All about food safety

Calif. County Law Bans Toys in Unhealthy Kids’ Meals
No more toys in Californian happy meal boxes? A new county law in Santa Clara, California prohibits giving away incentive items such as toys with kiddie meals if the said meals do not meet the nutritional standard set by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The incentives supposedly make high-calorie, low-nutrient food more appealing to kids, thus contribute to the ongoing obesity problem.
The IOM report Food Marketing to Children and Youth: Threat or Opportunity? found in 2005 that marketing practices aimed at children — including bonus toys and giveaways — have put their health at risk by contributing to their consumption of high-calorie, low-nutrient food and beverages, and setting dangerous eating patterns that can extend their whole lives.

Salt to go: US fast food contains excessive levels of sodium
New York fast food contains lots of salt, according to a recent study. More than 50% of fast food chains in New York serve meals which exceed the recommended daily limit of 1500 mg. If only fried chicken outlets were to be considered, then the figure is up to 84%. Only 1 out of 36 meals tested met the US FDA recommendations of 600 mg.

According to Christine M. Johnson of the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Control Program, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene:
“This study extends analyses of the nutritional content of fast food from calorie to sodium content and shows that fast food is high in sodium as well as calories,”

FDA Offers Consumer Tips about Shopping at the Store on FoodSafety.gov
Check out FoodSafety.gov for tips about food safety. Last week’s blog post gave consumers tips on how to avoid foodborne illnesses. The seven tips are:

Consumers should:

• 1. Check for store cleanliness.
• 2. Separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood from other foods.
• 3. Inspect cans and jars for irregularities.
• 4. Inspect frozen food packaging for signs of damage or defrosting.
• 5. Add frozen foods and perishables last.
• 6. Choose fresh eggs carefully, eyeballing for cracks and cleanliness.
• 7. Be mindful of transport time and changing food temperatures.

Reportable Food Registry for Industry
Are you concerned about the safety of the food you buy/have bought? There is a registry for food products that may potentially cause serious adverse health problems.

Where Should Consumers, Food Retailers and Food Service Operators Report a Problem with Food?
In emergencies, consumers, food retailers and food service operators should continue to call FDA at 301-443-1240. For less urgent problems, contact the FDA consumer complaint coordinator³ in your geographic area or see Your Guide To Reporting Problems to FDA.