Virus causing obesity? (from Jill)

Researchers have been suggesting for years that there may be a virus that is causing or at least contributing to the increasing cases of obesity in humans. A particular strain of adenovirus (a common virus among many animal species) may cause obesity by turning "regular" cells into "fat" cells once they become infected with the virus. However, these studies have only been done in animal populations and there is no way to know what the onset of infection is to when the change in weight would occur. They theorize that having this virus may just PREDISPOSE you to being overight but it is very important to note that there is NO evidence that, even if you have the virus, that you still couldn't maintain a healthy weight through proper diet and exercise.

Food safety (from Jill)

With all the news about the salmonella outbreak, it is important to go back to some "basics" about food safety that we all may take for granted...
1) Fewer than half of americans know that the recommended temperature for your refrigerator should be below 40 degrees F and a large majority of americans don't know what their refrigerator temperature is currently set at - check your's our today. You'll find htat most refrigeratos exceed the safe recommendations for temperatire. Keeping your temperature too high can lead to bacterial growth and food-bourne illnesses from that bacteria.
2) Besides temperature, most people store foods in methods that can lead to cross-contamination of bacteria and other harmful pathogens (i.e. uncovered spoiled foods next to otherwise fresh foods) and many people don't know how long some foods may have been in there leading to products being used past their expiration dates.
3) Few people thoroughly clean their refirgerators on a regular basis and the area most likely to harbor bacteria is the produc bin. Also, make sure your door seal is tight and don't over-stuff your fridge.
Taking care to follow these steps will help ensure that your family stays safe from food-bourne illnesses even when their isn't a nation-wide outbreak!

Salmonella outbreak (from Jill)

In case you have not seen on the news in the last 2 days, please be aware that there is a salmonella outbreak in 42 states. Reportedly nearly 400 people have become sick, but they don't know how the bacteria are spreading.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not named all the states, but reports have come from California, Ohio and Michigan.

Most people infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours later. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment.

Officials say steps to protect against illness include careful handling of raw meat and frequent hand washing.