On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 10:59:55 GMT, Frogleg wrote:

> On Sat, 3 Jul 2004 07:05:03 -0600, Glenn Jacobs
> > wrote:
>
>>Why are we so concerned about bacteria? My parents used wooden cutting
>>boards as far back as I can remember and I have as well. I rinse them off
>>after use and wash them from time to time. I usually wash them after
>>cutting meat but not always. I grew up being very rarely sick and the same
>>is true of my kids.
>
> The "when I was growing up, we never..." argument doesn't apply. When
> *I* was growing up, the ground beef I ate wasn't shipped to New Mexico
> in vast quantity from a processing plant in Nebraska.
> Food-processing conditions have changed. When I was growing up, my
> family never used seat belts, and none of us were killed in car
> crashes. I never wore a bicycle helmet, and survived to adulthood with
> skull more or less intact. Should I conclude that seat belts and
> bicycle helmets are unnecessary for my children?
>
> While you and your family may not have been hospitalized for a serious
> case of food-borne illness, many cases of "upset tummy" or "stomach
> flu" are actually food-related problems.
>
> Even it it only makes you a *little* bit sick, why announce proudly
> that you hardly ever wash food-prep equipment? Do you think that
> people who are careful are just sissies?

Don't put words in my mouth. When I said "we", I "was" talking about my
family. If you want to conclude that seatbelts and bicyle helmets are
unneccesary that is fine with me, that is your decision not mine.

I didn't announce anything proudly, simply matter of factly. And no of
course I don't think that people that are careful are sissies, no where did
I say such a thing nor did I imply it. In fact I don't think that I have
called anyone a sissy since I was in grade school. Stupid yes, but sissy
no.

As far as "upset tummy," yes I agree it is sometimes due to food borne
bacteria, but it is also often due to different minerals in water and
difficult to digest foods such as onions and peppers or irritating foods
such as jalapeños.

The one time that I had food poisoning it was traceable to food from a
restaurant (this was in Spain). The very few times that I have had an
"upset tummy" it has been traceable to restaurant food or over indulgence
in irritating foods. I used to travel almost continually. Most often now
an upset tummy comes from things like too many jalapeños stuffed with
peanut butter, or too much garlic in my garlic soup.

My contention is simply that some exposure to bacteria as well as to
viruses, may well be good for the body because it exercises the immune
system. I am not advocating that people stop washing their cutting boards
and I am simply commenting on myself and my life style. I have discussed
this with a couple of doctor friends and in general they agreed.

And yes, I do wash my cutting boards and every now and then I wash them
with vinegar and set them out in the sun to bleach. I think that if you
visited my kitchen you would find it quite clean. If you are ever going to
be up in South Park, Colorado drop me an email and I will send you
directions.

When I spoke about living where pork was hung for a few days unrefrigerated
it was in Spain. Where I spoke about beef hanging was my experience
growing up on a farm and visiting neighboring farms.

My only intent in making my post was to point out what I considered to be
an excessive concern about bacteria by Americans.
--
JakeInHartsel

Food, The Art Form that You Can Eat