was undertaken. An inspection of the commissary and a review of commissary inspection and employee records were conducted. Of the 46 patients identified, 44 had eaten tossed salad versus 33 of the 71 controls (matched odds ratio = 56.9; 95 percent confidence interval 5.0, 648.1). Improper salad preparation techniques were used, and the salad preparation area had not been inspected in several years. Some salad preparers had been ill shortly before the outbreak but continued to work. The greater use of central kitchens could lead to larger outbreaks of illness related to improper food handling. Raw vegetables are a potential vehicle for transmission of shigellosis. Coordination of all agencies responsible for inspecting commissaries should be assured. Assuring restriction of ill food handlers will require management to take an active role in identification of ill employees and in the development of incentives to report illness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Impairments and compensation in mouth and limb use in free feeding after unilateral dopamine depletions in a rat analog of human Parkinson's disease.

Rats depleted unilaterally of dopamine (DA) with the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) have contralateral sensorimotor deficits. These include pronounced impairments in using the contralateral limbs (bad limbs) for skilled movements in tests of reaching and bar pressing. There has been no systematic examination of the changes that take place in movements of spontaneous food handling. This was the purpose of the present study. Rats were filmed as they picked up and ate pieces of angel hair pasta (Capelli d'Angelo), a food item that challenges the rats to use delicate and bilaterally coordinated limb and paw movements. Control rats picked up the food with their incisors, transferred it to their paws, and manipulated it using a variety of bilaterally coordinated limb and paw movements. The DA-depleted rats were impaired in both their mouth and paw movements. They seemed unable to use their teeth to grasp the food and so used their tongue. They did not use the bad side of their mouth to chew and relied upon the good side of their mouth. The bad paw was impaired in grasping the food, grasped only with a whole paw grip, did not make manipulatory movements, and did not open to release the food or open to regain support once the food was eaten. Although the rats improved over a 30-day recovery period, much of the improvement was due to compensatory adjustments. That unilateral DA-depletion results in profound contralateral impairments of the mouth and limb with improvements due mainly to compensatory adjustments confirms a role for dopaminergic systems in motor control. Additionally, the behavioral tests described here could provide important adjuncts for assessing therapies in this animal analog of human Parkinson's disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Identification of foreign matter in foods.

It is the purpose of this paper to review and illustrate recent, pertinent, advances in detection methods for those food particle contaminants that have potential as hazards to human health or that elevate the risk for product liability disputes. Sources for the contamination of the human food supply include extraneous particulates associated with raw materials, food handling and packaging processes, as well as extraneous filth from insects and rodents. Likewise, environmental particulates, either airborne or in liquid suspension, can be considered as potential food contaminants. Concern for the quality of human foods relates to the type and quantity of suspected contaminants. To reduce the risk of particle contaminations of all types in human food supplies and to insure high yields of safe, high quality products, industry safeguards include monitoring and identification of foreign matter. Supportive methodology has been developed to detect, separate and identify particle contaminants of many types. Microscopic contaminants are characterized using light microscopy, electron microscopy and allied techniques. Specific applications of these techniques are described in brief detail.

Asbestos↗