Salmonella in eggs...what you don't know!

Free Range or Bust!

Did you know that 1 in 6 Americans contract a food borne illness..that's.over 48 million people every year!

According to the CDC, there are 31 known food borne pathogens the most common deaths are from Salmonella, Toxoplasma, Listeria, and the norovirus…that's over 1,300 a year.  

Salmonella and eggs...what else is new?

No big surprise, we've heard this before... Salmonella is found on the outside and inside of eggs. To avoid exposure from the eggs, do not eat them or raw or cook eggs lightly. Hollandaise sauce, caeser salad dressing, cold souffles, chiffon  mousses, mayonnaise and contain raw eggs. Experts claim that less than 1% of the eggs tested contain Salmonella but it's possible it could be higher.

Buy eggs from a farmers market and ask questions and visit the farm (it's fun) so you can see how they treat the animals. If you don't have access to a farmers market, look for the Certified Humane label, Free Farmed, Certified Organic, cage-free, or free-range on the egg carton. Don't be fooled by the UEP Certified logo. 

Click here for a list of all egg farmers certified Humane.

Fresh eggs sinks and stale eggs float

 If you are wondering how salmonella is passed to the egg…it is stated in multiple findings that chickens carry the bacteria in their own bodies, and pass Salmonella to the yolk and white while the egg is forming in the ovaries. Chickens can be carriers for Salmonella without being sick themselves. Hens locked in cages are not safe and are more likely to contract diseases.

You can check if your egg is fresh by looking at the yolk or put the egg in a pan of plain water. If it sinks and rests horizontally, it's good. As the egg ages, the air cell gets bigger so it will either start to rise or float. Avoid eating old eggs.

Click here for Bad eggs: 10 ways to cut your salmonella risk

by Katy Green
www.shoptobegreen.com

Hubbub on Pink Slime? Go Organic and Save!

by Katy Green
www.shoptobegreen.com



The Daily
Jaime Oliver Pink Slime Demonstration

 What is the hullabaloo on the pink slime?

Every time I see an article on pink slime I am fearful of reading further...aggh.

Well, I forced myself to do the proper research so that no one else has to suffer. Of course, this means I have to dig deep and wade through tons of books...no I'm kidding. Either way, I pulled statements from multiple sources on pink slime to find out the truth.

The definition of "Pink Slime" is ammonia-treated beef trimmings lovingly known as "pink slime" which McDonald's has claimed to stop using in their burgers. according to the Consumerist.com and if you want to know how the pink slime is really made click on the link above for more ...if you recently ate... I suggest you wait.

According to ABC news investigation via Diane Sawyer (like her interviewing style) 70 percent of the ground beef we buy at the supermarket contains something he calls “pink slime.” - the "he" is Gerald Zirnstein former United States Department of Agriculture scientist) ...he is not blowing the whistle because he left the USDAit seems it's because he has a 2 year old son and he does not want his son eating the slime he goes to school according to the The Daily.

Well, I don't know if there will be a quick remedy to yet another tainted meat story... but one thing I can stress is eating lots of organic fruits and vegetables and purchasing locally is more critical than ever before because it seems corporations are willing to cut any corner to sell beef unsafe beef.

Bad Meat

Worse yet, this is not fair to anyone - especially families that can't afford healthier alternatives because of the expense which leads me to Shotobegreen Cheap Ways to Buy Organic Food:

FOOD COOP
CDI COOP

• Many say join a food coop so here is a link to Food Coop Directory -  Coop Directory Service - (CDS) is dedicated to the memory of Kris Olsen (1946-1998) and his life-long effort to introduce people to natural food co-ops and assist them in starting buying clubs. Click on your state and you find a Food Coop.
• Organic Comparison Shopping is also a great way to get the best for your earthy dollar. Organic Life seems to have a done a lot of homework on organic comparison shopping and they also list sites that offer organic food coupons.
• Community Gardens is another source of green produce and a garden may be near you and you don't even know it. Click here for a listing of Community Gardens near you.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of how to eat healthy and save on green organic produce for you and your family.