The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Food companies use sugar, fat to get people to eat more

From an early age Americans learn to love sugar.

I know. I’m one of many people who have a “sweet tooth.” I have to work very hard to eat only two or three sweet treats a week. Recently, on a low-carb diet, I’ve eliminated them completely. It’s tough.
 
Last week, it upset me to hear David Kessler, M.D., former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, say in a radio interview that it’s in the business plans of food companies to get American consumers to eat more food.

Kessler, discussing his book “The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite,” said it was a goal of the food industry to get food on every street corner, available 24 hours a day.

And by developing processed food with layer upon layer of fat and sugar, food companies have created food that consumers crave, he said. People’s brains have been hijacked, and they can’t stop eating.

The result is Americans are getting fatter and fatter.

Kessler suggested people break the cycle by looking at food differently. When thinking about food and deciding what to eat, ask “Is that nutritious? Is that the kind of food I want?”

The brain can be reprogrammed, he said, and people can get their control back.

Kessler said the food industry needs to change its practices and act responsibly.

I agree. It's wrong for food companies to be making profits by creating addictive foods that make people fat, unhealthy, and stressed.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

FDA adopts new rules to improve egg safety and reduce Salmonella illness as part of overhaul of food system

As one of the Obama administration’s first sweeping reforms to improve food safety, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced yesterday new rules on egg production.

The rules are expected to prevent 79,000 cases of foodborne illness and 30 deaths each year caused by eating eggs contaminated with the bacterium Salmonella enteritidis.

The rule requires measures to prevent contamination of eggs in poultry houses and requires refrigeration of eggs during storage and transportation.

Egg-associated illness caused by Salmonella is a serious public health problem, the FDA reported in its announcement about the new rule.

Infected individuals may suffer mild to severe gastrointestinal illness, short-term or chronic arthritis, or even death, according to the FDA. Carrying out the preventive measures would reduce the number of Salmonella enteritidis infections from eggs by nearly 60 percent.

Salmonella enteritidis can be found inside eggs that look normal. If the eggs are eaten raw or undercooked, the bacterium can cause illness. Eggs in the shell become contaminated on the farm, primarily because of infection in the laying hens.

See the announcement for what the new rules require of egg producers.

The FDA estimates that the egg rule would provide $1.4 billion in annual public health benefits, at an annual cost of $81 million to the egg industry, or less than 1 cent per dozen eggs produced in the United States.

Consumer groups and the industry support the new rule, but expressed concerns that it took federal agencies more than 20 years to adopt the procedures.

Even when research showed that chickens chronically infected with salmonella laid eggs laced with the bacteria, which does no harm to the birds but can sicken and kill humans, government agencies debated which agency should take the lead in regulatory action, reports the article “U.S. Moves to Improve Safety of Eggs and Other Foods” on stltoday.com.

The Obama administration proposes to overhaul of the food system to ensure the safety of other problem foods – spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, melons, beef, and chicken, the article also states.

Proposals include:

• U.S. Department of Agriculture – Development of new standards to reduce Salmonella levels in chickens and turkeys.

• Food and Drug Administration – Advice for the food industry on how to prevent contamination of tomatoes, melons, spinach, and lettuce.

• Food and Drug Administration – Advice about how farmers, wholesalers, and retailers can build systems to trace contaminated foods quickly from shelf to field.

Although food safety is a priority for the Obama administration and American consumers, it’s likely to take years to develop this new regulatory structure.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

How to have a healthy Fourth of July barbecue

When I go to a barbecue on July Fourth, I love to load my plate with all the traditional foods served for the celebration.

Here’s a typical plate of food I would serve myself, along with the calories for each item:

Hamburger – 279
Hot Dogs (two with no bun) – 294
Potato Salad – 358
Potato Chips – 152
Avocado Dip – 90
Fruit Salad – 125
Green Beans – 44
Baked Beans – 382
Green Salad With Egg and Cheese – 102
Ranch Salad Dressing for Green Salad – 493
Chocolate Cake – 235
Chocolate Ice Cream – 167
White Wine (2 glasses) – 166

That’s a whopping total of 2,887 calories!

Eileen Silva, N.D., offers this menu instead:

Turkey Burgers, Vegetarian Burgers, and Poultry Sausages
Chicken, Fish, or Seafood
Grilled Vegetables with Olive Oil and Herbs
Grilled Pineapple with Chocolate Sauce and Cool Whip

For more information, see “Summer Barbecues” on Silva’s Baby Boomers Blog.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Blueberries, raspberries, other berries enhance health

I love raspberries. It’s great to be able to go out to my raspberry patch this time of year and eat fresh, organic raspberries right off the plants.

I developed my fondness for raspberries was I was growing up. I was able forage in my great-aunt Mable Kenyon’s raspberry patch in Cashmere, Wash., when my family went to visit.

 

About five years ago, I bought a single raspberry plant at the Olympia Food Coop. Now I have a raspberry patch.

Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and other berries are good for your health.

They contain phytonutrients, chemical compounds in plants that repair cells. These compounds have been and are being studied, reports Richard Brightheart, acupuncturist, in his book “An Integrative Approach to Healing Chronic Illness: Revealing the Root Causes of Modern Disease,” for their ability to:

• Support immune function.

• Prevent illness.

• Slow the aging process.

• Help to support the body in healing.

They are known for their strong antioxidant/free radical scavenging action as well as their ability to reduce inflammation.

Berries that seem to hold these properties, Brightheart reports, include:

• Raspberries

• Cranberries

• Blueberries

• Strawberries

• Goji berries

• The palm berry acai

So enjoy raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries as the summer months unfold. And be sure to look for organic berries at your local farmers’ market.

Disclosure: Richard Brightheart is my acupuncturist, and I edited his book “An Integrative Approach to Healing Chronic Illness: Revealing the Root Causes of Modern Disease.”

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Do you save money shopping at Costco or another warehouse club?

Last year, I joined Costco because an article in Consumer Reports suggested you might be able to get a good deal on a computer.

This year I joined again because I wanted to see if I could get a low price on eyeglasses.

So now that I have a membership, what should I do with it? I have a small family, so buying huge containers of food isn’t a practical consumer choice.

The Consumer Reports article, “Costco vs. Sam’s Club: New Reasons to Join or Switch” on ConsumerReports.org was helpful.

It said warehouse clubs make their money on memberships and have a lower mark up than other stores. However, you may find better deals at supermarkets on specials because they’re sold at a loss to attract consumers.

Costco and Sam’s Club buy items directly from the manufacturer to get cheaper prices. That means you won’t find wide variety of brands, for example, there may only be one brand of raisin bran cereal.

Although you may find large ticket items such as sofas and appliances, you can’t count on finding them in the store the next time you shop.

These practices can lead consumers to overspend, the article states.

If you control the urge to spend, the article says, club membership can pay off. Here are tips to help you shop at warehouse clubs:

• Make a list and stick to it.

• Know how to identify super-bargains. At Costco, “.97” at the end of a price generally indicates discontinued or slow-moving products. At Sam’s, a “C” at the end of the item number denotes a canceled item.

• Compare the club’s unit prices to those at your supermarket for heavily discounted staples. Supermarkets might be less expensive.

• For big-ticket items, compare the club price to that of other retailers by going to sites such as PriceGrabber.com or BizRate.

• Consider splitting large buys with friends. Otherwise, don’t buy in bulk perishables or medications with a short shelf life – check the expiration dates. You’ll end up tossing a lot away.

• Try unfamiliar products judiciously. You don’t want to get stuck with, say, a gallon of Brand X Vidalia onion salad dressing.

• Pay with cash; it’s a reality check on how much you’re spending.

• Shop on weekdays, preferably when the store opens or in midafternoon. That’s when crowds tend to be lighter.

• Not sure about joining? In many states you can request a day pass at Sam's Club and pay a surcharge, typically 10 percent over what members pay. Costco used to have a similar program, but discontinued it. Now, only members can purchase there.

Here are other articles to help you evaluate warehouse clubs:

“Does Costco Make Your Wallet Look Fat?” – KOMONews.com

“Buying Bargains in Bulk, Without Breaking the Bank” – The Seattle Times

“Five Ways to Whip Inflation When You Shop at a Warehouse Club” – Kiplinger.com

“A Comparison of Sam’s Club and Costco” – Associated Content.com

“Are Warehouse Clubs Like Costco or Sam’s Club Worth It?” – My Money Blog

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide Recall of the Week: Black & Decker brand Spacemaker™ coffeemakers

About 584,000 Black & Decker brand Spacemaker™ coffeemakers are being recalled.

Manufactured in China and distributed by Applica Consumer Products Inc., of Miramar, Fla., the brew basket of the coffeemaker can shift out of alignment allowing hot water to overflow, reports U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. This poses a scalding and burn hazard to consumers.

The firm has received 235 reports of hot water overflowing and contacting consumers, including 10 reports of second-degree burns.

The Black & Decker brand Spacemaker™ coffeemaker has an under-cabinet mount, programmable digital clock/timer, removable water reservoir, and either a 12-cup glass carafe or an 8-cup thermal carafe.

Model numbers ODC440, ODC440B, ODC450, and ODC460 are included in the recall. The model number can be located on the back of the coffeemaker.

The coffeemaker was sold at major retailers nationwide, including K-Mart, Kohl’s, Target, Wal-Mart, Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Amazon.com from March 2006 through March 2009 for between $60 and $70.

Consumers should stop using the recalled coffeemaker immediately and contact Applica for a free replacement brew basket, the commission advises.

For additional information, consumers should contact Applica toll-free at 866-668-4442 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's Web site at www.acprecall.com.

For more information on recalls, see www.Recalls.gov.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Eating while you’re driving is dangerous

I admit it. I eat when I drive. It’s a busy person habit.

One time after visiting my mom in Wenatchee, Wash., I was merging onto the freeway just after I left Cle Elum. I’d purchased a whole chicken.

Anxious to reach home, I was trying to pull pieces of chicken off with a fork when I was driving. As I was merging, a semi was barreling up on my car. Needless to say, I had to put both hands on the wheel and pay attention to what I was doing. Chicken juice and sauce splattered all over.

I’ve also put an open cup of tea in a grocery bag, only to have it turn upside down; dumped soup in my lap; and dripped a chicken salad sandwich down my front.

In a recent analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics, eating and driving was found to be more dangerous than using a hand held cell phone while driving.

According to the administration, 26 percent of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. is caused by driver distraction. The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety also states that distracted drivers cause at least 4,000 to 8,000 accidents per day.

Hagerty Classic Insurance publishes this list of driving and eating dangers:

1. Chocolate – Whatever you touch – steering wheels, stick shift, clothing, or hair – will carry distinctive fingerprints. Drivers' instinctive reactions are to clean the offending candy stains immediately, which distracts them from the road ahead.
2. Soft drinks – Suddenly wearing your soda as you pull out to pass could be a deadly distraction. Open containers holding liquids – hot or cold – can cause a lack of driver concentration when spilled across a shirt or lap.
3. Jelly and Cream-Filled Donuts – Imagine the disaster as messy jelly oozes onto drivers' clothes, and they become more focused on the spill than the highway.
4. Fried chicken – Greasy hands are a sure distraction as drivers tend to constantly try to clean them while driving. Grease on a steering wheel is almost impossible to get off.
5. Any barbecued food – Barbecue sauce may be delicious, but drivers should remember that "If it can drip, don't eat it while you drive."
6. Juicy hamburgers – The same goes for foods that contain messy or greasy extras. A $5 hamburger deluxe could turn into $500 worth of repairs if dripping condiments, special sauces, or greasy meat juices distract the driver.
7. Chili – Anything containing chili like a chili dog, sloppy Joe or Coney dog is a problem. Steering chili-covered foods to your mouth while steering a car around a corner requires more dexterity than humans possess.
8. Tacos – Here's a foodstuff that can disassemble itself without much help while being consumed. One good road bump and the seat of your car looks like a salad bar.
9. Hot Soups – Eating soup while trying to manipulate a gearshift isn’t sensible. It's the equivalent to a circus juggling act; a sure recipe for disaster.
10. Coffee – Coffee is the most hazardous food drivers can consume. Uncovered drinks generally are the greatest offenders for unexpected splashes and spills. Nobody wants to look soiled or messy, especially on the way to work, and coffee spills are the worst because drivers invariably try to make instant clean-ups while still driving. In addition, hot coffee is often served at temperatures near scalding, and can cause serious burns that also divert a driver's focus.

Hagerty also learned:

• More food-related accidents happen in the morning hours than in the evening because people are concerned about their appearance on the way to work.

• The odds of having a food-related accident can double if the vehicle has a stick shift since eating, shifting, and steering requires increased dexterity and adds one more variable to the equation.

• The most hazardous situation combines eating and cellular phone use. When the phone rings, the "driving distraction" increases significantly and in a rush to answer, drivers forget they're driving.

So, avoid eating in your car. If you do so, make sure containers have tight-fitting lids. It’s important to concentration on your driving so that you don’t put other drivers at risk.

If you spill something, pull over to the side before attempting to clean up the mess.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide Recall of the Week: Nestles Toll House cookie dough

The recall of Nestles Toll House cookie dough last week is receiving a significant amount of coverage in the press.

Fortunately, no deaths have occurred, unlike some of the recalls I’ve featured on The Survive and Thrive boomer Guide blog since February.

Consumers are being warned not to eat any varieties of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough due to the risk of contamination with E. coli O157:H7, a bacterium that causes food borne illness.

The warning is based on an ongoing epidemiological study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several state and local health departments.

Nestle said about 300,000 cases of Nestle Toll House cookie dough are affected by the recall, which includes chocolate chip dough, gingerbread, sugar, peanut butter dough, and other varieties.

For information on the varieties involved in the recall, see this list.  

If consumers have any Nestle Toll House cookie dough in their home, they should throw it away, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises. Cooking the dough, which would kill E. coli, isn’t recommended because consumers might get the bacteria on their hands and on other cooking surfaces. This contamination could cause illness.

Since March, health officials have received 66 reports of illness in 28 states. Twenty-five persons were hospitalized; seven with a severe complication called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.

 

This map shows the states where an outbreak strain of E.coli 0157:h7 has occurred since March.

E. coli O157:H7 causes abdominal cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea, often with bloody stools. Most healthy adults can recover within a week. Young children and the elderly are at highest risk for developing the syndrome, which can lead to serious kidney damage and even death, according to the FDA.

Individuals who have recently eaten Toll House cookie dough and have experienced any of these symptoms should contact their doctor or health care provider immediately. The illnesses should be reported to state or local health authorities.

Health officials are reminding consumers not to eat raw food products that are to be cooked or baked before eating. They also should: follow directions for cooking temperatures; wash hands, surfaces, and utensils after contact with these types of products; avoid cross contamination; and refrigerate products properly.

Consumers who have questions about the Nestles Toll House cookie dough recall need to contact Nestle consumer services at 1-800-559-5025 and/or visit their Web site at www.verybestbaking.com.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What to buy a baby boomer dad for father’s day

About 17 million baby boomers are fathers.

I e-mailed six boomer dads and asked what they’d like to receive for a Father’s Day present.

Computer gadgets and a Sirius satellite radio were two of the requests.

Another boomer dad wants Bill O'Reilly’s newest book, a stainless steel sauté pan, a new putter, and a barbecue with his two daughters.

One dad said it would be great if his two sons volunteered to work for three days on clean up activities for the family’s vacation cabin.

A boomer dad with young children wistfully envisions a nice quiet day with a tasty steak and cold beer at the end of the day.

Similarly, another boomer dad wants a day at the beach on his Hobie Cat 17 sailboat, good winds, a great lunch, lots of sun, and no work.

More gift ideas

Amazon.com suggests giving your dad CDs from the 1960s and 70s. Their Web page Great Gifts for Your Baby Boomer Dad also recommends books including “How to Retire Early and Live Well With Less Than a Million Dollars” and “Eight Weeks to Optimum Health: A Proven Program for Taking Full Advantage of Your Body’s Natural Healing Power.” A Canon PowerShot S100 2MP Digital ELPH Camera Kit w/ 2x Optical Zoom is another suggestion.

You can also choose from books on a list of Books for Grownups recommended by AARP and Publishers Weekly. Among the offerings are “Do-Over: In Which a Forty-Eight-Year-Old Father of Three Returns to Kindergarten, Summer Camp, the Prom, and Other Embarrassments” and “Closing Time: A Memoir.”

If you want to give your dad electronic gadgets, the article “11 Affordable Father’s Day Gifts Dads Will Want” on mint.com offers suggestions for under $100.

A different kind of gift

Probably the most unusual gift suggestion I came across in my consumer research is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In its article, “Top Five Father’s Tips From USDA,” the department recommends giving your dad a food thermometer to make sure food is safe.

Other Father’s Day suggestions the department offers are: visit a local farmers’ market, explore a local forest or park, plant your own garden, and cook a healthy meal with dad.

Father's Day spending

Americans are expected to spend an average of $91 on gifts for dad, down slightly from $95 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $9.4 billion, the Nation Retail Federation reports. 

Other highlights from the federation’s annual survey include:

• Consumers will spend the most – $1.9 billion – on a special outing such as a dinner or a sporting event. 

• Clothing still ranks high among gift givers who are expected to spend $1.3 billion on new socks, slacks, and ties.

• Others will treat dad to a gift card – $1.2 billion; electronics – $1 billion; books or CDs – $548 million; home improvement items – $522 million; and sporting goods – $502 million.

More Father's Day gift resources for consumers

“Perfect Father’s Day Gifts for Baby Boomers” – Associated Content

"Father’s Day Gifts Under $50” – NBC Philadelphia

“Father’s Day Gift the Cheapskate Can Endorse” – The Cheapskate Blog on Time

Best wishes with your search for a present for your dad and your Father's Day activities. I hope you'll be able to visit with or talk with your dad on Father's Day.

My next post will be "A Tribute to My Dad on Father's Day."

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

How often should you clean your refrigerator?

One of the most popular articles I’ve written as a consumer journalist was about food storage.

I invited an inspector from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to examine my family’s cupboards and refrigerator. He then told me what we were doing right and what needed improvement.

My column appeared in The Spokesman (Spokane, Wash.) Review. People talked about it for months. They especially mentioned the refrigerator. I’d had some vegetables from the garden that were dried up and inedible. The newspaper held the article for several months so people thought I’d had the old vegetables in my refrigerator all winter.

Before the days of frost-free refrigerators, sorting, defrosting, and cleaning the refrigerator was a weekly event.

Now most people either sort it out weekly and wipe up the spills, let it go until company comes and more room is needed, or deal with the bad stuff when it’s spoiled.

A thorough cleaning – defined as emptying out the fridge, cleaning out the interior surfaces, removing the bins and shelves, and washing and drying them – is needed twice a month, recommends Washington State University Extension.

Doing a thorough cleaning twice a month reduces the risk of microbial contamination. The areas showing greatest levels of contamination are the fruit and vegetable bins, the bottom shelf, and the meat bin.

Recent research conducted by Tennessee State University, Kansas State University, and RTI International found that consumers don’t realize that their own refrigerators can contribute to an increased potential for food borne illness occurring in their own home.

WSU Extension also suggests that consumers buy a refrigerator thermometer to they can make sure that the temperature of the refrigerator is below 40 degrees. This prevents microorganisms from rapidly growing and multiplying.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist