Only days after Michelle Obama unveiled the government's new "food pyramid that isn't a food pyramid anymore" encouraging us to eat more salads, news reports from Europe are filled with nightmarish stories of people who are dying or are seriously ill...because they ate salads.
So far, over 2000 people have been infected, and at least 22 killed, by a deadly new strain of E. coli which has contaminated vegetables. Victims have suffered kidney failure as well as intestinal hemmorhaging and bloody diarrhea (as the English say). Although the exact source isn't yet known, officials are very suspicious of bean sprouts, cucumbers, lettuce, and tomatoes. As are most 5 year olds.
All of which goes to show that even when we try to do the right thing, nutritionally or otherwise, there are no guaranteed outcomes. We live in a dangerous and imperfect world... and not even a nanny-state government promising to making all outcomes "fair" will change that.
For now, this particular E. coli outbreak has not reached the United States, and we certainly hope that remains the case. But just to be on the safe side, give those fruits and veggies an extra rinse before putting them on your table.
And as the first lady reminds us, always remember to scrub your yams.
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I yam what I yam.
ReplyDeleteI've always thought the benefits of eating vegetables were overstated (except potatoes...steak without potatoes is like a day without sunshine). Not that many nutrients and mostly fiber in those awful green things. You could probably do as well eating leaves and tree bark. Just watch out for Dutch Elm disease. Oh, and don't worry about the termites. All protein, baby.
ReplyDeleteThey may have traced the killer bean sprouts to an organic farm in Germany with the perfect warm moist growing conditions for dangerous bacteria. Could pesticides have prevented this? They now have to eat their herring sandwiches plain in Hamburg.
ReplyDeleteORGANIC sprouts (many varieties from a single farm) are now thought to be the culprit. No doubt caused by whatever they were using as their ORGANIC fertilizer.
ReplyDeleteAs I posted yesterday: Eat healthy. Exercise. Die anyway.
BTW: rinsing will not get rid of e-coli (it sticks to the produce surface right nicely), only cooking to an appropriate (high) temp. And who cooks sprouts?
Just wait until carbon taxes and regulations make Chinese produce cheaper than domestic foods, and we'll be seeing more of this too.
ReplyDeleteFYI: The current E-Coli epidemic is also rampant in Mexico, where most of our winter veggies come from. I understand that a lot of people there have died also. That's pretty close to the U.S. of A.
ReplyDeleteDrudge just posted a link where Berlin says the organic bean sprouts are not the source of the outbreak. I didn't read it yet. Now I will.
ReplyDeleteChuck, depends on the sprouts - mung beans stir fry VERY nicely. Alfalfa (the wispy ones often used on salads / sandwiches, no not so much.
ReplyDeleteJohn, the concept of Chinese (imported) food scares the hell out of me. I'd MUCH rather import oil, and eat corn, than convert corn to fuel (at a horrific cost) and import food... Just ask all those dogs poisoned by Chinese imports...
@Readers- As Earl pointed out, the previously suspect bean sprouts are now thought not to be the culprits. To keep America safe, Janet Napolitano has offered to have the TSA help screen all food entering the country - although she refuses to restrict her searches to only vegetables (which are responsible for all of the deaths) because that would be "profiling."
ReplyDeleteOk this whole food thing really pisses me off. First not everyone can eat the same things as everyone else. I am on dialysis which translates to a low sodium, low calcium (Dairy), low potassium (Potatoes, Tomatoes) Low Phosphorus (Peanuts, Beans, Processed Foods) HIGH Protein (MEAT) diet. So if I follow the government's suggested meal plan; I don't have to worry so much about E.Coli the diet itself will work toward killing me. Also to make a comment toward some of yesterdays posts I also require because of my metabolism HUGE amounts of calories, no I'm not overweight at all I weigh 150 lbs but believe it or not because of the rest of my dietary restrictions candy, cookies and Twinkies are actually a good way for me to get the calories required without as much "Good Stuff" that I'm not supposed to eat. So any attempts by either the government or anyone else to control what I eat in view of a normal person is meaningless for me
ReplyDeleteI use a lot of bulk, peeled garlic, and note that it all comes from China these days. So far, no e. coli - but those in the orient are famous for using the a certain, er, "substance" as fertilizer for their produce. And it ain't the bovine variety of this particulr extrusion, either...
ReplyDeleteWhether or not the "organic" bean sprouts are to blame, the whole "organic" craze just baffles me - the companies foisting "organic" vegetables on you are no less (and perhaps mores..) profit-hungry than those that aren't, and are bound to take certain "shortcuts" to enhance their profitability - wasn't one organic produce purveyor recently charged with using chemical pesticides, fertilizers et al, and simply relabling their produce as "organic" to get the extra money? Company's CEO will probably end up in congress...
And as all the feminazis enjoin the gummint to stay out of their bedrooms, let me be the first culinarian to invite them to get the f$%^ out of my kitchen. (And I thank God every day that I do not live in the Soviet Union of Food on the east coast that that jackass Bloomberg and his ilk have set up...)
Dave, sorry for your condition, glad you seem to have a plan to cope. Further proof that 'on size fits all' solutions aren't.
ReplyDeleteEmentaler Limburgher - you clearly forget that when the G'vt is paying for your health care, your health *is* their business. That especially includes "proper" diet and exercise. Get used to it.
@Dave, do you eat Choc-O-Diles too? I accidentally discovered them a few years back. A Twinkie dipped in chocolate sounds almost scary and I almost hate to admit it, but I totally love the things!
ReplyDeleteThe strain of E-Coli O104:H21 is a very nasty Shiga Toxin E-Coli (STEC) strain. Not all strains of E-Coli are pathogens, nor are they all dangerous to humans. The common strain seen here in the US is E-Coli O157:H7, which grows in the digestive system of cattle.
ReplyDeleteThe common characteristic of E-Coli organisms is that they are thermally and pH sensitive. In the meat industry, these strains are killed with hot water pasteurization, and with organic acid sprays. Organic acids include lactic acid, which naturally is found in muscle tissue; and acetic acid, which is found in vinegar.
The best way you can protect yourself is to cook your food properly, and use safe food handling procedures to prevent cross-contamination.
@Dave- Good point; one size does NOT fit all - making the government's ongoing desire to squeeze nutrition requirements into a single colorful cartoon all the more idiotic.
ReplyDelete@Ementaler- The Chinese fertilizer you're referring to is charmingly called "Night Soil," and is a mixture of human excrement and urine. Bon Appetit!
@Pete(Detroit)- You're correct in assuming that once the government has responsibility for our health care, we will be required to adhere to their dietary guidelines. Unless, of course, you're a registered Democrat - in which case you'll get an "Obama Weight Waiver."
@JustAJeepGuy- Choc-o-Diles sound so dangerously delicious that I'm just going to pretend they're Twinkies grown in Night Soil.
@Bruce in KC- Thanks for the actual useful information. Despite the jokes, food safety is a hugely important issue...and yet another area in which seems like we're losing ground.
Like every outbreak in recent years, this e. coli scourge can be traced to an organic farm. Why? Because, for all the high-sounding rhetoric about organic farming, it comes down to one thing: using manure for fertilizer. That's right, I said "manure" -- or for the less pompous, "sh*t". Typically from cows or sheep or pigs. Rich in minerals, it's also rich in bacteria. Such as e. coli.
ReplyDeleteJust remember that the next time you see the word "organic" on the menu at the restaurant.
@Jeff H- And let's not forget that E.coli is 100% organic! It's amazing how many people equate the word "organic" with "safe" - ignoring the fact that the nature is jampacked with "organic" ways to kill us.
ReplyDelete@Stilton, great point, and often overlooked. E.Coli, typhoid, cholera, Ebola, syphilis, polio, HIV--all 100% organic fellow travelers here on Mother Gaia.
ReplyDeleteThere's a huge security vulnerability in how dependent we have become (and only recently) on imported essential food staples from countries that are Third World (Mexico, Central America) at best and arch enemies (China) at worst. In 1941 we were self-sufficient in food production, and as late as the 70s-80s much of the contents in a supermarket (dairy, meat, produce) came from 50 miles away or less. Now we get perishable produce from China. Insane.
Twinkies are sounding safer all the time...haha...and remember that guy a few months ago who went on the snack cake diet to prove you could eat junk food and lose weight? Not that he was saying it was healthy...he was just making a point that being fat doesn't mean we can't eat sweets, it just that everything is portion control....also, activity level...calories in, calories out....
ReplyDeletePropaganda says that diet is a big part of health.
ReplyDeleteObamessiah desires control of every aspect of health care.
Stand by for rationing. Those of us with differing dietary needs or food allergies will just have to die off for the betterment of the whole.
I can't wait for black market cheeseburgers.
But whatever else you eat ... no Weiner's.
ReplyDeleteI just watched his "apology".
Isn’t it great that he doesn't see a lack of character as a reason to resign? You can't violate ethics when you have none, I guess.
He "takes full responsibility", BUT he sees no need for any repercussions. Glad his poor wife wasn't standing beside him. What are the odds that by Friday, he'll be well on his way to being single again?
I'm not proud of myself for being pleased at his fall ... but Weiner has shown himself to be such an arrogant self-absorbed jerk for so long, there is a certain justice here. If his political career is able to continue then we have no national moral compass left.
ReplyDeleteChuck, compared to the down right CRIMINALS we have in congress (Charlie Rangle, John Conyers jump to mind - I'd bring up Dan Rostenkowski, but he was actually forced to retire) Tony's Weiner is nothing...
ReplyDeleteAww, now, remember--the Congressman is really only Hillary's "special friend's" beard. Neither of them expects him to actually "engage in the practice of marriage" with Huma, you know... or so I have read somewhere on the Internet. So it MUST be true!
ReplyDelete@Readers- Anthony Weiner is such an annoying scumbag that I'm happy to see anything that takes him down. And frankly, I think his wife Huma looks like Weiner in drag.
ReplyDeleteI try my best not to wish ill on anyone...but there's certainly no reason not to enjoy it when they bring it on themselves!
I must admit - if I had a chest that looked that good, I'd be posting on the interwebs too...
ReplyDeleteThen again, I'm NOT in congress, OR married...
And, personally, I'm inclined to keep my flabby moobs to myself.. well, at least not share 'em to the world..