08 | January | 2009 | Mid-Michigan Dining

More Salmonella – UPDATED

8 01 2009

At least once case of the nationwide outbreak of salmonella has been confirmed in Eaton County. The Michigan Department of Community Health has reported that, in addition to Eaton County, 20 cases have been confirmed among Arenac, Bay, Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Mecosta, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Tuscola, Washtenaw and Wayne Counties and the City of Detroit.

No idea what caused it.

Update – 4:00 PM

From the Michigan Department of Community Health

The Michigan Department of Community Health and local health partners are
currently assisting with this investigation, led by the CDC. We currently
have 20 cases in Michigan, from the following 14 jurisdictions: Arenac, Bay,
Eaton, Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Mecosta, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Tuscola,
Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties, and the City of Detroit. Among the Michigan
cases, ages range from <1-73 years, with a median of 9 years. Sixty percent
of the cases are male. Onset dates range from 10/11-12/13, and there have
been 8 known hospitalizations.

Symptoms for Salmonella include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to
72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days.
Salmonella is a form of food
poisoning, so it’s a foodborne illness. So you usually get it from
contaminated food.

Previous outbreaks associated with Salmonella Typhimurium include
poultry, produce, raw milk and cheese, and contact with animals like
small turtles.

Because foods of animal origin may be contaminated with Salmonella,
people should not eat raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, or meat. Persons
also should not consume raw or unpasteurized milk or other dairy
products. Produce should be thoroughly washed.

Cross-contamination of foods should also be avoided. Uncooked meats
should be kept separate from produce, cooked foods, and ready-to-eat
foods. Hands should be washed before handling food, and between handling
different food items.

In this case people should Steps that can be taken to protect against the
illness include taking care when handling raw meat, washing hands between
food preparation and tending to infants or small children, cooking meat
dishes thoroughly and not eating raw or under cooked meat.

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Tags: Eaton County, Food News, Michigan, Salmonella
Categories : Food News, Michigan

I was just reading in this week’s City Pulse how Rendezvous on the Grand was going to become The Chrome Cat. Today, City Pulse updated their story. Apparently, everything with the Rendezvous on the Grand creditors wasn’t taken care of. A restraining order was issued by Judge Manderfield this morning which may delay the bar’s opening which was scheduled for this Friday.

(Douglas) Cunningham alleges he was not contacted about the sale. He claims to have been kept in the dark about the status of his investment. According to his suit, he invested over $50,400.

“I never gave anyone permission to list or sell any of the kitchen equipment or other property I purchased and allowed the Rendezvous on the Grand to use, as part of the business,” Cunningham testified in an affidavit.

Whoops.

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Tags: Chrome Cat, Food News, Lansing, Michigan, Old Town, Rendezvous on the Grand
Categories : Food News, Lansing, Michigan, Old Town

…And it Begins Again

8 01 2009

Like most people figured, it didn’t take long. I got the following press release from Rep. Paul Scott (R-Grand Blanc) who will introduce a bill next week when the legislature convenes to ban smoking outright.

Scott pushes for statewide smoking ban

Lawmaker unveils bill to protect public health

Citing a groundswell of support from local residents and a clear public health threat to the people of Michigan, state Rep. Paul Scott today unveiled landmark legislation to ban smoking in all public places in the state.

Scott will be the first state lawmaker to introduce the legislation this session. The Legislature tried unsuccessfully last year to ban smoking in public. Scott’s bill would ban smoking in all public places, with no exceptions.

“Secondhand smoke represents a clear and present danger to all Michigan residents, especially children, and efforts must continue in Lansing to protect the public,” said Scott, R-Grand Blanc. “People overwhelmingly want this ban. I talked with thousands of local residents during the last few months and there is steadfast support for a smoking ban.”

Scott also dismissed the argument that a smoking ban would hurt businesses.

“These naysayers evidently haven’t frequented Little Joe’s in Grand Blanc on a Friday night,” Scott said. “Businesses that have voluntarily banned smoking are thriving for good reason. Michigan residents don’t want to be forced to breathe tobacco smoke when they go out in public.”

There is mounting evidence that breathing tobacco smoke is unhealthy. A study released just this week shows that heart attacks dramatically decreased in Pueblo, Colo. after the city banned smoking in public places in 2003. Hospital admissions decreased by 41 percent after the ban, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5751a1.htm

Secondhand smoke kills an estimated 46,000 nonsmokers annually from heart attacks in the United States. An estimated 150,000 to 300,000 children under 18 months of age also get pneumonia or bronchitis every year from breathing secondhand tobacco smoke, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“A statewide smoking ban would be a game changer for people’s health and well-being,” Scott said. “The jury is out when it comes to the harmful effects of smoke. Not only is secondhand smoke a threat, but now we’re learning about the harmful effects of so-called third-hand smoke.”

“Third-hand smoke” is the dangerous matter from tobacco smoke that can get into a smoker’s hair and clothing. Young people, especially infants, can be negatively affected if they come in contact with the toxins.

Scott will formally introduce the smoking ban bill next Wednesday, on the first day of session.

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