Latest news with #Enterococcus
NBC News
a day ago
- Health
- NBC News
Dozens of beaches close before July Fourth weekend due to fecal bacteria
Just ahead of the Independence Day long weekend, beaches across the country have closed and issued advisories due to excessive levels of harmful bacteria. The culprit is fecal waste, a common summer problem in both freshwater and oceans that can cause gastrointestinal illness and skin infections. At least six states have issued closures or advisories for certain beaches and lakes that have tested positive for fecal bacteria above safe levels. In Massachusetts, almost two dozen beaches are closed due to excessive bacteria levels. Four beaches in New York are closed. Illinois has issued at least eight advisories in the past few weeks. Los Angeles County had released eight ocean water quality advisories as of Tuesday. Michigan has closed three beaches. The bacteria causing havoc for summer swimmers include and Enterococcus — nasty germs often found in the feces of people and animals. The contamination can occur because of sewage, manure or storm runoff. is more likely to be found in freshwater, whereas enterococcus can form in both marine and freshwater. Edward Dudley, director of the E. Coli Reference Center at Pennsylvania State University, said testing bodies of water used for swimming is routine and common, as are closures. Beach closures are more likely around the summer months, when ocean surface temperatures are high and bacteria can grow more easily, said Antarpreet Jutla, associate professor of environmental engineering sciences at the University of Florida. However, a variety of factors — including human activity, temperature and water movement — can affect bacterial growth, he said. Jutla also said that beach closures due to fecal bacteria are very common. In North Carolina, officials warned about cyanobacteria algae blooms in Lake Norman, urging people to keep children and pets away from water that appears bright green, blue or scummy. Different from fecal bacteria, cyanobacteria are the most common cause of algae blooms in freshwater, such as lakes or rivers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Research suggests that climate change may be triggering cyanobacterial algae blooms more frequently. Although the Environmental Protection Agency sets guidelines on safe levels of fecal bacteria, states can set their own water quality and monitoring standards. Some, such as Illinois, test public beaches every two weeks. 'I would say, the higher the levels, probably the higher the risk,' Dudley said. While fecal waste can lead to many harmful diseases, experts are worried by recent increasing levels of another harmful bacteria: vibrio. Vibrio is a potentially deadly bacteria that has caused similar beach closures in recent years. The flesh-eating bug thrives in warm, coastal waters. Jutla, who researches vibrio bacteria, has seen vibrio gradually migrate north across the United State. Testing for vibrio depends on each state as well as its concentration limits, he said. 'It's a rare thing right now with increasing trends in the entire country, but that's something that we are really concerned about — what is going to be present in the coastal waters,' Jutla said about vibrio.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Does Freezing Meat ‘Reset' the Expiration Date?
photosiber/Adobe Stock For all the information stuffed into product packaging and nutrition labels, it can be surprisingly hard to know how to navigate basic food safety issues that arise in the kitchen. Like: Does freezing meat and poultry 'reset' the expiration date (a.k.a. the use-by date)? Say, if you buy raw chicken breast that has a use-by date within five days and then freeze it on the fifth, do you have another five days to use it after it thaws—or has the clock already run out? Theoretical as this question might seem, the stakes could be high. If you wait too long after thawing to finish off the meat or poultry, for example, the quality could deteriorate significantly. That's because spoilage bacteria like Pseudomonads, Lactobacillus, and Enterococcus—which love the cool fridge temps—start to grow. Spoilage bacteria generally don't make you sick, but they will probably yuck up your meat, leading to an 'off' smell and taste. Some types of pathogenic, or disease-causing, bacteria, like Listeria, can fare well in the fridge, too, so it's possible that meat left too long could harbor health risks. That said, the primary concern in this situation isn't foodborne illness, provided the stuff is properly cooked once thawed—rather, it's more of a 'food spoilage issue,' Martin Bucknavage, MS, a senior food safety extension associate at Pennsylvania State University, tells SELF. Not only is spoiled meat and poultry nasty (you don't want a decaying cutlet stinking up your fridge, much less percolating in your GI tract), it also amounts to a waste of money and food, so it's definitely an outcome you want to avoid. Thankfully, with the right knowledge on freezing best practices, you can do just that. First, a quick refresher on freezing: The super-cold temp—freezers should be set to zero degrees Fahrenheit or lower—stalls the growth of bacteria and other organisms. Importantly, it doesn't kill these bugs. Rather, it prevents them from multiplying (and further hurting the quality or safety of the item). Depending on kind and cut, frozen meat and poultry is best if used within 3 to 12 months, but it'll stay safe pretty much indefinitely. With freezing on the table, you no longer have to chuck a, well, package of chuck if your dinner plans change and you don't have time to cook it before its expiration date. It's 'just a great way to save that [item] so you don't have to throw it away,' Bucknavage says. Helpful as it may be, though, freezing is not a miracle worker: Sorry, but it 'doesn't restart the clock' on your products' expiration dates, Darin Detwiler, PhD, a food safety expert and associate teaching professor at Northeastern University's College of Professional Studies, tells SELF. Yes, freezing will halt the progression of bacterial growth in meat and poultry, but once they thaw, that growth will resume. For an item that's frozen just as it's about to expire, that growth is in all likelihood already pretty far advanced (basically, it's 'already on the way to becoming spoiled,' Bucknavage says), so the countdown is well underway—and the item won't last much longer. So that chicken breast we mentioned earlier? If you buy it five days before the use-by date and freeze it on the day it expires, you don't then have another five days to use it after it thaws, because the resumed bacterial growth will take it past the point of no return within that time frame. Once full-blown spoilage sets in, you'll likely notice changes to smell, appearance, and texture. 'It may be grayish and feel slightly slimy to the touch,' Bucknavage says. 'There might be a slight to significant odor.' These signs should signal that the item is no longer fit to eat, but if you somehow miss the signs and chow down anyway, you'd probably note a slightly sour to flat-out rancid taste (gross!). Overall? 'It is not going to be good,' Bucknavage says. Unless your product is already contaminated with Listeria (and you don't cook it well), you probably won't develop an infection or anything like that. But the spoilage bacteria can produce byproducts 'that can upset your stomach,' he explains. For example, Pseudomonads and Lactobacillus yield undesirable chemicals like lactic acid and hydrogen sulfide when allowed to flourish unchecked. So to prevent your thawed meat and poultry from spoiling if you froze them on or around the expiration date, the smartest move is to use such items ASAP. Basically, 'you really want to cook it as soon as you thaw it out,' Bucknavage says—generally, within the day. If you want to be extra careful, shoot for within two hours, as Dr. Detwiler recommends. That said, 'using' doesn't necessarily have to mean eating. If you don't feel like digging in that same day, you can just cook and then refrigerate (or freeze!) the meal so you can enjoy it at a more convenient time. Much like freezing itself, cooking is another ingenious workaround that can help you extend the lifespan of your meat and poultry, since the strong heat kills off lurking bacteria. Just make sure that the internal temp reaches the minimum needed to kill pathogens—140 degrees Fahrenheit for red meat, 160 degrees for ground meat, and 165 degrees for poultry. You can use a food thermometer to check. 'Having a good, accurate thermometer is very important,' since 'you cannot tell the right temperature by look or feel or smell,' Dr. Detwiler says. Make sure to refrigerate leftovers within two hours of cooking. And if you're not able to finish them off within three to four days, you can even pop them in the freezer to buy yourself some extra time! That way, all you'd have to do is thaw, heat, and enjoy—on your own clock. Related: How to 'Fridgescape' to Keep Your Food Safe, Save Money, and Actually Get Organized 8 Things Food Safety Experts Would Never Do in Their Own Kitchens Is It Safe to Put Piping-Hot Food in the Fridge, or Should I Let It Cool Down a Bit First? Get more of SELF's great service journalism delivered right to your inbox. Originally Appeared on Self
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Water Quality Advisory Issued for Okaloosa County locations
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County has issued a water quality advisory for multiple locations in Fort Walton and Niceville. The following locations did not meet the recreational water quality criteria for Enterococcus bacteria according to a test on June 9th: Liza Jackson Park, 338 Miracle Strip Parkway SW, Fort Walton Beach Emerald Promenade, 933 Whelk Court, Fort Walton Beach Rocky Bayou State Park, 4281 Highway 20, Niceville Enterococci are enteric bacteria that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals; their presence could be an indication of fecal pollution. More information on the test results can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
High bacteria levels found in Lowcountry water. Where to avoid.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Many locals and visitors might have the urge to play in coastal waters this weekend, but Charleston Waterkeeper highlights some spots to consider avoiding. The group notes that higher levels of bacteria are present after heavy rains and on lower tides, and suggests waiting 48 hours after rainfall before jumping in the water. On June 6, a water quality report from Charleston Waterkeeper states some popular spots have higher levels of Enterococcus bacteria. Those areas include Filbin Creek at Hendricks Park, three areas of Shem Creek, a portion of Hobcaw Creek, and a portion of James Island Creek. Why do you want to avoid Enterococcus bacteria? The presence of the bacteria above certain levels suggests that swimming and other recreational saltwater activities might be a risk to human health due to possible contamination by fecal waste, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Charleston Waterkeeper reports that Hobcaw Creek is safe near the mouth, but suggests proceeding with caution as you move up the creek, as it is showing high levels of bacteria near I'on. Also, the James Island Creek is showing a similar pattern. The creek is safe near Harbor View, but recreational activities are not recommended as you move up the creek, especially areas by Folly Road, according to the report. Where is it safe to swim? Beachgoers are in luck because the Charleston Waterkeeper reports that Folly Beach, Sullivan's Island Beach, and Isle of Palms are all safe to dip in the waters. Some other popular spots that are also good to go to are the Charleston Harbor, the Daniel Island Waterfront, the Cove in Mount Pleasant, Clark Sound, Folly River, and Sol Legare, according to the report. To stay updated on the Swim Alert map, visit the site here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas Secures $382K Grant To Boost Beach Water Quality Monitoring
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announced Wednesday that her agency has secured $382,000 in federal funding to monitor bacterial levels at Texas beaches. The EPA grant will support the state's Texas Beach Watch program through the 2025 swimming season. The funding comes as millions of Texans prepare for summer beach trips along the Gulf Coast. Rising concerns about water quality have made bacterial monitoring increasingly critical for public health officials. 'The GLO is proud to monitor the water quality up and down our beautiful Texas coast for the well-being of beachgoers, our shoreline communities, and the marine life across various beach habitats,' said Buckingham. 'As someone who lived on the coast for over a decade, I want to thank President Trump's EPA for the issuance of this grant that will assist the Texas Beach Watch program in keeping Texans informed as they visit our beaches this summer.' The program tests specifically for Enterococcus bacteria, which naturally occurs in warm-blooded animals. While normal in coastal ecosystems, elevated levels can signal potential health risks. Heavy rainfall and stormwater runoff often drive bacterial spikes. When levels exceed safety thresholds, the GLO issues water quality advisories to warn swimmers. Still, the actual risk remains relatively low. Last year, only 797 of 8,237 samples triggered advisories—roughly 9% of all tests conducted. The GLO does not close beaches during advisories. That decision rests with local authorities who weigh multiple factors beyond bacterial counts. The grant stems from the federal BEACH Act, which mandates coastal water quality monitoring nationwide. EPA officials framed the funding as part of their 'Powering the Great American Comeback' initiative. That said, bacterial monitoring represents just one piece of coastal management. The GLO simultaneously oversees beach nourishment projects and hurricane recovery efforts across the Texas coast. Buckingham, who became Texas's first female Land Commissioner in 2022, has prioritized coastal issues. Her agency recently completed what officials describe as the state's largest beach nourishment project. The Texas Beach Watch program encourages visitors to help maintain water quality. Officials specifically request proper pet waste disposal and trash management at beach sites.
