It seems that this is a great time in the history of Canada to be a vegetarian. Although there have been several health scares involving vegetables over the last couple of years (spinach and tomatoes come to mind), the outbreaks of disease that spread as a result of vegetable health scares are rarely as deadly as those involving tainted meat. And tainted meat is exactly what Canadians have on their minds these days.The culprit of this particular outbreak is the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. According to the Toronto Star Health Zone, this bacterium is “often found in soil, vegetation, animal feed and feces; symptoms include nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, headache, constipation, persistent fever. If it spreads to the nervous system, signs and symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions.” Because it can take up to seventy days for symptoms to appear, visitors to Canada within the last several weeks should also take note.

Maple Leaf Foods has issued a recall of all 220 meat products passing through their Toronto plant since January of 2008, at a loss of $20 million. In addition to monetary losses, however, more startling are these statistics released by CBC as of August 26:

• There are twenty-six confirmed cases of Listeriosis in Canada.

• There have been twelve deaths linked to the outbreak.

• Eleven of the deaths have occurred in Ontario.

• One death has taken place in British Columbia.

In light of these statistics, perhaps even most alarming is the fact that pregnant women are twenty times more likely to contract Listeriosis than other healthy adults. Laureen Spitz of Milwaukee was one of such women eight years ago. Laureen suffered a miscarriage as a result of contracting Listeriosis, and although her symptoms were relatively minor, she made a trip to see her doctor, who admitted her for observation. At thirteen weeks pregnant, she miscarried shortly after being admitted.

Laureen appeared on CBC today to talk about her experience in an effort to continue educating the public, especially pregnant women, about the risks associated with eating processed meats while pregnant. She suggests women experiencing even mild symptoms should report their illness to their doctor right away since risks to pregnant women other than miscarriage include stillbirth, premature birth or potentially fatal post-birth infections.

If you’re pregnant and experiencing any mild symptoms of Listeriosis, call your physician or visit your local walk-in clinic right away.

A current list of recalled meat products is available at the website of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

(Image: Source Zimbio. Photo by None/Getty Images North America. Taken at a a live taping of Meet the Press at NBC Studios July 13, 2008 in Washington, DC. Even Carly Fiorina, a top McCain surrogate, called birth control a choice.)

In other women’s rights trampling, the Bush Administration is doing the quick step to achieve as many of its oppressive agenda points as possible before the President’s term ends. This week’s big move?

Removing the blockade and letting anti-choice activists storm the health care castle in order to not only block women from getting abortions that are, for the record, still legal, but also could classify contraception products as abortions and enable “objectors” to prevent women from accessing those too.

They call it “preventing discrimination” in hiring on the basis of “religious belief” but it’s clear—after reading all 39 pages of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed rule document—what it really is: trying to cut the legs out from under Roe v. Wade.

What does the document say? (Click here to read the complete PDF, provided courtesy of RH Reality Check.)

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A new report out highlights the economic threat the current health care system creates for American cities, which are typically ignored in the discussion about health care reform. The report, put out by Families USA—a nonprofit and nonpartisan national organization that advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans—found that, “…cities are profoundly affected by the rising number of uninsured Americans and the rising cost of providing coverage for their own employees. These problems have an impact on all city residents, regardless of their health insurance status, and they affect cities’ ability to fulfill other municipal functions as well.”

“Our cities face the dual challenges of assisting a rising number of uninsured Americans and providing increasingly expensive health coverage for their own employees,” Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA, said on Monday.

Pollock’s statement summarizes the key findings of the report, which concluded that cities have been overlooked and left to manage local health care crises on their own, which poses a risk to the budgets of other city services, such as police and fire protection, schools, parks, and the repair of city streets and other infrastructure.

“Today’s report makes crystal clear what many of us in cities across America—who are faced with the spiraling costs of health care both for our employees and our citizens—understand all too well,” said Philadelphia’s Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “It’s threatening our economies, our families and our futures. It is time for Washington to stop the excuses and fix our broken health care system.”

The report is based on extensive surveys and research of thirteen cities nationwide, which all had consistent results. Immunizations are one of the largest burdens on cities.

Other key findings include…

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How high does a number need to get before it becomes impressive?  How about 24 million?  What about 3 million? 

There are currently 24 million people in the U.S. who have diabetes.

The past two years has seen an increase of 3 million people in the U.S. with diabetes. 

Check the facts here on the CDC website.  Those numbers are saddening, but what is even more saddening is this little tidbit.

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by Ann Bibby

Until two summers ago I was blithely ignorant of bees and wasps. Having spent many a fall and spring dispatching the bees who wandered into my classroom via screenless windows I was a bit too nonchalant really.

But a lawn mowing incident in the summer of 2006 changed all that. While being the good daughter and mowing my parents’ lawn on a weekend visit, I disturbed a bee who was flitting in and around the area where I was working. Instead of being merely annoyed with me and tormenting me with facial fly-bys, it attacked. Chased me into the house and just as I thought I was safe - it stung me on the hand.

I haven’t been stung since I was a kid. I stepped on a bee while running barefoot through a lawn - not a good idea the experts remind us. This sting however was different. The pain was intense to the point where I couldn’t move my hand or wrist because it felt broken. I felt as though someone was kneeling on my chest and I began to wheeze a bit. Read the rest of this entry »

by Ann Bibby

I have always been amazed by my kindergartener’s hardiness. Long before the trees bud, she is clamoring for summer footwear which become the mainstay of her wardrobe until long after the same trees are bare again in the fall. Perhaps the shoe fetish gene skips generations, but Crocs and flip flops proliferate in her closet and in the both the front and back entry ways of our home.

But when she woke me at 3 A.M. this morning, complaining yet again of “growing pains” in her ankles and lower leg, my thoughts returned to a Newsweek article this week about a recent study conducted on the perennial favorite of warm weather footwear. It seems that free-wheeling summer foot wear is more than just a good way to stub a toe or skin a knee (or two). Read the rest of this entry »

Health care these days is so ridiculously complicated - at least for me. And as someone who is about to step into the entirely different world of non-employer-based health care for the very first time, I am rather overwhelmed by its complexity and shortcomings. So it was with great interest - and a little fear - that I read a recent NYT article about women who have had Ceasareans paying higher premiums for health care. Why? Oh, ’cause they might have another and cost more!! Why oh why am I not surprised?

So. I’m picturing this: You get a Caesarean, then you leave your job (where if you’re lucky you get benefits!). Now you need to buy health care outside of an employer-protected risk pool, so pre-existing conditions really matter (that pesky problem with our health care system - if you’re ill you just might be too ill to cover!). And if a Caesarean is a pre-existing condition, well, you pay more. Yikes. What do you think, mamas? Fair? Worried? Happened to you?

Check out the International Caesarean Awareness Network to learn more.

 Over at Treehugger, there was a short listing of hollywoods sexiest vegetarians.  It was not the vegetarian aspect that made my day, or the the sexy part, but the link to Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey’s latest press release regarding the Green Our Vaccine march this coming Wednesday on June 4th in Washingtong D.C.  What is their goal? 

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   Just when you might think the “big guys” are not listening.   A major health care chain in the Midwest will stop offering bottled water at its 20 hospitals starting Sunday.  SSM is among the first health care chains in the nation to take such a step toward reducing bottled water.  How many bottles will be eliminated? 

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Kyla, from The Journey, has shared her daughter’s and family’s story many times in many places. Most recently, she told it to elected officials in Austin—where she explained that children who lack insurance and health care cost us all more than any program such as the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ever could. And aren’t children more valuable that any price we could name? (You can read her speech here.) Here’s Kyla’s story:

Two months ago, my daughter lost her insurance coverage when the plan she was covered by shut down. When I applied for another individual plan, she was denied because of her complex, but undiagnosed medical issues. We were referred to the High Risk Pool, which was created for children with a high need for medical care, but she is not eligible for that program either, because my husband’s employer offers a group plan.

The problem is, we cannot afford a plan that costs 30% of our monthly income, and even if we could, it is not comprehensive and will not cover many of my daughter’s medical needs. For example, her therapies, which cost upwards of $400 per week are not covered, neither are her genetic appointments and related tests. A single genetic blood test can cost more than $3,000. Even if it were possible to cover the cost, it does not make sense to pay nearly $1,000 per month for a plan that does not cover her medical tests and treatment.

Keep reading Kyla’s story… Read the rest of this entry »