National Food Safety Education Month!
Each year millions of people in the US get sick from food borne diseases. They can cause mild to severe symptoms that require hospitalization and may even lead to death. This significant health concern is largely preventable. We gathered some information to help keep you and your family safe. (FDA)
Main steps for food safety according to the FDA:
1. Clean
  • Always wash your food, hands, counters and cooking tools.
  • Wash hands in warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds. Do this before and after touching food.
  • Wash your cutting boards, dishes, forks, spoons, knives and counter tops with hot soapy water. Do this after working with each food item.
  • Rinse fruits and veggies.
  • Clean the lids on canned goods before opening.
2. Separate (Keep Apart)
  • Keep raw foods to themselves. Germs can spread from one food to another.
  • Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs away from other foods.
  • Do this in your shopping cart, bags, and fridge.
  • Do not reuse marinades used on raw foods unless you bring them to a boil first.
  • Use a special cutting board or plate for raw foods only.
3. Cook
  • Foods need to get hot and stay hot. Heat kills germs.
  • Cook to safe temperatures:
  • Beef, Pork, Lamb 145 °F
  • Fish 145 °F
  • Ground Beef, Pork, Lamb 160 °F
  • Turkey, Chicken, Duck 165 °F
  • Use a food thermometer to make sure that food is done. You can’t always tell by looking.
4. Chill
  • Put food in the fridge right away.
  • 2-Hour Rule: Put foods in the fridge or freezer within 2 hours after cooking or buying from the store. Do this within 1 hour if it is 90 degrees or hotter outside.
  • Never thaw food by simply taking it out of the fridge.
  • Marinate foods in the fridge.
  • Thaw food:
  • In the fridge
  • Under cold water
  • In the microwave

(FDA)
Pregnant Women and Food Safety

Pregnant women and people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease require extra care and should talk to their doctor about what is safe to eat. To learn more about food safety and be update with food alerts and recalls, Click here or talk to your health provider at Angel Kids Pediatrics!
Think you have a foodborne Illness?
If you feel that you or your child might be sick from the food you ate, call your doctor and get medical care right away. Save the food package, can or carton and report the problem to USDA or FDA. Call USDA at 1-888-674-6854 if you think the illness was caused by meat, poultry or eggs. Call FDA at 1-866-300-4374 for all other foods. You should call your local health department if you think you got sick from food you had in a restaurant or another food seller.
Newborn Screening Awareness Month
Most babies are born healthy and without any apparent health issue. Nevertheless, some of them might have congenital disorder that can manifest later in life. If the disease is detected early, many complications, disabilities and even death can be prevented, and the child can reach her full potential. This is the reason why all newborns are required to get tested for certain genetic, endocrine and metabolic disorders as well as hearing loss and critical congenital heart defects (CCHD) before they leave the hospital. (AAP)

How are the screening tests done?
  • Critical congenital heart defects screening: Pulse oximeter equipment is used to measure the oxygen saturation on the right hand and foot. This test is quick and painless.
  • Hearing loss screening: Two different screening tests can be used: Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) or the Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE). In the AABR, earphones that emit sound are put into the baby's ears and electrodes placed on the baby’s head measure the hearing nerve response. The OAE measures the sound waves produced in the inner ear by putting a small probe in the baby’s ear canal. Both tests are fast and painless.
  • Genetic, endocrine and metabolic disorders screening: a few drops of blood are taken out of the baby’s heel in a fast and easy test. The hospital will send the blood sample to a screening lab. (AAP)
Why do some Babies need to be re-tested ?

There are a few reasons why a baby might need to be retested – the test was done before completing 24 hours of birth, eventual problems with the blood sample or because the first result of the test showed a possible health problem. It’s important to remember that these tests are not 100% accurate and serve as a screening for important health disorders that usually require more exams for a final diagnosis. At Angel Kids Pediatrics, our health providers are always available to discuss any questions or concerns you might have. (AAP)

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