This Dutch Oven Does Not Leach Toxins Into Your Food

Who likes to cook food that gives a metallic aftertaste? Not me. I choose my ingredients carefully and spend my hard-earned money on getting the right kinds of food to provide a balanced diet to my family. I certainly would not want to taste metal in my food. Neither should you!

While choosing a frequently used cookware like a Dutch Oven, one should choose a safe and non-toxic option so the food doesn’t taste like metals after cooking in it.

How Do These Metals Get Into Food?

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Campylobacteria – A Major Cause of Food Poisoning

The commonest cause of food poisoning in the US, responsible for 2.1 to 2.4 million episodes of poisoning every year, is a rod-shaped Gram negative bacterium called Campylobacter jejuni. Although most episodes of Campylobacteria food poisoning are relatively mild, resolving within a week or two, the infection occasionally triggers an autoimmune response that can lead to serious, even life-threatening complications. A related concern about this organism is that an increasing number of Campylobacteria infections show resistance to the usual antibiotic therapies. Young children, the very old, people with chronic illnesses, and those with compromised immune systems from HIV or other causes are at particular risk.

In medical care, lost work hours, and pain and suffering, Campylobacteria infections cost the US economy $18.8 billion every year.

The commonest sources of Campylobacteria infection are uncooked poultry, especially skin and giblets, raw (unpasteurized) milk, and untreated water. Some studies have identified campylobacter contamination in hamburger and in veal.

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Keeping Your Food Safe

Of all the environmental and heath issues, food safety commands the most urgent attention from authorities when regulations are found to have been broken. Recently in China, there have been several food safety scandals resulting in huge financial losses and reputation damage to the country and its food exporting sector. The climax occurred in July 2007 when it was announced that the former head of the State Food and Drug Administration, Zheng Xiaoyu, accepted bribes in exchange for issuing state food product safety licenses. He was subsequently executed in accordance with China’s tough official stance on corruption. Prior to this, there had been a number of scandals involving the food sector. Jinhua Ham was found to have been treated with a poisonous pesticide before sale (2003); the production of counterfeit baby food formula which led to the death of around 80 babies hundreds of cases of severe malnutrition in 2004; and most recently in 2008, contaminated baby formula produced by the Sanlu Group led to an occurrence of kidney disease with numerous casualties.

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Food and Fidelity – Food Imagery in the Comedy of Errors

Imagery is a powerful shaft in the quiver of any writer, and there was hardly a better shot in all the world of literature than William Shakespeare. He used various types of imagery to communicate past the surface level of the text. He helped the reader visualize and empathize with droplets of water, with great birds of the skies, and with something as daily and ordinary as food. In The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare used food imagery to symbolize physical affection between husband and wife.

The first example of this imagery occurs in Act One Scene Two as Dromio of Ephesus first encounters Antipholus of Syracuse. Antipholus, being late for dinner, is rebuked by Dromio who says, “She is so hot because the meat is cold;/ The meat is cold because you come not home;/ You come not home because you have no stomach;/ You have no stomach, having broke your fast.” (46-50). These few lines inform the careful reader of the state of Antipholus’ and Adriana’s marriage. Adriana is mad because she believes her husband Continue reading “Food and Fidelity – Food Imagery in the Comedy of Errors”

Diet May Impact an Itchy Penis

“Oh no, not now!” That’s what goes through every man’s mind when an intense itchy penis attack occurs, as it inevitably does, on a first date or while making an important presentation in front of all the people who make the salary and promotion decisions. An itchy penis is an incredibly common penis health issue, but that doesn’t change the fact that it causes substantial embarrassment when it happens. Since preventing an itchy penis situation is desirable, there are some things a man can try – such as proper hygiene, wearing clean underwear, etc. – to reduce the chances of its occurrence. Another one of these strategies is to be careful about the diet he consumes.

By diet, we’re not talking about cutting down on food to lose weight; rather, we’re discussing the choice of foods consumed, as it’s possible that some foods may be “triggers” for an itchy penis.

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Designing Fast Food Retail Interiors

There was a time when fast food was all about being fast and cheap. It was a new enough concept and so convenient. So convenient in fact that fast food retailers built their entire outlet, buying experience, service levels and food standards to satisfy the ‘fast’ and ‘cheap’ needs of customers. And it worked! Fast forward a few years and improved education about nutrition, the need to eat healthy meals and also the vast amount of competition in the market has meant that fast food chains have to completely change their approach to adapt to the new needs of the 21st century consumer.

The focus is now on delivering a stronger brand to reach a broader base of customers that they want to linger around and make the outlet part of their weekly or daily routine. So, what does the new brand focus require? Well it needs to demonstrate freshness, good quality ingredients, an improved buying experience, a nicer seating ambience, better comfort, more visibility of food preparation areas and improved conveniences.

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Postnatal ‘Confinement’ Food Part 1

During pregnancy, the baby is like a parasite and will take all the nutrients that he requires from you. If your diet is sufficient in nutrients for both, it does not cause any problems. If on the other hand your diet is insufficient for both, then your recovery after the birth will take longer and if you still do not replenish your body stores during the confinement period, you may remain weak for a long time. This is probably why our elders make such a lot of fuss about eating well during the confinement period.

Wherever you are in the world, everyone will try and tell you what to eat and if possible how to eat it. The most important thing to do is follow your own body’s needs. Whatever you eat, do make sure that you have a good balance of proteins, vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, and water in every meal.

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What to Consider When Buying Food

There are quite a number of things that you need to consider when buying food. First, you should learn how to cook food from your house since this will cost you less money than you could have spent if you had gone out to eat. You should always do some window shopping before you decide what to buy. Make a list of all the things you need and buy only the things you have listed.

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What Are Examples of Gourmet Foods?

The definition of gourmet food is food that a connoisseur would enjoy – a gourmet. This means that even food prepared with every day ingredients could be considered gourmet food if it is prepared with loving care by a chef who knows how to cook very well. For example, my husband cooks a chicken jal frezi which is simply superb, so can be classes as a gourmet dish. If I cook the same dish it can’t be classed as gourmet food as I am not very good at making this particular dish- I don’t have the patience it needs to make it to perfection. If you can take ordinary ingredients, say peas, carrots, potatoes and lamb and cook them in a way which makes the dish superb, then this is an example of gourmet food.

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Crafting Different Uses for Your Food Dehydrator – 10 Ideas to Get You Started

Let’s play a word association game. What is the first thing you think of when I say, “Dehydrator”?

Long-term food storage? Survival food? Fruit leather? Beef jerky? Craft projects?

Wait – “Craft projects?” From a food dehydrator? What kind of craft projects can possibly use a food dehydrator?

Quite a few, actually. Here are 10 ideas* to get you started.

1. Dried apples aren’t just for eating. Slice apples into rings, dust with cinnamon or nutmeg if desired, and dehydrate. String them onto a length of jute cord, alternating with other dehydrated fruits, nuts, cinnamon sticks, and colorful strips of cloth tied in bows. Tie a knot in each end of the cord or tie ends together. Hang it on a wall, above a door or window, over a curtain rod. Drape it on a mantel or shelf.

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