I remember watching an old episode of Chips where Ponch cracked an egg into a glass and drank it. I have done this in the past as well in the misguided belief that it would make me stronger. Raw eggs can be dangerous to eat and you should always cook your eggs before eating. Here are some tips that have come out from the FDA:

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reminds consumers to pay special attention to the handling of eggs and preparation of foods that contain eggs during this holiday season. Some holiday favorites, such as cookie dough, homemade eggnog, and some types of stuffing, may contain eggs that are raw or undercooked. Eggs sometimes contain a bacteria called Salmonella, which can cause illness if eggs are not handled and cooked properly. An FDA national survey of consumer food safety practices, the 2006 FDA/FSIS Food Safety Survey, found that cookie dough is one of the major sources of raw egg in the American diet, and that only three percent of respondents always use a food thermometer when they cook baked egg dishes such as stuffing.

To avoid egg-related illness from holiday foods:

* Do not eat unbaked cookie dough.
* Cook baked egg-containing dishes to160 degrees F.
* Make recipes that call for raw or undercooked eggs, like eggnog, with eggs that have been treated to destroy Salmonella or with pasteurized egg products.

An estimated 118,000 illnesses per year are caused by consumption of eggs contaminated with SE. To help consumers avoid these illnesses, FDA requires the following statement on packages of fresh eggs that have not been treated to destroy Salmonella:

Safe Handling Instructions: To prevent illness from bacteria, keep eggs refrigerated, cook eggs until yolks are firm, and cook foods containing eggs thoroughly.

Following these instructions is important for everyone, but especially for those most vulnerable to food borne illness—young children; the elderly; persons with weakened immune systems due to conditions such as AIDS, cancer or diabetes, or treatments such as chemotherapy for cancer; persons with weakened immune systems due to steroid use; and persons with immune suppression after organ transplantation.

So what about Eggnog? This is poured straight out of the carton at Christmas isn’t it? Well Eggnog that is sold in stores in North America is pasteurized. Using a pasteurized product means that no further cooking is necessary.

Looking to make a change and lose some weight? I have reviewed the top diet on the internet and you can go and read over 200 comments people have made about why this diet has worked well for them, as well as some of the problems.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today will celebrate the centennial of the Pure Food and Drugs Act of 1906 at an event dedicated to the agency’s past, present and future service to the nation.

The ceremony, which will be held at the FDA’s Harvey W. Wiley federal building, will feature U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt and Acting FDA Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D. Also in attendance will be senior leaders of the agency, and scores of current and former FDA employees and special guests including former Commissioners of Food and Drugs, representatives of consumer and trade groups, and descendants of Dr. Harvey W. Wiley, the scientist whose early support of food and drug regulations earned him the title of “Father of the Pure Food and Drugs Act.” Dr. Wiley served as the first director of the Bureau of Chemistry of the United States Department of Agriculture, which later became the FDA.

In addition to presentations by Secretary Leavitt and Acting Commissioner Dr. von Eschenbach, the program’s highlights include an overview of the coming public health opportunities and challenges by FDA’s Deputy Commissioners and other senior leaders of the agency. Sean K. Sullivan, Associate Publisher of Good Housekeeping magazine, will speak about Dr. Wiley’s work following government service as Director of the Bureau of Foods, Sanitation and Health for Good Housekeeping magazine.

The modern FDA dates its origin to June 1906, when President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Food and Drugs Act and Congress embarked on a policy of continuous strengthening of public health protections and of their enforcement, first by the Bureau of Chemistry, and later by the FDA. Since then, Americans have benefited from increasingly comprehensive, science-based safeguards for a myriad products essential for health, survival and high quality of life.

Today, these products represent almost 25% of all U.S. consumer spending and include 80% of the national food supply as well as all human drugs, vaccines, blood products, medical devices, tissues for transplantation, radiation-emitting equipment, and animal drugs and feed.

The FDA’s centennial celebration, which include conferences and special forums in cities from coast to coast, have the following aims:

Observe FDA’s role — past, present and future — domestically and internationally in protecting and promoting the health of the public; Inspire future efforts to advance science, innovation, and public health through partnerships and alliances with key FDA stakeholders; Attract new generations of regulatory scientists; and
Salute the contributions of FDA employees, alumni, legislators, academicians, industry, consumer groups, and public health leaders to fulfilling FDA’s mission.

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