Welcome to the Health and Fitness NewsWelcome to the Stars Hollow Health and Fitness News weekly diary. It will publish on Saturday afternoon and be open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.
Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.
You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.
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I don’t put much stock in the concept of “super foods,” but if you do, blueberries should be on your list. Their health benefits are well documented in the scientific literature. One study, published last year in BMJ, showed a correlation between the consumption of blueberries, apples and grapes, but especially blueberries, and a significantly lower risk of Type 2 diabetes. Scientists who are looking at foods that contain fibers that nourish probiotics, or beneficial microflora, in our lower intestines are finding that blueberries and other berries have a lot of potential in this area. [..]
One great thing about blueberries and blackberries is that they freeze exceptionally well, especially blueberries. All you have to do is make sure they are dry and seal them airtight in freezer bags or containers. You can throw them, frozen, right into baked goods. Toss them first with a very small amount of flour if you don’t want them to bleed when they bake.
~Martha Rose Shulman~
These muffins are the antithesis of the blueberry muffins on the counter in coffee shops, with plenty of fruit.
Blueberry or Blackberry Compote With Yogurt or Ricotta
An easy compote can transform plain yogurt or ricotta into a substantial breakfast or even a dessert.
Topped with oats and quinoa flour, this old-fashioned cake is no longer traditional at all.
Beet and Arugula Salad With Berries
The sweet-tart flavor of berries make a lovely contrast to the pungency of arugula and the earthy sweetness of beets.
Not very sweet, this clafoutis works for either breakfast or dessert.
Recalled Hummus and Dip Could Pose Listeria Risk
WebMD News from HealthDay
May 23, 2014 — Nearly 15,000 pounds of hummus and dip products are being recalled by Lansal, Inc. due to possible contamination with listeria bacteria, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young, frail and elderly people.
The company has told wholesalers and retailers to halt sales of all the recalled products sold under brand names such as Target Archer Farms, Giant Eagle, Trader Joe’s and Tryst. No illnesses have been reported, according to Lansal.
Kraft Recalls 1.2 Million Cases of Cottage Cheese
WebMD News from HealthDay
Also, E. Coli Spurs 1.8 Million-Pound Beef Recall
May 19, 2014 — About 1.2 million cases of several brands of cottage cheese are being recalled by Kraft due to improper storage of ingredients used in the products.
The company said the recalled brands include certain Knudsen Cottage Cheese, Breakstone’s Cottage Cheese, Simply Kraft Cottage Cheese and Daily Chef Cottage Cheese products. All of them were made at Kraft’s Tulare, Calif. plant, NBC News reported.
Some of the ingredients in the recalled batches of cottage cheese were not stored according to Kraft temperature standards, the company said. The recalled products were distributed across the United States and have code dates from May 9, 2014 through July 23, 2014.
Illegal Online Meds Targeted in Worldwide Crackdown
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
More than 19,600 packages seized in U.S., including drugs for diabetes, glaucoma and impotence
May 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Illegal online pharmacies that sell unapproved and potentially dangerous prescription drugs to Americans were targeted this week in a worldwide operation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.
More than 19,600 packages containing medicines supposedly from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Great Britain were seized in the action, which involved authorities from 111 countries, the FDA said in a news release.
Consumer Reports Recommends 7 of 20 Sunscreens
By Kathleen Doheny, WebMD Health News
May 20, 2014 — Only 2 of 20 sunscreens tested provide the promised level of SPF protection after being in water, according to Consumer Reports’ annual sunscreen test. Only seven of 20 products earned a recommendation.
“Consumers just need to be careful when they buy sunscreen, that they are looking at the labels and questioning the information they are reading,” says Trisha Calvo, Consumer Reports deputy editor.
Shoppers should remember that ”only three claims are regulated by the FDA — SPF, broad spectrum, and water resistance,” Calvo says.
The report is published in the July issue of Consumer Reports.
Minnesota Bans Anti-Bacterial Chemical Triclosan in Soaps
WebMD News from HealthDay
May 20, 2014 — A germ-killing ingredient that’s widely used in products such as soaps, toothpaste and deodorants is being banned in Minnesota due to health and environmental concerns.
A bill to prohibit the use of triclosan in most retail consumer hygiene products was signed Friday by Gov. Mark Dayton and is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2017. Minnesota is the first state to take such action, the Associated Press reported.
Studies in lab animals have suggested that triclosan may disrupt hormones that play an important role in reproduction and development, while other research indicates that triclosan may contribute to the development of drug-resistant bacteria.
Windshield Washer Fluid May Be Source of Legionnaires’ Disease
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Study finds the potentially dangerous bacteria can exist for up to 14 months in the product
May 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Windshield washer fluid may contain bacteria that cause the deadly form of pneumonia known as Legionnaires’ disease, according to a new study.
Researchers found Legionella bacteria in the windshield washer fluid of 75 percent of school buses they tested in one central Arizona school district.
The investigators also discovered that Legionella bacteria can grow in windshield washer fluid and maintain stable populations in the fluid for up to 14 months, according to the study presented May 18 at the American Society for Microbiology’s annual meeting.
Medical Marijuana OK’d in More States in 2014
By Bara Vaida, WebMD Health New
May 22, 2014 — More than half the states in the country now have laws that in some way permit medical marijuana — even in the most conservative states.
This week, Minnesota became the 22nd state, along with Washington, D.C., to allow broad use of medical marijuana. Nine other states passed laws that allow medical marijuana, but only for children with seizure disorders.
Political pressure from parents with children suffering from severe forms of epilepsy helped drive these restricted laws. They give children access to a form of marijuana low in THC, the ingredient in marijuana that affects mood, but high in cannabidiol (CBDs), a non-mood-altering ingredient.
Sharp Rise in ER Visits Tied to Abuse of Sedative
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Use of Xanax along with painkillers such as Oxycontin can be especially deadly, experts note
May 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) — There’s been a steep increase in the number of Americans being treated at emergency departments for abuse of the sedative alprazolam, best known as Xanax, federal officials reported Thursday.
The number of emergency department visits related to abuse of alprazolam (brand names Xanax, Xanax XR, and Niravam) climbed from more than 57,000 in 2005 to nearly 124,000 in 2011, according to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Can E-Cigarettes Help You Quit Smoking?
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
One study says yes, but not all experts agree
May 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A new study by British researchers suggests that e-cigarettes can help people stop smoking.
The study found that people who wanted to quit smoking were about 60 percent more likely to succeed if they used e-cigarettes compared to would-be quitters who tried an anti-smoking nicotine patch or gum.
Could Sleep Apnea Affect Your Hearing?
By Barbara Bronson Gray, HealthDay
Study suggests people with the disorder should have their hearing tested
May 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Sleep apnea may not only affect the quality of your sleep. New research suggests that the sleep disorder may be linked to hearing loss as well.
The study found that sleep apnea was associated with hearing impairment at both high and low frequencies. That finding held true even after the researchers adjusted the data for other possible causes of hearing loss.
These findings give further support to the idea that sleep apnea likely doesn’t occur in isolation. Instead, it may be a sign of other underlying health conditions, the researchers said.
Entyvio Approved for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease
By Scott Roberts, HealthDay
Two chronic gastrointestinal diseases
May 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Entyvio (vedolizumab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat adults with moderate-to-severe forms of two gastrointestinal conditions — ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
The approval applies to people for whom standard therapies — such as corticosteroids or tumor necrosis factor-blocking medications — have failed.
Ulcerative colitis, affecting about 620,000 Americans, causes inflammation and ulcers in the large intestine. This can lead to abdominal discomfort, bleeding and diarrhea, the FDA said in a news release.
High Cholesterol May Delay Parenthood
By Steven Reinberg. HealthDay
Whether lowering cholesterol in prospective parents will aid conception isn’t clear, researchers say
May 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Couples with high cholesterol levels may have to wait longer to become parents, a new study finds.
When both the prospective mom and dad had high cholesterol levels, it took longer to conceive compared to those with lower cholesterol levels. The study also found the highest cholesterol levels among the couples who didn’t achieve pregnancy during the year-long study.
Two-Thirds of U.S. Adults May Carry HPV
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
But study finds only 4 of 103 people whose DNA was tested had the cancer-causing strain of the virus
May 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) — About two-thirds of healthy American adults are infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), but only a few of the strains they carry are the high-risk types known to cause cancer, new research suggests.
Those high-risk HPV strains — known as types 16 and 18 — cause virtually all cervical cancers, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute. They also cause most anal cancers and some vaginal, vulvar, penile and oral cancers. However, most infections with high-risk HPVs do not cause cancer, experts note.
‘Sterile’ Urine May Be a Myth
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Bacteria lurked even in samples from healthy women, researchers say
May 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Many people have heard that human urine is devoid of germs, but a new study seems to question that idea.
“Doctors have been trained to believe that urine is germ-free,” Dr. Linda Brubaker, dean of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, said in a university news release. “These findings challenge this notion.”
Saying ‘I Do’ Because of Similar DNA?
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Married couples tend to have genetic traits in common, study states
May 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Married couples typically have a lot in common, and researchers now say that may extend to their genes.
Spouses tend to be more genetically similar than two people chosen off the street at random, according to a new study.
It’s likely this is because people who are genetically similar have more opportunities to meet and mate — in other words, “birds of a feather flock together,” said lead author Benjamin Domingue, a research associate at the University of Colorado-Boulder’s Institute of Behavioral Science.
Pancreatic Cancer: 2nd Deadliest Cancer by 2030?
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay
Prediction highlights need for more research on this difficult-to-diagnose, treat disease, U.S. experts say
May 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Pancreatic cancer is set to become the second deadliest cancer in the United States by 2030, new research predicts.
If the projections hold, pancreatic cancer will bypass breast, prostate and colorectal cancers, ending up second only to lung cancer as the nation’s deadliest cancer.
“Overall, the cancer death rate in the U.S. is declining each year,” said study author Lynn Matrisian, vice president of research and medical affairs with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Urine Test May Help Spot Dangerous Blood Clots
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
More accurate, less invasive than current screening, researchers contend
May 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Researchers say they’ve created a simple urine test that detects the presence of dangerous blood clots in the lungs more accurately than the current blood test.
The clot typically forms in the leg, where it is called a deep vein thrombosis, but it can break loose and travel to an artery in the lungs. Once lodged there, the clot, now called a pulmonary embolism, can be life-threatening, the researchers noted.
Vitamin D Supplements May Not Help Ease Asthma
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Study did suggest the nutrient might help lower patients’ dependence on inhaled steroids
May 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Vitamin D supplements do little to help control asthma, a new study found, although they might help cut the level of medication some patients need.
“Previous studies suggested that if you have asthma and low levels of vitamin D in the blood, you have worse lung function, more asthma attacks and more emergency room visits than asthma patients with higher vitamin D levels,” Dr. Mario Castro, a professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, explained in a university news release.
Unwanted Germs Can Land, Last Inside Jetliners
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Study focused on MRSA and E. coli bacteria
May 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Illness-causing bacteria can survive on surfaces inside airplanes for days or even up to a week, a new study shows.
Researchers tested how long two types of harmful bacteria — methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and E. coli O157:H7 — could linger on common types of surfaces in airplane cabins.
The researchers received six different types of materials — armrest, plastic tray table, metal toilet button, window shade, seat pocket cloth and leather — from a major airline. The two types of bacteria were placed on these surfaces and exposed to typical conditions found inside passenger aircraft.
Existing Drugs May Work Against MERS
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Findings could speed access to treatment for patients who can’t wait for new drugs to be developed
May 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) — As media reports warn of the first cases of the potentially deadly MERS virus in the United States, three new studies suggest that certain existing drugs might help fight the illness.
So far, three U.S. patients have been identified as having been infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One, a man from Illinois, has shown no symptoms but tested positive for infection. The other two — one man in Florida, another in Indiana — had recently returned from Saudi Arabia and got sick but have since recovered.
Diabetes May Be Bigger Threat to the Female Heart: Study
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Women with diabetes face 40 to 50 percent greater risk of heart disease than men with diabetes, researchers say
May 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Diabetes appears to pose a greater risk to heart health for women than men, a new analysis of current research contends.
“The risk of coronary heart disease conferred by diabetes is between 40 percent to 50 percent greater for women than for men,” said study co-author Rachel Huxley, director of the Queensland Clinical Trials and Biostatistics Centre at the University of Queensland in Australia.
The results support findings from an earlier analysis that found that women with diabetes have a nearly 50 percent increased risk of death from heart disease compared to men with diabetes, the study authors said.
Music Especially Stimulating During Pregnancy?
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Moms-to-be displayed greater blood pressure changes, stronger emotional reactions, study says
May 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Music moves people in many ways. And it appears to cause especially strong reactions in pregnant women, a new study finds.
Moms-to-be showed greater changes in blood pressure in response to music than other women and had stronger feelings about pleasant and unpleasant music, according to the researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, in Leipzig, Germany.
The researchers played a series of 10- to 30-second clips of music to pregnant and non-pregnant women. In some cases, the researchers altered the music to make it less pleasant.
The expectant mothers rated the music as more intensely pleasant or unpleasant than those who weren’t pregnant, and also showed much stronger blood pressure responses to the music.
Placenta Might Have Its Own Helpful Bacteria
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
This ‘community’ may serve crucial role in preparing newborns for life outside the womb, researchers say
May 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) — How newborns receive the colonies of helpful bacteria that reside in all people and make human life possible has been a mystery.
A new study suggests that the placenta — long thought a sterile environment — actually contains a small but diverse bacterial community (a “microbiome”) that might serve a crucial role in preparing newborns for life outside the womb.
Double Mastectomy Often Not Needed, Study Finds
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
Most women who have both breasts removed have low risk of opposite-breast cancer, researchers say
May 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Many breast cancer patients who have their second breast removed as a precaution don’t actually need the double mastectomy, a new study finds.
Researchers who evaluated more than 1,400 women with breast cancer found that nearly 7 out of 10 who underwent preventive removal of their healthy breast were not at high risk of cancer in the unaffected breast.
“What we found is that almost 70 percent did not have a clinical indication for it,” said study researcher Sarah Hawley, an associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The researchers defined a clinical indication as having the genetic mutation BRCA 1 or 2 or a strong family history of breast cancer, both of which raise breast cancer risk.
Removal of Faulty Mesh for Incontinence
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Experts say there’s still no clear-cut answer as to whether or not to have surgery
May 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Removal of vaginal mesh — a device implanted to help support a woman’s pelvic organs — won’t necessarily improve side effects such as pain and incontinence related to the device, suggests the mixed results from a pair of new studies.
The findings, reported Monday at the American Urological Association’s annual meeting, come at a time of growing safety concerns over vaginal mesh devices. Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it will require stricter oversight of the products — specifically, as they are used to treat pelvic organ prolapse. The FDA now classifies these devices as “high-risk.”
Prostate Cancer ‘Could Be Transmitted Sexually’
By Peter Russell, WebMD Health News
May 23, 2014 — Prostate cancer might be a sexually transmitted disease caused by a common infection, according to a study.
Experts say the research has limitations and is not proof, though.
Scientists at the University of California found evidence of a link between prostate cancer and the STD trichomoniasis, in which a common parasite is passed on during unprotected sexual contact.
The parasite is believed to infect around 275 million people worldwide. Furthermore, over three-quarters of men harboring it have no symptoms and may not seek treatment, resulting in chronic inflammation of the prostate.
Brain Changes & Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis in Kids
By Serena Gordon, HealthDay
Complication called ketoacidosis can affect memory, thinking for six months, reports study
May 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A serious complication of type 1 diabetes called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) can cause temporary changes to the brain matter of children newly diagnosed with the disease, researchers say.
What’s more, those changes may cause a decrease in memory and attention that persists for at least half a year following the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, the new study reports.
Memory Problems in Some Kids With Cochlear Implants
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Certain amount of ‘catch-up’ is needed because of hearing loss, researcher says
May 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Deaf children with cochlear implants are at increased risk for developmental delays in memory and higher thinking, a new study finds.
A cochlear implant is an implanted device that helps provide a sense of sound to people who are deaf or have severe hearing loss, according to the U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
This study included 73 deaf children who received cochlear implants before they were 7 years old and 78 children with normal hearing. All of the children in the study had average to above-average IQ scores.
Costs a Barrier to Asthma Care for Some Kids
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
High co-pays prevent some children from seeing a doctor or getting needed meds, study finds
May 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) — High health insurance co-pays in the United States increase the odds that children with asthma will miss out on important doctor visits and preventive medications, a new survey finds.
Parents with higher co-pays reported switching to less expensive drugs, giving their children less medication than prescribed and putting off doctor visits or trips to the emergency room.
Children’s Asthma & Air Pollution in 2nd Trimester
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay
Preliminary research finds timing of exposure an important element
May 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Babies born to women exposed to fine particle air pollution during the second trimester of pregnancy may be at greater risk for developing asthma in early childhood, according to a new study.
Fine particle air pollution, which can be inhaled deeply, is linked to the greatest health risks, researchers cautioned. These particles can be found in smoke and haze.
More Evidence Ties Poor Sleep to Obesity in Kids
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
Study highlights need for consistent bedtime, experts say
May 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Young children who get too little sleep are more likely than others to be obese by age 7, according to a new study.
Previous research has suggested insufficient sleep before age 4 raised the risk of obesity. But the new study, published online May 19 in Pediatrics, observed the link from infancy to mid-childhood.
Delaying Measles-Related Vaccines: Seizure Risk?
By Randy Dotinga, HealthDay
Researchers say findings emphasize importance of following timing guidelines
May 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Delaying certain routine immunizations past the first 15 months of life could boost the risk of fever-related seizures, new research suggests.
The risk appears very small, and the brief seizures — due to fevers caused by the shots — usually don’t lead to any harm other than shattered nerves in parents. Still, the findings provide more evidence to support not delaying immunizations, said Dr. Simon Hambidge, professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at the University of Colorado in Denver and lead author of the new study.
Mental Illness Linked to Shortened Life Spans
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Poor mental health can affect longevity as much or more than heavy smoking, study finds
May 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Serious mental illness can take between seven and 24 years off a person’s life, which is similar to or worse than the impact of heavy smoking, researchers report.
“We found that many mental health diagnoses are associated with a drop in life expectancy as great as that associated with smoking 20 or more cigarettes a day,” Dr. Seena Fazel, of the department of psychiatry, at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, said in a university news release.
Clues to How Mediterranean Diet Protects the Heart
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
Researchers find unsaturated fats, vegetables combine to lower blood pressure
May 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Study after study has shown that a Mediterranean-style diet rich in fish, nuts, vegetables and fruits seems to lower your risk of heart trouble.
Now, a new mouse study hints at why.
“When unsaturated fatty acids, found in olive, nuts and fish oils, are eaten together with a source of nitrate or nitrite, found in vegetables such as beetroot and those with green leaves, they form nitro fatty acids in the body,” explained lead researcher Philip Eaton, a professor of cardiovascular biochemistry at Kings College London. Those fatty acids then lower blood pressure by inhibiting a particular enzyme.
Exercise Aids in Stroke Recovery
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Regular activity, such as walking, afterwards improves memory and quality of life, suggest experts
May 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Exercise is an important, though often underused, way to improve mental and physical recovery in stroke survivors, according to experts.
Stroke survivors should be prescribed exercise because many become inactive and suffer a physical decline that reduces their ability to do normal daily activities and increases their chances of having another stroke, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA).
Diet Tied to Better Breathing in COPD Patients
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Study suggests healthy eating might help improve lung function
May 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) — People with certain chronic lung diseases might breathe a bit easier when their diets contain healthy foods like fruits and fish, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that among nearly 2,200 adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), those who ate fish, grapefruit, bananas and cheese tended to have better lung function and fewer symptoms than their counterparts who did not eat those foods.
FDA Approves New Artificial Sweetener
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Advantame can be used to sweeten coffee, tea and as an ingredient in cooking
May 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) — A new sugar substitute called advantame was approved on Monday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The sixth artificial sweetener to receive the agency’s blessing, advantame can be used in baked goods, soft drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages, chewing gum, candies, frostings, frozen desserts, gelatins and puddings, jams and jellies, processed fruits and fruit juices, toppings and syrups.
Advantame is a white powder that dissolves in water and remains stable even at higher temperatures, the FDA said in a news release. It can be used as both a tabletop sweetener and as an ingredient in cooking.
Diet, Lifestyle May Affect Prostate Cancer Risk
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Eating high-fiber carbs, drinking less milk, avoiding diabetes and heart risk factors may help cut risk
May 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Diet and lifestyle can play a role in lowering a man’s risk of prostate cancer, according to a trio of new studies.
A diet rich in complex carbohydrates and lower in protein and fat is associated with a 60 percent to 70 percent reduced risk of prostate cancer, said Adriana Vidal, a co-author of two of the studies and an assistant professor at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C.
In addition, a fiber-filled diet reduced the risk of aggressive prostate cancer by 70 percent to 80 percent, according to Vidal.
Yelp Can Help Spot Food Poisonings at Restaurants
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
The online review service was used to identify several foodborne outbreaks in New York City
May 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Foodies, take heed — your online complaint about that spring roll that made you queasy may not fall on deaf ears.
Restaurant review websites like Yelp can help health inspectors track down unreported outbreaks of food poisoning, a pilot project in New York City has found.
Reviews posted on Yelp helped inspectors identify previously unknown food-poisoning outbreaks at three restaurants involving 16 people, said senior investigator Dr. Sharon Balter, medical epidemiologist for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Officials said that they ended up citing each of the restaurants with multiple health violations that might otherwise have gone undetected.May 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Foodies, take heed — your online complaint about that spring roll that made you queasy may not fall on deaf ears.
Restaurant review websites like Yelp can help health inspectors track down unreported outbreaks of food poisoning, a pilot project in New York City has found.
Reviews posted on Yelp helped inspectors identify previously unknown food-poisoning outbreaks at three restaurants involving 16 people, said senior investigator Dr. Sharon Balter, medical epidemiologist for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Officials said that they ended up citing each of the restaurants with multiple health violations that might otherwise have gone undetected.
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