FoodBozo.com

There were as many harmful bacteria detected on reusable plastic food trays in some Vancouver-area shopping malls as are found on toilet seats, a CBC investigation has found.

Swabs taken from trays in food courts at three malls were sent to University of British Columbia microbiologist Bob Hancock, who analyzed the samples. The malls involved were Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver, Park Royal in West Vancouver and Metrotown in Burnaby

“We saw as many bacteria on some food trays as we saw on a toilet,” said Hancock.

Read more: Dangerous bacteria found on mall food trays

Researchers from C-crest Laboratories in Montreal decided to randomly test bottled water for bacteria after a fellow employee complained of a foul taste from some bottled water and became ill.

They tested a handful of popular brands (which they did not name) and found that more than 70 per cent of the samples contained bacteria at levels that far exceed recommended limits in the U.S.

Read more here: High bacteria levels found in bottled water in Canada

Gross Alert! Fecal Bacteria Found in Bagged Salad Greens-

Even prewashed, nay, triple-washed bags of salad mixes aren’t so clean after all. Consumer Reports tested 208 bags of salad greens from 16 different brands and found that 39 percent of the samples had traces of fecal contamination. Researchers also found that mixes containing spinach had higher levels of bacteria and that greens tested at least six days before their “use by” date had lower levels of contaminants. Luckily, no traces of deadly pathogens like E. coli or salmonella were found. But still, the thought of cow poo on my baby arugula is totally gross.

Probiotics are your intestine’s good bacteria. Here are some important facts about using them to maintain a healthy gut, and where to find them.

What are probiotics?
Long story short: probiotics are good bacteria. Your digestive system is home to lots of bacteria, some good and some bad. A healthy “gut flora,” as this assemblage of microbes is called, contributes to healthy immune and digestive systems. When there is an imbalance between good and bad bacteria, you may become vulnerable to infections, including yeast infections and urinary tract infections. Diarrhea is also a common symptom when the delicate balance is lost between the two kinds of bacteria.

Discover more about these “bacteria” by reading Give me five…facts about probiotics.