Author Archives: Kimberly Crocker

“Hold the garlic butter”, FDA warns, “Lobster’s contaminated”

NEWS

New Food Warning….

FDA is warning consumers to avoid eating tomalley in American lobster (also called Maine lobster), regardless of where the lobster was harvested, because of potential contamination with dangerous levels of the toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). These types of   lobster are harvested from the Atlantic Ocean from Northeastern Canada to South Carolina . The FDA advisory applies only to tomalley — the soft, green substance found in the body cavity of the lobster that functions as the liver and pancreas. Cooking does not eliminate the PSP toxins. 

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01866.html  

 

New Type of Genetic Test Approved for Breast Cancer Patients

FDA has approved a novel genetic test for determining whether patients with breast cancer are good candidates for treatment with the drug Herceptin (trastuzumab). The SPOT-Light HER2 CISH test kit measures the number of copies of the HER2 gene in tumor tissue. This gene regulates the growth of cancer cells.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01857.html 

 

FDA Requests Stronger Warnings on Fluoroquinolone Antimicrobial Drugs

FDA has notified makers of fluoroquinolone antimicrobial drugs that a “boxed warning“ in the product labeling concerning the increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture is necessary and a guide must be made available to patients that explains possible side effects. Fluoroquinolones are approved to treat or prevent certain bacterial infections.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01858.html

Pharmaceuticals Gets Flagged

Xiadafil VIP Tablets Seized After Company Refuses to Recall Product

U.S. marshals have seized nearly $74,000 worth of Xiadafil VIP tablets (lots 6K029 and 6K209-SEI) distributed by Florida-based SEI Pharmaceuticals Inc. Although this product is marketed as a dietary supplement to treat erectile dysfunction and for sexual enhancement, these lots represent an illegally marketed drug containing an undeclared ingredient.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01864.html 

Consumer Health Information

› Are You Storing Food Safely?

http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/foodstorage072108.html

› Making Sense of Vytorin Concerns

http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/vytorin071808.html

SAFETY ALERTS/RECALLS

  For a list of recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts involving FDA-regulated

products from the past 60 days, go to http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html. 

 

 

 

FDA Revises Process for Responding to Drug Applications

FDA is revising the way it communicates to drug companies when a marketing application cannot be approved as submitted. The agency will no longer issue “approvable” or “not approvable” letters when a drug application is not approved. Instead, it will issue a “complete response” letter that lets a company know the review period for a drug is complete and that the application is not yet ready for approval. The letter will describe deficiencies and, when possible, will outline recommended actions the applicant might take to get the application ready for approval.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01859.html</

Fast Food on your clock!

7 Tips, 7 Recipes under 7 minutes!

 

Operating under the daily stress of working outside or within the home or trying to get a decent meal to the table in minutes can seem impossible!   You can prepare a meal in less time than what it takes to call “Take Out” drive back and forth picking up the meal. 

Cooking a meal in less than 10 minutes requires having a few staples on your shopping list and placed into your pantry on a weekly basis: Olive oil, garlic, a couple of onions, capers, olives, canned legumes, pepper flakes, hummus. Dried fruits and Nuts. Dried or Fresh herbs: rosemary, parsley, cilantro, arugula, and basil.

Always begin by washing fruits and vegetables. Place produce into a large bowl filled with water and 2 tbsp baking soda.  Rotate them in the water and take them out as needed. 

 

  1. Vanilla yogurt with flaxseed, nuts or diced fruits make a quick snack or a great dip for fruits and vegetables.
  2. For sandwiches buy a multi gain baguette and switch things up by drizzling oil, pepper, oregano onto bread, then add arugula or cilantro in addition to your other toppings. 
  3. Keep boiled eggs in the refrigerator to combine with salads, sandwiches or as a snack.
  4. Fresh fruits add taste to your meals: cherries, grapes, apples, and apricots. Washed lemons and limes for water.
  5. Vegetables cook fast:  Asparagus, cherry / grape tomatoes, Olives, Mushrooms, sliced carrots, fresh beans.  Bag of lettuce, Cucumbers, Sliced fennel or Celery.
  6. Cheese favorites:  Parmesan or feta cheese
  7. Thinly sliced: Chicken, Sirloin Tip Fish fillet all can cook within 5 minutes!

 

Here are some great recipes that can be quickly brought together in less than 7 minutes. 

7 Easy Recipes under 7 minutes!  https://eatknowhow.wordpress.com/recipes/

7 Easy Recipes under 7 minutes!

Tuna Delight

 

1 6 oz can or bag of Tuna Fish

2 tbsp Hummus

1 tbsp Chopped Walnuts (optional)

5-8 diced Grapes

Drizzle Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients.  May be served on pita bread, baguette slices, or on side of salad.  Serves 2.

 

Mediterranean Salad

4 cups Pre-washed bag of Lettuce Chopped

1/2 can of Chick Peas rinsed and dried

8-10 Olives of choice

½ Cucumber diced

¼ c Arugula 

1 tbsp Feta Cheese

Salt and Pepper to taste

Drizzle Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar

 

Place all ingredients into bowl.  Gently toss ingredients together to combine. Serves 2-4 people.

 

 

Stuffed Tomato

Stuffed tomato's. Serve fresh or baked.

Minute Rice. Follow instructions on box  per serving.

1-4 large round Tomato  (Heirloom or Beefsteak)

Salad mix of choice (Egg, Tuna, Crab, Turkey, Ham)

Lettuce leaf or basil for presentation

 

Boil water for minute rice and follow box instructions. Meanwhile, Slice cap off top of tomato.  With a teaspoon remove pulp. Combine salad mix of choice with 1/4 cup of cooked rice. Spoon mixture into tomato. Serve on top of lettuce leaf.    

OPTIONAL: Heat oven to 400F.  For oven roasted tomato’s, follow instructions for stuffing. Place tomato’s in baking dish with 1 cup water and drizzle olive oil on tomato’s. Cover dish with aluminum foil, slit inch into the center of the foil with a knife, place in oven. Bake for 20-30 minutes. Remove from oven. Serve with favorite meat or salad.

Cherry tomato's with Angel Hair Spaghetti

Angel Hair Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes

Serves 2-4.   To table in 7 minutes.

 

1 large pot 2-3 quarts boiling water

½ box Angel Hair Pasta

¼ cup Olive Oil

1 Garlic Clove (minced)

1Tbsp Capers (optional)

10 Olives (optional)

1 pint Cherry or Grape Tomatoes

Salt, Pepper to taste

Parsley fresh or dried

 

Fill pan with water and place on stove on high to start boiling water.

Saute` olive oil, garlic, tomato's for 7 minute's.

Meanwhile, place skillet on medium high heat. Add oil, garlic, tomatoes, (capers and olives) salt and sepper.  Allow to simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.

When water boils add 1 tbsp salt to boiling water and pasta.  Allow pasta to cook 1 minute. Remove 1 ladle of boiling water and add to tomatoes in skillet.  Drain water from pasta.  Add pasta to skillet and combine with tomatoes.  Top off with fresh or dried parsley and serve.

 

Angel Hair Pasta with Pesto

Serves 2-4.  To table in 7 minutes.

 

1 large pot 2-3 quarts boiling water

½ box Angel Hair Pasta

¼ cup Pesto

Olive Oil

Freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

 

Fill pan with water and place on stove on high to start boiling water.

When water boils add 1 tbsp salt to boiling water and pasta.  Drain water from pasta.  In a clean bowl, add pesto and drizzle olive oil, gently combine together.  Serve and top off with cheese.

 

 

Sirloin Tip Steak

Sirloin Tip

Serves 2.  

 

¼ cup Olive oil

Peeled and Sliced ½  Onion

Sliced Portabella Mushroom

Salt and Pepper to taste

¼ cup  Red Wine (optional)

1tsp Soy Sauce

2-4 slices of 1/4 inch sliced Sirloin Tip Steak

 

Salt and pepper meat on both sides. Place skillet on medium-high

Sirloin and Mushroom's

heat. Add olive oil, sliced onion and sliced portabella mushroom. 1/4 tsp salt to taste. Allow to cook covered for 2 minutes.  Add wine, soy sauce and meat. Cover, allow to cook for 2 minutes, with fork turn meat to other side and cook another 2 minutes.  Serve meat with mushrooms and onions

 

 

Asparagus Sautee`

Asparagus spears washed and lower part of stick cut and removed.

1/4 cup Olive Oil

Garlic Clove sliced

Sesame Seeds

Salt and Pepper to taste

 

Place skillet on medium heat and add all ingredients.  Allow to cook with skillet covered for 5 minutes.  Serve on side of pasta dish or with Sirloin Tip.

 

 

 

 

 

Calcium and Vitamin D changes LDL & HDL Numbers

“In a recent study, women with low calcium intake were given either a calcium + vitamin D supplement or placebo in conjunction with a 15-week weight-loss program. Those who received the calcium + vitamin D supplement had a greater tendency for beneficial changes in LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels.

Calcium and vitamin D supplements enhance health benefits of weight loss
Research has demonstrated that overweight individuals with low calcium and dairy intakes have an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Naturally, this suggests that adequate calcium intake could create a healthier metabolic profile ” one more similar to a balanced diet and regular exercise.
In a recent study, researchers explored this possibility by testing cardiovascular health indicators after long-term calcium supplementation in women with usual low calcium intake. Healthy overweight or obese women with a daily calcium intake of less than 800 mg per day were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: group A received two tablets/day of a calcium + vitamin D supplement (600 mg elemental calcium and 200 IU vitamin D/tablet), while group B received a placebo. Both groups completed a 15-week reduced calorie weight-loss program.
Significant decreases in LDL cholesterol levels, as well as improvements in the ratios of total to LDL and LDL to HDL cholesterol were seen the calcium + vitamin D group. These changes were independent of changes due to fat loss and reduced waist circumference. Tendencies for more beneficial changes in HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol were also observed in the calcium + vitamin D group.

This study demonstrates that adequate consumption of calcium and vitamin D during weight loss enhances other beneficial effects of body weight loss on cardiovascular risk factors in overweight women with previously low calcium intake. ” Literature Referece:American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 85, No. 1, 54-59, January 2007

 

How to Wash Food to Prevent Lethal Outcome

While restaurants are facing criticism for how they handle lemons in drinks, I would dare say that food borne illness goes further than that.  Concerns should stem to how ALL UTENSILS and FOOD (including, fruit and vegetables) are being handled within every area of the restaurant.   It is not up to the customer to put the multiple controls put into place, but the Managers and employees themselves to ensure that the consumer does not return home with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or death.

Simple washing of food can be done with items that you have in your home right now, without purchasing a special “produce washing” product.  Cleansing of the fresh produce should not be limited to water, but instead can be done with the following. The best practice to put into place within your homes so that you keep yourself and family healthy and protected are:

Fruits and Vegetables with skins

  1. Use the same amount of soap that you would use for hand washing.  Completely wash the skin of fruit or vegetable with soap and water.  RInse thoroughly.
  2. In a large bowl, place desired produce to be cleaned, pour 1/2- 1 cup white vinegar over items into bowl.  turn food in vinegar to allow for thorough cleansing, about 10-20 seconds. Rinse with water.

Green Leaf Vegetables and Berries

  1. 1 Tbsp baking soda to 2-3 cups of water.  Stir. Allow shredded or whole lettuce, or whole berries to stay in solution for about 20-30 seconds. Rinse thoroughly.

Utensils should never be dipped in water to for cleaning.  ALL UTENSILS MUST ALWAYS be washed with hot soapy water to remove bacteria:

  1. Between cutting meats, fish and any other food.
  2. Before passing from one food to another food that contain nuts: Peanut Butter, Pesto, Ice Cream Cakes.  Cross contamination is lethal to those with food allergies and can result in death of individual.

This article is written to enforce the importance of HEALTHY EATING within homes and restaurants. Furthermore, individuals are having severe allergic reactions within restaurants and homes, due to improper cleansing of utensils between foods, especially those containing nuts and foods without nuts.

By: Kim Crocker