Anniversary of Walkerton Tragedy is Strong Reminder

Last Sunday marked the 10 year anniversary of the E. coli outbreak that was caused by contamination of the water supply in Walkerton, Ontario. In May of 2000, more than half of the town’s 5,000 residents became severely sick and seven people died as a result of bacteria laden water. The drinking water supply became tainted when


Russia Bans U.S. Poultry Imports

As of January 1, Russia is blocking imports of U.S. poultry because of concerns about chlorine rinses, which are routinely used by poultry processors in the United States to kill pathogens that can cause food poisoning among consumers. Despite what Reuters calls “overwhelming scientific evidence” showing chlorine is a safe and effective disinfectant for use in the poultry industry,


Back to School Special: Pick up Your Free Germs Here

As parents send young children back to school and pack their older ones off to college, the government’s warning of up to 90 thousand U.S. deaths this season from H1N1 flu has given many of us pause. Germs and people go together; turning classrooms, dorm rooms, and cafeterias into giant-sized Petri dishes for the virus’s spread. H1N1 flu viruses– like noroviruses which cause vomiting and diarrhea – are able to maintain the infection cycle by spreading through the interaction of people who cough and sneeze, transmitting the virus by droplets in the air or their contaminated hands.


Degrees of Clean: Consumer Cleaning Products Defined

There are many products available for ridding our homes of dirt and germs. However, it is often difficult to decide which products are right for the job. Not all cleaning agents are the same, and improper use of these products could result in unsanitary conditions or illness. Following is a list of the different categories