Summary: Your guide to defrosting and cooking your turkey, plus using leftovers, perfect if you’re about to prepare your annual turkey Thanksgiving dinner…

With the festivities in full swing, it’s often easy to forget some of the food hygiene basics.  But you don’t want your guests to get food poisoning this Thanksgiving, so read, remember and use these tips:

General tips:

Keep raw turkey away from other foods, especially if you’re defrosting it in the fridge.  You don’t want to cross contaminate your other Thanksgiving foods with horrible turkey bacteria.

REMEMBER to wash your hands OFTEN.  Wash them EVERY TIME you touch the bird.  You must use hot water and soap to wash your hands.

Use different utensils and chopping boards to quash chances of cross contamination.

Add antibacterial spray / wipes to your pre-Thanksgiving shopping list, and use regularly to clean your work surfaces.

Defrosting:

You must ensure your turkey is thoroughly defrosted, and here’s how:

• Don’t leave defrosting until the last minute – schedule in plenty of time
• Test thick parts of the meat to see if it’s frozen (stiff) or defrosted (fleshy)
• Always check the packaging for defrosting guidelines
• Ensure there are no ice crystals in the bird’s cavity before cooking
• Don’t let the raw turkey touch other foods – you could spread bacteria
• Regularly empty the liquid that’s produced as the bird is defrosted.  This will prevent overflowing (which could contaminate other foods.)

AND REMEMBER – DON’T WASH THE TURKEY – this will cause harmful bacteria to splash onto surrounding surfaces.  Cooking to the correct temperature will kill any harmful bacteria; washing the bird, therefore, is potentially HARMFUL.

Cooking:

Obviously, your Turkey should be thoroughly cooked before serving.  It should be WHITE not PINK when cut.

If you own a digital thermometer or probe, ensure the meat has reached at least 75oC by testing the thickest part of the bird.  If you don’t own a probe, simply cut the bird at the thickest part and see if it steams.  If it’s piping hot, your bird should be cooked.

Additionally, you should check the turkey’s juices run clear – not cloudy or bloody – after cooking.  You can check this by making an incision into a thick part of the bird.

Reheating:

At Thanksgiving, we may have the tendency to cook too much, which means one thing:  Turkey for DAYS to come!  YAY!

So here are a few tips about Thanksgiving leftovers:

* ALWAYS keep leftovers in the fridge

* Try and use leftovers within 48hours

* If reheating, make sure the turkey is HOT all the way through

* Never reheat turkey more than once.

Thanksgiving food hygiene tips provided by High Speed Training. Happy Holidays!

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UK breast cancer death rates are falling faster than ever and faster than almost anywhere in Europe, according to latest research which identifies increasing improvements in screening and other treatments as the cause of the improving situation for women’s health.

The research also shows that death rates from breast cancer in the UK have dropped by a third in a generation, the overall rates falling steeply in the UK in the last 20 years – and at a faster rate than in any other European country apart from Iceland, the pan-European study released in the British Medical Journal reveals.

From 1989 to 2006 the breast cancer death rate decreased by at least 20 per cent in 15 European countries.

The figures show that breast cancer death rates fell by about 30 per cent in the UK.

Rates also fell by between ten and 16 per cent in France, Sweden and Finland where significant resources have been invested in breast cancer screening and new cancer drug treatments.

The research suggest that the improvement in the UK may also be due to high rates of breast screening, the use of effective drugs such as tamoxifen, and the reorganisation of breast cancer services.

Cancer Research UK Policy Manager, Hilary Tovey, says: “This research highlights the great progress we have made in reducing deaths from breast cancer over the past 20 years.

“The UK has seen greater decreases in the number of women dying from breast cancer than many other European countries over this period; though this is partly because death rates were relatively high in the 1980s.

“Reorganising breast cancer services, screening, improved awareness and better treatments, made possible as a result of excellent research, have all had a role to play.

“In order to make accurate comparisons between cancer survival in different European countries, we must measure like with like. For more meaningful comparisons, improved cancer registration is needed.”

The research challenges previous claims about UK cancer services, which were based on poor survival rates in comparison to other western European countries.

Death rates have not been declining so well in central European countries and some have even seen increases in the past two decades.

The research was developed by a team of scientists at the International Prevention Research Institute in France who studied data on breast cancer mortality rates in women living in 30 European countries between 1980 and 2006. World Health Organisation data was also used to calculate cancer death rates for all women by age group.

Results from 1989 to 2006 showed there was a median reduction in breast cancer mortality of 19 per cent, ranging from a 45 per cent reduction in Iceland to a 17 per cent increase in Romania.

England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland had the second, third, and fourth largest decreases of 35 per cent, 29 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively.

In France, Finland, and Sweden, mortality decreased by 11 per cent, 12 per cent, and 16 per cent, respectively.

Changes in breast cancer mortality after 1988 varied widely between European countries but the UK is among the countries with the largest reductions, suggesting health strategies are working.

Women aged under 50 years showed the greatest reductions in mortality, also in countries where screening at that age is uncommon.

Although it must be understood that breast cancer is by no means defeated – it still kills around 12,000 women each year in the Uk – the news is clearly very encouraging and shows that cancer treatments are having an impact.

Since 1990 major changes have taken place in clinical treatments of breast cancer due to mammography screening, implementation of effective hormone treatments and chemotherapy, and progress in radiotherapy and surgery, all of it aided by the excellent research work of leading UK cancer charities.

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Scientists are celebrating a major breakthrough in the treatment of meningitis.

Researchers studying the DNA of hundreds of children have found strong evidence that genetic factors can increase the risk of a person developing meningitis, a potentially fatal disease that results from inflammation of the lining of the brain.

The breakthrough is being seen as a major development in finding a cure for meningitis, and could help in the search for a vaccine.

Meningitis is often caused by viruses or bacteria but can be caused by other microbes, including fungi. One of the most common and potentially fatal bacterial causes of meningitis is Neisseria meningitidis known as type B, although type C has caused more deaths until its vaccine was created, in the late nineties.

The large sample study compared the DNA of children who had contracted meningococcal meningitis with the DNA of healthy children and identified several genetic variants in a region of DNA containing genes associated with a part of the immune system, including a variant in the gene that produces a protein called complement factor H (CFH).

Variations in this genetic area are linked to susceptibility to disease, and the findings may well help with the development of a vaccine against type B meningococcal meningitis, of which until now there has been little progress on making a breakthrough.

Professor Michael Levin, from the Department of Paediatrics at Imperial College London, said:

“Although most of us have carried the meningitis bacteria at some point, only around one in 40,000 people develop meningococcal meningitis.

“Our study set out to understand what causes this small group of people to become very ill whilst others remain immune. Our findings provide the strongest evidence so far that there are genetic factors that lead to people developing meningitis.”

An effective vaccine against type C meningitis is already given to children in the UK and has greatly reduced deaths from this disease.

Research into the development of a vaccine effective against type B meningococcal meningitis is likely to continue.

The study was carried out by researchers from the Genome Institute of Singapore and other research institutions across the world, including the UK, funded by the Wellcome Trust as well as other organisations.

The study was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Nature Genetics.

The research was carried out in several stages, first with the DNA of 475 children, average age of about three years old.

The variations found were then compared with the DNA from 4,703 healthy children. This identified 79 significantly different genetic variations between the groups that could be investigated further.

Meningitis requires early recognition and urgent treatment for it to be treated.

Symptoms include severe headache, neck stiffness, difficulty in looking at bright lights, fever, nausea and vomiting and altered consciousness.

In babies and young children, these characteristic signs and symptoms may not be present so parents have to be especially alert to irritability or lethargy and excessive crying as well as vomiting, poor feeding and other signs of distress.

The study has already been welcomed by a number of health practitioners. If a vaccine is found it is likely to take several more years before it comes on the market.

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People diagnosed with cancers, including breast, bowel and ovarian cancers are twice as likely today to survive for at least ten years compared to those diagnosed in the early 1970s, according to new research from Cancer Research UK.

The extra good news is that the trend is expected to continue, hastened by ongoing research and investment.

The percentage of women likely to survive breast cancer for at least ten years has jumped from less than 40 per cent to 77 per cent while the proportion of people likely to survive bowel cancer has risen from 23 per cent to 50 per cent.

In breast cancer, more personalised treatment is helping to increase survival; and in bowel cancer, improvements in surgery have had a very positive effect. Targeted treatments have also increased survival rates for some leukaemias and lymphomas.

Head of Cancer Research UK Cancer Survival Group, Professor Michel Coleman, says:

“These big increases in long-term survival since the 1970s reflect real progress in cancer diagnosis and treatment and they confirm the immense value of having a National Cancer Registry that holds simple information about all cancer patients diagnosed during the last 30-40 years.

“Ten year survival figures for patients diagnosed in 2007 are of course predictions, but they are derived from the latest national data on cancer patient survival and for most cancers the true ten year survival for these patients will turn out to be higher than we report.”

Cancer Research UK commissioned special analyses of survival trends in England and Wales over the last 40 years for most of the common cancers; as well as an overall index of cancel survival rates for all cancers combined.

The estimates are of relative survival, which takes account of the fact that an increasing proportion of cancer patients will die of other causes. The figures can be interpreted as survival from the cancer after adjustment for all other causes of death.

The research also found that twice as many patients with ovarian cancer and non Hodgkin’s lymphoma are likely to survive for at least ten years with survival increasing from 18 to 35 per cent and from 22 to 51 per cent respectively.

And for Hodgkin’s lymphoma ten year survival is predicted to increase from less than 50 per cent to around 80 per cent.

There is also encouraging news for leukaemia with patients four times as likely to survive for ten years compared with those diagnosed in the early 1970s.

And while ten year survival is still low for oesophageal cancer and myeloma – both below 20 per cent – it is predicted to have trebled over the same period.

Cancer Research UK, Chief Clinician Professor Peter Johnson, says:

“There are many reasons for our continuing success in the fight against cancer, including faster diagnosis, better surgery, more effective radiotherapy and many new drugs, all developed using the knowledge that our laboratory research has given us.”

Cancer Research UK, Chief Executive Harpal Kumar, says: “It is thanks to our supporters and the dedicated work of our doctors and scientists that we are seeing such encouraging improvements in the long term survival of many cancers.”

Cancer Research UK is launching its new national TV advertising campaign with a clear message: that much has been achieved in the fight against cancer but there is still more to do.

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Despite the promise of cuts, cuts, cuts the Government has pledged to spend, spend, spend when it comes to Children’s hospice care, pledging a £30 million commitment this year.

For what is the worst nightmare for every parent to be told their beloved child will die, sadly, an estimated 20,000 families across the UK face that reality each year, along with thousands of others who face debilitating conditions.

Children’s hospice services help children, young people and their families with the emotional and physical challenges of terminal illnesses and conditions, helping them to make the most of life.

They provide specialist care and support to children who are not expected to live to reach adulthood and their families who must struggle from the moment of diagnosis onwards.

The support is provided in the hospice or in the comfort of the family’s home.

The renewed commitment to help children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions has been made by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley who is pledging up to £30 million to be made available for this year to help children’s hospices, networks and other providers to develop local children’s palliative care projects.

The money is being greeted as a welcome catalyst for the sector to work together creatively and quickly to develop more co-ordinated and accessible care for babies as well as children and young people who are living in England with life-limiting conditions.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: “Every child that is seriously or terminally ill should be properly supported. That’s why we are investing an extra £30 million in the coming year to support local projects.

“While this funding demonstrates the Government’s commitment to improving children’s palliative care, it is only part of the picture.

“In the long-run we need to introduce a per-patient funding system for all hospices and other providers of palliative care so that proper support for sick children and adults can develop.”

Networks play a key role in bringing together local practitioners and organisations, including children’s hospices and other voluntary sector bodies to help children.

The proposal follows Professor Sir Alan Craft’s investigation into funding possibilities for the sector. Sir Alan chaired a panel to consider proposals to be funded.  In 2007 he led an independent review that identified variation in the availability of children’s palliative care services and issues around their sustainability. The current funding is provided to help address these fundamental issues.

Professor Sir Alan Craft says: “This is really good news for a very vulnerable group of children, young people and their families.

“I will be working with a small group to move this rapidly into positive action.”

The move is seen as a great opportunity for all children’s palliative care services to develop new partnerships to help children and young people with shortened lives, and their families.

Barbara Gelb, Chief Executive of Children’s Hospices UK, says:

“It is excellent news that the coalition Government is maintaining this funding. Children’s hospices in England look forward to developing innovative projects to help more children, young people and families.”

While many people are having to tighten belts this year surely this will brighten hearts in the knowledge that money from the Government purse will be made available for truly great causes.

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Britons are living longer, enjoying life and taking more foreign holidays than ever before, according to the latest studies from the Office for National Statistics.

In the latest edition of its Social Trends report, researchers found that life expectancy is improving steadily, crime levels are falling and the country is wealthier than ever.

Other good news from the study shows that more and more people are going to university and taking advantage of Higher Education and for the first time, in 2008, more women than men took up places at UK universities.

Life expectancy has risen since 1970 when men on average lived to the age of 68.7 and women to 75 years old. The figures now are 77.8 years for men and 81.9 years for women.

The growth in foreign travel is also identified in the report which showed that in 1971 UK residents made what seemed like a big number of holiday trips at the time: 6.7 million holiday trips overseas. By 2008 the number of foreign holidays enjoyed by the British has grown to 45.5 million holidays per year, with Spain and France still being the most popular two holiday destinations for British travellers.

In 1981 France and Spain accounted for 49 per cent of all destinations. By 2008 that percentage had fallen slightly to 44 per cent showing that the British are spreading their wings further.

Some of the other good news from the study shows that people are smoking less. One in four men smoked in 1974. This number is compared with only one in ten in 2008, an amazing improvement in health. People are also eating more fruit and vegetables than before.

The Office for National Statistics report has also thrown up some other interesting facts, including the increase in electricity consumption, based on the number of gadgets that people now have in their homes, including computers, dishwashers, music and TV equipment, all of which make up the comfortable modern lifestyle.

The rise of the home computer and the increase in internet shopping is also identified. Two thirds of people buy online now, the largest figure for internet commerce in Europe, suggesting that Britons are very much at ease with the modern internet age. Clearly, it is not all doom and gloom and there are many conveniences that come with modern life.

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