December 8, NASA: Life with arsenic December 7, Last week, in a much publicized news conference, NASA announced the discovery of a bacterium that can use arsenic instead of phosphorus. The news media covered it with a flourish -- and produced much nonsense.
Department of Agriculture Overview The U. USDA duties range from helping farmers with price support subsidies, to inspecting food to ensure the safety of the American public. The department seeks to expand overseas markets for U. USDA farm subsidies have been the subject of much controversy for decades as critics say the assistance is distributed unevenly and manipulates the agricultural market.
The department has also come under scrutiny for its failure to adequately protect American consumers from tainted foods that are not processed properly at slaughterhouses and other facilities.
The current Secretary of Agriculture is Tom Vilsack. The earliest precursor to the U. InPresident Abraham Lincoln created the U. Growing up on a farm, Lincoln was a strong advocate for homesteading, railroad expansion, and land grants to fund agricultural and engineering colleges.
He often praised technological advancements in agriculture, such as using horse-drawn machines instead of manual labor and the potential usefulness of steam plows.
Ina case of imported animals that had been identified as diseased livestock prompted Congress to pass an act to quarantine imported animals. Congress passed the act, but gave regulation duties to the Treasury Department, which did little to fix the problem.
As a result, veterinarians and ranchers pushed for a more regulated solution. Soon foreign markets began placing restrictions on U. Both agencies were under the USDA umbrella. Inthe BAI also began inspecting eggs intended for use by the Navy, although there were no inspections of eggs for the general public until the Food and Drug Administration took on those duties in the s.
The Poultry Products Inspection Act was passed in to provide federal oversight of the rapidly growing poultry industry. During the s and s the focus on consumer protection and safety shifted from contaminated meat and food products to mislabeling and adulteration of products from chemical additives.
At that time, food inspections consisted primarily of visual evidence of contamination. Newer products created with more complex processing methods made in larger volumes caused new contamination concerns from pesticides, residue from drugs given to animals, and preservatives.
Inthe Food Additive Amendment was passed to address these safety concerns. The Wholesome Meat Act of amended federal laws to require states to conduct more adequate inspections of meat to raise quality standards. If the state could not create one, the federal system would be applied.
Inthe Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service was established to handle the regulatory responsibilities of the Agriculture and Research Service. In an outbreak of E.
This change made held industry accountable for producing safe food, and the government responsible for establishing safe food standards and maintaining proper oversight and enforcement. A case of Mad Cow Disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy BSEin the United States led to a long and intense investigation that ultimately led to the destruction of animals suspected of being at-risk, but which ultimately tested negative for BSE.
USDA aid includes distributing price supports and other subsidies to farmers, inspecting food processed at agricultural facilities, working to expand overseas markets for U. Nutrition Food and Nutrition Service: The FNS provides access to food and improves the diets of needy Americans through nutrition education and food assistance programs.
The agency is responsible for the food stamp program, as well as programs that address the nutrition and feeding of women, children and infants, and food distribution. Through its distribution programs, the FNS is also able to subsidize the agricultural industry by purchasing and distributing surplus crops.
The agency often finds itself at the center of ideological battles that question the role of the state in dealing with poverty and welfare and interference in the economy. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion: The center develops and promotes dietary guidance linking scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers.
The center publishes dietary guidelines every five years and the food pyramid. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provides guidance on food and physical activity choices. In a move to make the graphic more relatable, the pyramid was changed to a plate with the release of the Dietary Guidelines.2.
Diseases listed: Malaria, Foodborne illness, Cholera 3. Details of a foodborne illness (salmonellosis) outbreak in Limpopo The South African Independent Online news, in their issue of Tuesday 28 January , reported an occurrence of diarrhoea outbreak few days earlier at a lodge (Mokopane) in Limpopo.
News | May 18, CDC: Raw Milk, Cheese Cause Almost All Dairy Foodborne Illness. By Staff. A new report released by the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that raw milk and cheese products cause 96 percent of foodborne illnesses linked to contaminated dairy products. In the United States a common definition of terrorism is the systematic or threatened use of violence to create a general climate of fear to intimidate a population or government and thereby effect political, religious, or ideological change.
This article serves as a list and compilation of acts of terrorism, attempts of terrorism, and other such items pertaining to terrorist activities within. Are there any kibble-eating cats that take to raw without a hassle?
Absolutely yes! I am continually amazed at how many adult cats make the transition smoothly to raw food with minimal or no fuss. I like to think that their bodies have been craving the superior nutrition and are relieved to .
Food borne Illness rubric Causative pathogen of infectious disease Such infections occur because of food contamination by some biological agents like viruses and bacteria.
There are also infections that are from chemical and physical agents. Bacteria and Foodborne Illness Essay - Foodborne illness results from eating food contaminated with bacteria (or their toxins) or other pathogens such as parasites or viruses. The illnesses range from upset stomach to more serious symptoms, including diarrhea, .