Snapping turtle found in eatery’s sink

When Russell Dorm walked into the Panda Chinese Kitchen in York on Friday and spotted a live snapping turtle in the restaurant’s three-bay sink, he didn’t utter a sound.

“When I saw this turtle, I had to sit down and gather myself before I could speak,” said Dorm, York’s health and sanitation officer. “Nothing came out of my mouth.”

Typically, a restaurant’s three-bay sink is used to clean and sanitize utensils, pots and pans.

Housing a turtle in one of the bays represents a contamination risk. Turtles can carry pathogens such as salmonella and E. coli that could lead to foodborne illnesses, he said.

“I saw the turtle outside, and I tried to save its life,” said Andy Zhao, manager of the Panda Chinese Kitchen. “I put it in the sink first. It was wrong that we put it in the sink, that was my fault.”

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Pigs Raised Without Antibiotics More Likely To Carry Bacteria, Parasites

While consumers are increasing demand for pork produced without antibiotics, more of the pigs raised in such conditions carry bacteria and parasites associated with food-borne illnesses, according to a new study.

A comparison of swine raised in antibiotic-free and conventional pork production settings revealed that pigs raised outdoors without antibiotics had higher rates of three food-borne pathogens than did pigs on conventional farms, which remain indoors and receive preventive doses of antimicrobial drugs.

“Animal-friendly, outdoor farms tend to have a higher occurrence of Salmonella, as well as higher rates of parasitic disease,” said lead study author Wondwossen Gebreyes, associate professor of veterinary preventive medicine at Ohio State University.

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P.S. – As long as you thoroughly cook your meat and prepare it under sanitary conditions, you probably don’t need to worry too much about salmonella poisoning (small children, elderly people, and already sick people have a slightly greater risk of contracting it).  To be safe, you should assume that at least half of all the raw chicken, eggs, pork, etc. you encounter is contaminated with salmonella and always take necessary precautions in preparing and cooking them (read the article for more specific information about this).

The study discussed in this article was funded by a grant from the National Pork Board.  I wonder if the National Pork Board has a vested interest in supporting factory farmed pork.  This seems like it may be an attempt to scare people away from “animal-friendly, outdoor farms,” and instead encourage them to purchase meat from more animal-unfriendly, indoor farms (aka, factory farms).

What do you think about this?  Write a comment and let me know.

Salmonella In Garden Birds Responsive To Antibiotics

Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found that Salmonella bacteria found in garden birds are sensitive to antibiotics, suggesting that the infection is unlike the bacteria found in livestock and humans.

Salmonella is increasingly resistant to antibiotics and can sometimes go undetected in animals, which increases the risk of the infection being spread to humans. The team tested the strains found in birds in the laboratory and found that antibiotics were able to kill off the bacteria.

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Watch out for that tongue: Study cautions against getting too chummy with dogs

A slop across the face is a friendly – although messy – act of love from a dog.

Many owners gladly accept it. In fact, many are so close to their dogs that they let the animals hop onto the bed and snooze with them.

But a British study suggests owners need to be careful about getting too chummy with man’s best friend.

The study, from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at the University of Liverpool Veterinary School, identifies risks involving transmittable diseases.

The study notes that allowing dogs to lick your face or sleep in your bed, or picking up the animal’s mess, could increase the risk of contracting infections such as staph, salmonella, campylobacter and MRSA.

At the same time, others point out, the risk is mild, especially when compared to the risks involving contact with humans, and there are numerous health benefits to owning a dog.

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Don’t let Rover on the bed, warns leading vet

Pet owners in Wales are being urged to keep their dogs off their duvets over fears that they may not be man’s best friend after all.

Fred Landeg, who is stepping down as the most senior Government veterinary officer, warns that new and emerging diseases are just as likely to affect household pets as farm animals.

Research commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs identified potential health risks from the daily interaction with dogs, of which 6.5 million are kept as pets in Britain.

Besides the risk of unknown exotic diseases, dogs also carry common food poisoning bugs – campylobacter and salmonella – and 10% of dogs are thought to carry the superbug MRSA.

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