RCS Values: Compassion + Support + Fairness + Dignity + Service + Trust

Don’t Let Your Holiday Cooking Turn Into Intestinal Fireworks!!

Posted by Alexandra Tarrant, Public Affairs Specialist, on May 23, 2014 at 10:00 AM

Those of you who follow the news have probably seen the recall this week of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

Understandably, this causes concern among consumers. However, this does not mean you can’t enjoy a hamburger off the grill or that you need to cancel your backyard BBQ. You can still enjoy your Memorial Day weekend cookout, just remember to practice safe food handling! And if the cooking is to be done by your “weekends only” cook, make sure you take the time to educate him or her about these important steps.

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) reminds all cooks to follow four simple tips—clean, separate, cook and chill—for a safe cookout. Additional safe food handling and cooking tips are available at the Grill it Safe website.

Clean and Separate
Preparation begins long before your guests arrive. Wash your hands, cutting boards and utensils with warm soapy water before handling food. To prevent cross contamination, raw meat products should be separated from other food items. Also, use different knives, cutting boards, and platters during preparation of these products.

Always keep meat products chilled until the grill is ready. Thaw meat completely to ensure meat cooks evenly on the grill. If you choose to use a marinade, do not reuse the marinade liquids that have been in contact with the raw meat later on a cooked dish.

Cook
All foodborne bacteria are killed when foods are heated to the proper temperature. FSIS reminds cooks to use a meat thermometer to ensure meat reaches the safe internal temperature.

• Ground beef and other ground meat—160 °F,
• Hot dogs—165 °F or until steaming hot,
• Poultry—165 °F,
• Whole cuts of pork, lamb, veal and beef—145 °F (followed by a three-minute rest time), and
• Fish—145 °F.

Some popular side dishes like cold cuts, prepared salads (such as chicken salad or egg salad), and soft cheeses purchased at a deli are not typically reheated. These foods pose a risk of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes—bacteria that can grow at normal refrigerator temperatures. Most healthy people rarely contract listeriosis, but it can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in people in at-risk groups, including people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, infants, and the elderly. If you or your guests fall into any of the at-risk categories, these food products should be avoided or reheated until hot and steamy (165 °F) to ensure food safety.

Chill
After the table is set and the feasting begins, do not let your guard down. Bacteria grow most rapidly between 40 °F and 140 °F. To limit bacterial growth, keep hot food on the grill and place cold food in a cooler or ice bath. Never let perishable food sit out for more than two hours. If the outdoor temperature exceeds 90 °F, food should not sit out more than one hour. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers promptly and discard any food that has been sitting out too long.

By following these simple tips, you have peace of mind that you are serving your family and friends safe and healthy foods.

– See more at: http://blogs.usda.gov/2014/05/23/enjoy-your-holiday-weekend-use-a-food-thermometer/#more-52103

Food Security and Post Recession

Posted by Alisha Coleman-Jensen, Food Assistance Branch, Economic Research Service, on July 1, 2014 at 2:00 PM

The Economic Research Service examined why lower unemployment in the post-recession period was not matched by gains in food security among U.S. households. Photo credit: Shutterstock

This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from the USDA’s rich science and research portfolio.

USDA’s annual survey on food security among American households showed, not unexpectedly, that the prevalence of food insecurity increased during the 2007-09 recession. In the post-recession period, the highest monthly unemployment rate dropped from 10 percent in 2009-10 to 8.3 percent in 2012. But the rosier employment picture was matched by very little improvement in the level of food insecurity – i.e., households’ lack of consistent access to adequate food for active, healthy lives. The national prevalence of food security was 14.5 percent in 2012, essentially the same as in 2009 and 2010. What could be the explanation?

My Economic Research Service (ERS) colleagues and I set out to examine the relationship between national economic conditions and the level of food insecurity. Specifically, we examined the role played not only by the unemployment rate, but also by general inflation and by change in the price of food relative to other goods and services.

We found that these three economic measures together account for 92 percent of the year-to-year variation in food security from 2001 to 2012. From the early post-recession period (2009-10) to 2012, inflation increased almost one and a half percentage points. The price of food relative to the price of all goods and services was two-thirds of a percentage point higher in 2012 than in 2009-10. Higher general inflation, combined with higher relative food prices, offset any gain in food security from lower unemployment in 2012. With many living expenses rising, families had less money to spend on food, and higher food prices meant food budgets didn’t stretch as far. During the first week of September, ERS will release 2013 food security estimates, which will indicate whether or not the 2012 trend continued in 2013.

The association of food insecurity with unemployment, inflation, and the relative price of food are explored in our recent ERS report. Understanding these relationships may aid in developing more effective policies and programs to support the food security of our Nation’s households.

– See more at: http://blogs.usda.gov/2014/07/01/what-kept-food-security-from-improving-after-the-recession/#more-52829

Creating a Healthier School Day

Posted by Dr. Janey Thornton, Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, on June 11, 2014 at 10:00 AM

Thanks to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, students across America are being served meals with more fruits, vegetables, whole-grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy.  Parents can send their kids to school knowing that the healthy habits they teach at home are being reinforced at school, with breakfast and lunch menus that provide more of the foods we should eat, and less of the foods that we should avoid.

Parents, teachers, school nutrition professionals, communities, and policy makers are working hard to make sure that school environments support a healthier next generation.

Creating a Healthier Next Generation: Thanks to the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, major improvements are being made across the country to promote better nutrition, reduce obesity, and create a healthier next generation. (Click to enlarge).

And these efforts are working.  Kids are consuming more healthy food, and school breakfast participation is increasing leading to better test scores and increased attendance.  As we move forward with the implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, it’s clear that the school day is becoming healthier.

The School Day Just Got Healthier: Thanks to the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, major improvements are being made across the country to promote better nutrition, reduce obesity, and create a healthier next generation. (Click to enlarge).

For more information on supporting healthy choices at school, please visit: www.usda.gov/healthierschoolday.

– See more at: http://blogs.usda.gov/2014/06/11/creating-a-healthier-next-generation-and-supporting-a-healthier-school-day/#sthash.2NppI9Zm.dpuf

The RCS Food Bank Adds a New Truck to it’s Service Fleet

The RCS Food Bank received a new truck yesterday.  The 2006 Freightliner will join the five other vehicles the  RCS Food Bank uses to distribute and pick up food for those suffering hunger throughout Pinellas County. Last year the RCS Food Bank served over 66,000 individuals (visualize The Raymond James Stadium filled to capacity) and half of those were 13 years old and younger. This new truck will aid immensely in the care for those individuals.  The truck is slated for decaling in the very near future and should be on the road providing Help & Hope to those soon.  A special thank you to the Blue Jean Ball committee and attendee’s and RCS staff that made this gift possible to those fighting hunger everyday in Pinellas County. #helpandhope

Getting Off To A Good Start

Posted by Colette I. Rihane, Director, Office of Nutrition Guidance and Analysis, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, on May 6, 2014 at 5:00 PM

USDA and HHS are in the process of developing dietary guidelines for infants and children under two years old, based on the latest in nutrition science.

Good nutrition is vital to optimal infant and toddler growth, development, and health. The importance of this age group has been emphasized by First Lady Michelle Obama, who said that “If our kids get into the habit of getting up and playing, if their palates warm up to veggies at an early age, and if they’re not glued to a TV screen all day, they’re on their way to healthy habits for life.” So, making sure that even the youngest infants and toddlers are on the road to a healthy life is critical, and having national dietary guidance for infants and children from birth to 24 months can help make this happen.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) provides sound advice for making food and physical activity choices that promote good health and a healthy weight, and help prevent disease for Americans, including Americans at increased risk of chronic disease. The DGA has traditionally focused on adults and children 2 years of age and older. Infants and toddlers from birth to 24 months of age have not been a focus in previous versions of the DGA because of their unique nutritional needs, eating patterns, and developmental stages.

In recent years, there has been a growing demand both within and outside of government for the DGA to include infants and toddlers, and the Agricultural Act of 2014, also known as the Farm Bill, calls for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to expand to include pregnant women and children from birth to age 2. In response to these requests, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have initiated the Birth to 24 Months Dietary Guidance Project (B-24) to develop guidance for this important age group using a similar evidence-based research approach as the DGA.

The goals of the B-24 project are to:

• Develop comprehensive guidance for the birth to 24 month age group
• Use a rigorous and transparent process informed by a broad range of experts in the field of infant and toddler nutrition and health
• Provide foundational guidance for the birth to 24 month age group that can be incorporated and updated in future editions of the DGA, beginning in 2020

To accomplish these goals, USDA and HHS have implemented a five phase plan. Phase 1 of the project was completed in October 2013. This phase identified high priority topics/themes, such as how a mother’s diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding impacts her child’s risk of developing food allergies, or how kids develop food preferences, that would need to be addressed to inform B-24 dietary guidance. Research needs related to this population were also identified, including the need to better understand what nutrients are in human milk. For more information on the findings from Phase 1, visit the Nutrition Evidence Library’s Birth-24 Overview page. To learn more about the rest of the project, view the Birth to 24 Months Dietary Guidance Development Project Fact Sheet (PDF, 149KB).

B-24 dietary guidance is coming your way! Stay in touch with the progress being made by checking the B-24 section of CNPP’s website.

– See more at: http://blogs.usda.gov/2014/05/06/developing-national-dietary-guidance-for-the-birth-to-24-months-age-group/#more-51717

Only Ten More Days Till Stamp Out Hunger

Ask your letter carrier for the food donation bag!! It is that time of the year when The National Association of Letter Carriers come together and help their local community fight chronic hunger with the Stamp Out Hunger campaign.  The RCS Food Bank is planning and preparing for the hundreds of volunteers that will come and join in the fight to help combat  chronic hunger in our area by unpacking and sorting the tons of food that the letter carriers will bring to the RCS Food Bank on May 10th.  Last year the RCS Food Bank hosted 250+ volunteers that helped sort close to 35 tons of food in one day!!  If you would like to help combat chronic hunger in your community on May 10th call Debra Shaw (RCS Food Bank Volunteer Coordinator) or Christi Snyder (Communications/Volunteer Manager) at 727-443-4031 and/or 727-584-3528 respectively, and help those individuals and families that struggle and suffer from hunger daily. #HelpandHope  (tweet)

Research Helping Americans Live Healthier Lives

Posted by Melissa Abelev, (Acting) Assistant Deputy Administrator for Policy Support, on April 25, 2014 at 4:00 PM

Nutritional research is key to helping millions of Americans achieve healthier lifestyles.

During the month of April we will take a closer look at USDA’s Groundbreaking Research for a Revitalized Rural America, highlighting ways USDA researchers are improving the lives of Americans in ways you might never imagine, such as using research to inform policy decisions about our nutrition assistance programs, which reach 1 in 4 Americans.

America’s nutrition safety net has a broad reach.  SNAP serves millions of hardworking American families, WIC benefits about half of the nation’s infants each year, and the National School Lunch Program touches the lives of about 31 million children every school day, including 21 million low-income children.  Because these and other Federal nutrition assistance programs are a critical resource for families seeking a healthy diet with limited resources, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service knows the importance of shaping them with evidence gathered from rigorous research.

Several flagship studies illustrate how FNS uses research to build the knowledge base about our programs and make continuous improvements to meet the highest nutrition standards:

• The School Nutrition and Dietary Assessment (SNDA) series goes into schools every five years to determine how well school meals are meeting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  We use rigorous, validated measures, including 24-hour dietary recalls and menu nutrient analyses, on a nationally-representative sample of schools to build our knowledge base and analyze the nutritional quality of schools meals.  Information from these studies helps FNS shape the technical assistance we provide to states and school districts to ensure their meals meet the highest dietary standards.  The fifth SNDA study will begin data collection in schools next school year and will provide FNS with a detailed picture of how well schools are meeting updated meal patterns required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.

• Our partnership with the Institute of Medicine ensures that the food packages prescribed in WIC reflect the state of the science for nutrition standards.  The latest IOM recommendations form the basis for recently-finalized standards that ensure that nearly 8.6 million women, infants, and children receive supplemental foods each day that directly address their health needs.  And we are already launching the next review to keep the packages up-to-date.

• Because the WIC packages are designed in part to support breastfeeding – the medically-preferred feeding practice for most infants – FNS launched a study to determine the impact of the packages on that outcome.  The findings helped inform nutrition education efforts that align with the food packages to increase breastfeeding rates.  And we are currently conducting a nationally-representative study of WIC nutrition education.  This will help identify aspects of the program where we could focus additional resources or technical assistance, as well as highlight opportunities for information sharing among states or regions.

• We are also seeking innovative approaches to help SNAP participants make healthy choices.  The Healthy Incentives Pilot tested the effect of incentives at the point of sale to encourage fruit and vegetable purchases and increase consumption of these healthful foods.  Initial findings found that such incentives increased consumption by about 25 percent.

• A study we conducted on the effect of SNAP participation looked at SNAP’s role in helping families cope with food insecurity. We found that those who received SNAP for six months reported significantly lower rates of food insecurity.  These results were true for households with and without children, and for households in both rural and urban areas, highlighting SNAP’s broad effectiveness. Through research, we were able to confirm that SNAP is working to reduce food insecurity.

These are just a few of the many studies FNS conducts to build the knowledge base to inform and shape these vital programs.  Research is essential in achieving FNS’ goals of reducing childhood hunger and improving nutrition in programs with high integrity every day.  After all, if a healthier next generation is our aim, knowledge is an important part of that path.

– See more at: http://blogs.usda.gov/2014/04/25/how-research-shapes-vital-nutrition-programs/#more-51484

Interesting Stats on Public Attitudes Toward Hunger

Public Attitudes Toward Hunger

Hunger is a major concern for a substantial proportion of American families. Economic factors are making it harder for people to adequately feed themselves and their families, forcing growing numbers to rely on public and private assistance programs.

FRAC has conducted a series of polls and analyses to explore voters’ feelings on hunger, nutrition, and other issues, including:

FRAC Poll: Americans Continue to to Show High Support for SNAP (August 2013 – Poll Results)
A new review of recent polling results, compiled by Hart Research Associates on behalf of the Food Research and Action Center, continues to show high rates of public support for government efforts to combat hunger, high rates of support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps), and high rates of opposition to SNAP cuts.

FRAC Poll: Americans Continue to Voice Strong Support for SNAP and Strong Opposition to Cuts (May 2013 – Poll Results)
As the House and Senate Agriculture Committees prepare to take up the Farm Bill, new polling data released by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) show that support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) remains high. Seven in 10 voters say that cutting food stamp funding is the wrong way to reduce government spending.

FRAC Poll: Overwhelming Support for Food Stamps, Opposition to Cutting the Program (September 2012 – Poll Results)
New polling data released by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) show overwhelming majorities opposing SNAP cuts. The majorities are as strong as other polls in 2010 and early 2012, despite several intervening months of criticism of the program and false charges by conservative Members of Congress, conservative media outlets, and others.

FRAC Poll: Opposition to Cutting Food Stamp Assistance  (January 2012 – Poll Results)
American voters oppose cutting food stamp assistance (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP) as a way to reduce government spending. Seventy-seven percent of voters say this is the wrong way to reduce spending and only 15 percent favor cutting such assistance. Opposition to cutting food stamps crossed party lines.

FRAC and Tyson Foods National Hunger Survey (March 2011 –Executive Summary and Findings)
One in four Americans is worried about having enough money to put food on the table, according to a national hunger survey by Hart Research Associates, commissioned by FRAC and Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN). The online survey was initiated as part of Tyson’s “KNOW Hunger” campaign, which is focused on helping more people understand and actively address the problem of hunger in the U.S.  The survey is one of the largest and most comprehensive ever conducted on attitudes and perceptions of hunger.

FRAC Poll: Overwhelming Support for Federal Efforts to End Hunger  (December 2010 – Poll Results)
Eighty percent of Americans believe that hunger is a serious problem for the country that must be addressed. Support for ending hunger and protecting SNAP from budget cuts was high across party lines, age, race, gender, income, and geographical areas.

Summary of Public Opinion Research on Nutrition, Hunger, and Issues that Voters Want Candidates to Address (2010 Update | 2008 Full Report and Summary )
This report is the result of a review of polling data and research conducted during the past eight years exploring public opinion on nutrition, food insecurity, hunger and federal spending on domestic programs to combat these problems. The review by Peter D. Hart Research Associates and McLaughlin & Associates found that:

• Most Americans believe hunger — especially childhood hunger — is a serious problem that is getting worse, and that providing relief to those who need it is crucial to solving the problem.
• Most Americans have a favorable view of the federal nutrition programs, such as SNAP/Food Stamps, often even if it means increasing spending in these areas.
• Hunger is an important issue that voters want government and political leaders to address.

Help Children Struggling with Hunger…..Stamp Out Hunger May 10th

Ask your letter carrier for the food donation bag!! It is that time of the year when The National Association of Letter Carriers come together and help their local community fight chronic hunger with the Stamp Out Hunger campaign.  The RCS Food Bank is planning and preparing for the hundreds of volunteers that will come and join in the fight to help combat  chronic hunger in our area by unpacking and sorting the tons of food that the letter carriers will bring to the RCS Food Bank on May 10th.  Last year the RCS Food Bank hosted 250+ volunteers that helped sort close to 35 tons of food in one day!!  If you would like to help combat chronic hunger in your community on May 10th call Debra Shaw (RCS Food Bank Volunteer Coordinator) or Christi Snyder (Communications/Volunteer Manager) at 727-443-4031 and/or 727-584-3528 respectively, and help those individuals and families that struggle and suffer from hunger daily. #HelpandHope  (tweet)

Earth Day and the USDA

Posted by Kathryn Sosbe, Office of Communication, U.S. Forest Service; Donna Johnson-Bailey, Outreach and Social Media, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, on April 22, 2014 at 2:00 PM

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail stretches 2,175 miles from Mount Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia. Hikers who choose to explore the entire stretch will go through 14 states and on eight national forests. (U.S. Forest Service)

Earth Day is a reminder that some of our best moments can be spent in the great outdoors.

Getting outside is one of the best ways to feel re-invigorated, whether on a short hike to the Crags Trail on Pike National Forest or on a longer exploration of the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail, which winds through 14 states and across eight national forests.

The range of outdoor activities run the gamut from hiking, camping, boating, bird watching, and experiencing wildlife to photographing nature, hunting and fishing.

However long you want to spend outdoors, the U.S. Forest Service and the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion offer a few ideas to help you stay healthy while enjoying activities of your choice.

Choose MyPlate Outdoors

Going on a day trip to any of our 154 national forests or 20 national grasslands? Pack a picnic lunch, some snacks, and drinks to keep everyone hydrated and satisfied.

Plan to have plenty of water with you and ready-to-eat foods such as mini-carrots, oranges, 100 percent whole wheat bread, and a container of peanut butter. Toss unsalted nuts and dried cranberries in small containers for easy grab-and-go snacks.

Visiting national forests and lands also provide an opportunity to experience foods readily available from local farmers markets. Use the USDA National Farmer Market Locator Directory to find a market near you. (USDA Flickr Image)

Planning meals and snacks for several days of outdoor activity may require a little more thought. Consider ahead of time which foods to take, ways to keep your food safe, and how to prepare easy meals. Rely on paper plates and include just a few cooking tools like a skillet or small pot for meats or soups.

Mix quick-cooking oats with low-fat dry milk powder, walnuts, and raisins for a fast breakfast. Chop veggies like onions and peppers in advance to use when cooking over the campfire.  Bring cans of low-sodium soup or tuna fish that you can quickly re-heat or mix with vegetables for lunch or dinner.

Also, think about cooking local foods. Enjoying nature means appreciating and eating what’s available to you. If you’re near the ocean, find a place to buy fresh fish. Visit a local farmers market to find fresh veggies, eggs, meat, or local cheeses.

Savor your outdoor experience. Eating outside near a lake or under the stars is a special event that you will want to repeat. With just a little planning you can figure out how to have healthy, delicious meals that make it easy to get away and enjoy your public lands.

We have one request: Please abide by the Leave No Trace seven principles of outdoor ethics so the beauty you see when you are there will be there when you return.

Unplug and take your kids outside, where they can view though world though a different lens – away from televisions, cell phones and other electronic gadgets. Grab a pair of binoculars and see how many different species of birds they can find. (U.S. Forest Service)

– See more at: http://blogs.usda.gov/2014/04/22/experience-earth-day-with-usda/#more-51368