Prevention Matters

New Yorkers’ efforts to curb salt use and the widespread presence of bacteria linked to feces at soda fountains were named the Best and Worst Prevention Ideas of the week.

The “Best/Worst” awards are given by “Prevention Matters,” the blog of Partnership for Prevention. Nominees are suggested by Partnership staff and the general public, and voted on by the staff. For more information about Partnership for Prevention, go to www.prevent.org .


BEST


NYC Seeks National Effort to Curb Salt Use

New York City officials plan to unveil a broad new health initiative aimed at encouraging food manufacturers and restaurant chains across the country to curtail the amount of salt in their products. The plan, for which the city claims support from health agencies in other cities and states, sets a goal of reducing the amount of salt in packaged and restaurant food by 25 percent over the next five years. Public health experts say that would reduce the incidence of high blood pressure and should help prevent some of the strokes and heart attacks associated with that condition. The plan is voluntary for food companies and involves no legislation. It allows companies to cut salt gradually over five years so the change is not so noticeable to consumers.


WORST

Bacteria Linked to Feces Found on Soda Fountains

A team of microbiologists from Hollins University found that 48% of the sodas they tested from fast food soda fountains had coliform bacteria. Coliform is typically fecal in origin. On top of that, the study found that most of the bacteria were resistant to antibiotics. The team tested 90 beverages from 30 fountains, and published their findings in the International Journal of Food Microbiology.