This would be a stirring endorsement for the Yosemite Sam mudflap industry if they existed for bikes.
But mudguards are readily available and are being touted by Norwegian and Swedish researchers as a way to reduce the risk of gastroenteritis related to bicycle races over courses with animal feces and mud.

Seasonal eating is easy and a privilege in the sub-tropical climate of Brisbane – it ain’t Canada.
Those sweet purple (red) onions, delicious roasted on their own or in many dishes, were $0.19/kg a couple of weeks ago (something shy of $0.09/pound).
I’m still feeling good about that deal. And an excellent addition to tonight’s duck stew.

COLUMBIA -- Two South Carolina companies are recalling nearly 7,000 pounds of ground beef that possibly are contaminated with E. coli.
The South Carolina Meat Poultry Inspection Department announced the recall on Friday for products from Lancaster Frozen Foods in Lancaster and G&W Inc. in Hickory Grove.

Caribe Produce LTD Co. of McAllen, TX, is recalling 286 cases of Papaya Maradol, Caribeña Brand papayas packed in 35 lb. cartons marked with the brand “ Caribeña “ and “ Product of Mexico” stamped on the side.

SACRAMENTO -- Dr. Ron Chapman, state public health officer and director of California Department of Public Health (CDPH), today warned people not to eat certain bagged salads manufactured by River Ranch Fresh Foods, LLC because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. To date, no illnesses have been reported.

Casey Blake of the Asheville Citizen Times reported today that the number of reported cases in a three-month Buncombe-based – Tempeh caused – Salmonella Paratyphi B outbreak is still climbing. The total number of reported cases linked to the outbreak was 83 as of Friday afternoon, 62 of which involved residents of Buncombe County. The total count includes cases of people who visited or otherwise had connections to Buncombe County and were believed to have been exposed to the bacteria here.

Agriculture officials have isolated the strain of salmonella that struck in late February — called paratyphi B — to one ingredient: A starter culture distributed by Tempeh Online of Rockville, Maryland to local company Smiling Hara Tempeh.

Paratyphi B is a rare type of salmonella in part because it has a 30-day incubation period as opposed to one to 10 days found in more common types. The disease causes diarrhea that may be bloody, high fever, headache and abdominal pain. It is rarely fatal but can be dangerous to the young, elderly or people with weak immune systems.

According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, raw milk products produced by Organic Pastures of Fresno County have been released from a statewide quarantine that began May 10. CDFA imposed the quarantine in response to the detection of campylobacter bacteria, and notification from the California Department of Public Health of reported campylobacter food-borne illnesses in persons consuming Organic Pastures raw milk. CDPH also isolated Campylobacter jejuni from six samples of the dairy’s raw cream, one sample of raw butter and four samples of cow manure from the milking herd.

From January through April 30, 2012, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reports that at least 10 people with campylobacter infection were identified throughout California and reported consuming Organic Pastures raw milk prior to illness onset. Their median age is 11.5 years, with six under 18. The age range is nine months to 38 years. They are residents of Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Santa Clara counties. None of the patients have been hospitalized, and there have been no deaths.

It is becoming a harder for Organic Pastures to defend raw milk so vehemently after the dairy has now been linked to 4 outbreaks and 6 recalls.

In 2006, three strains of E. coli O157:H7 were cultured from Organic Pastures' heifers' feces.  That same year, the dairy was quarantined after six children became ill with E. coli infections - two with hemolytic uremic syndrome - linked to its raw milk.

In 2007, fifty strains of Campylobacter jejuni plus Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter fetus, Campylobacter hyointetinalis, and Campylobacter lari were cultured from OPDC dairy cow feces after eight people were sickened.  See the state report here. 

In 2007, Listeria monocytogenes was cultured from Organic Pastures Grade A raw cream.

In 2008, Campylobacter was cultured from Organic Pastures Grade A raw cream.

In November 2011, a cluster of five young children with Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 infection with matching pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns was identified. All five children reported drinking commercially available raw (unpasteurized) milk from a single dairy (Organic Pastures) and had no other common exposures. The epidemiological findings led to a quarantine and recall of all Organic Pastures products except cheese aged more than 60 days. Environmental samples collected at Organic Pastures yielded E. coli O157:H7 isolates that had PFGE patterns indistinguishable from the patient isolates.  

Dry dog food manufactured in Diamond Pet Foods’ Gaston, South Carolina production plant has been linked to at least 15 cases of Salmonella Infantis infections in 9 states, according to a May 11, 2012 report from CDC. Confirmed outbreak cases have been documented in Alabama (1), Connecticut (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (3), North Carolina (3), New Jersey (1), Ohio (2), Pennsylvania (2), and Virginia (1). Five people were hospitalized. One Canadian – a resident of the province of Quebec – also was reported by the Public Health Agency of Canada to be a victim of this outbreak.

On May 18, 2012, Diamond Pet Foods expanded its earlier recalls to include Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb & Rice Formula (samples, 6-lb and 18-lb bags; Manufactured Aug 26, 2011).

Diamond Pet Foods had previously recalled nine brands of dry pet food formulas that were manufactured in Gaston. All batches manufactured between December 9, 2011 and April 7, 2012 are affected.

Consolidated list of recalled dry pet food products (as of May 18, 2012)

• Apex Chicken and Rice Dog (20-lb and 40-lb bags; Production code ACD0101B32; Best by date 24-Jan-2013)
• Canidae Dog Dry Dog Food, All Life Stages (All packages sizes; Best before date between December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013; Production code must have the number “3″ in the 9th digit AND the letter “X” in the 10th or 11th digit)
• Canidae Dog Dry Dog Food, Chicken Meal & Rice (All packages sizes; Best before date between December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013; Production code must have the number “3″ in the 9th digit AND the letter “X” in the 10th or 11th digit)
• Canidae Dog Dry Dog Food, Lamb Meal & Rice (All packages sizes; Best before date between December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013; Production code must have the number “3″ in the 9th digit AND the letter “X” in the 10th or 11th digit)
• Canidae Dog Dry Dog Food, Canidae Platinum (All packages sizes; Best before date between December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013; Production code must have the number “3″ in the 9th digit AND the letter “X” in the 10th or 11th digit)
• Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul (All package sizes and formulas; Best before dates between December 9, 2012 and April 7, 2013; Production codes have a number “2″ or “3″ in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 10th or 11th digit)
• Country Value (All package sizes and formulas; Best before dates between December 9, 2012 and April 7, 2013; Production codes have a number “2″ or “3″ in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 10th or 11th digit)
• Diamond (All package sizes and formulas; Best before dates between December 9, 2012 and April 7, 2013; Production codes have a number “2″ or “3″ in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 10th or 11th digit)
• Diamond Naturals (All package sizes and formulas; Best before dates between December 9, 2012 and April 7, 2013; Production codes have a number “2″ or “3″ in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 10th or 11th digit)
• Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb & Rice Formula (Samples, 6-lb bags, 18-lb bags; Manufactured Aug 26, 2011; Production Code DSL0801; Best before 26-Aug-2012, 27-Sept-2012 (manufactured on Aug. 26, 2011 and packaged on Sept. 27, 2011), and 18-Oct-2012 (manufactured on Aug. 26, 2011 and packaged on Oct. 18, 2011))
• Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Lamb, Rice & Vegetable Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013; Production codes have a number “3″ in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)
• Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013; Production codes have a number “3″ in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)
• Kirkland Signature Super Premium Mature Dog Chicken, Rice & Egg Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013; Production codes have a number “3″ in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)
• Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Dog Formulated with Chicken & Vegetables (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013; Production codes have a number “3″ in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)
• Kirkland Signature Super Premium Maintenance Cat Chicken & Rice Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013; Production codes have a number “3″ in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)
• Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Cat Formula (December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013; Production codes have a number “3″ in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)
• Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Salmon Meal & Sweet Potato Formula for Dogs (December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013; Production codes have a number “3″ in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 11th digit)
• Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog (5 lb bag; Best by December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012; March 13, 2013)
• Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog (15 lb bag; Best by December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012; December 14, 2012; March 5, 2013; March 6, 2013)
• Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog (28 lb bag; Best by December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012; December 14, 2012; March 5, 2013; March 6, 2013; March 7, 2013; March 8, 2013; March 12, 2013)
• Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog (5 lb, 15 lb, and 28 lb bags; Best by December 10, 2012; December 21, 2012; December 22, 2012)
• Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog (5 lb bag; Best by December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012; December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012)
• Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog (15 lb and 28 lb bags; Best by December 9, 2012; December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012; December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012)
• Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog (5 lb bag; Best by December 9, 2012)
• Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Large Breed Bites (28 lb bag; Best by December 12, 2012; December 20, 2012; December 21, 2012)
• Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Small Breed Bites (5 lb and 12.5 lb bags; Best by December 21, 2012)
• Premium Edge (All package sizes and formulas; Best before dates between December 9, 2012 and April 7, 2013; Production codes have a number “2″ or “3″ in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 10th or 11th digit)
• Professional (All package sizes and formulas; Best before dates between December 9, 2012 and April 7, 2013; Production codes have a number “2″ or “3″ in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 10th or 11th digit)
• 4Health (All package sizes and formulas; Best before dates between December 9, 2012 and April 7, 2013; Production codes have a number “2″ or “3″ in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 10th or 11th digit)
• Solid Gold WolfKing Large Breed Adult Dog Food (4-lb pkg; Batch code starting with SGL1201A32X; Best before December 30, 2012; UPC 093766750050)
• Solid Gold WolfKing Large Breed Adult Dog Food (15-lb bag; Batch code starting with SGL1201A32X; Best before December 30, 2012; UPC 093766750067)
• Solid Gold WolfKing Large Breed Adult Dog Food (28.5-lb bag; Batch code starting with SGL1201A32X; Best before December 30, 2012; UPC 093766750081)
• Solid Gold WolfCub Large Breed Puppy Food (4-lb pkg; Batch code starting with SGB1201A31X; Best before December 30, 2012; UPC 093766750005)
• Solid Gold WolfCub Large Breed Puppy Food (15-lb bag; Batch code starting with SGB1201A31X; Best before December 30, 2012; UPC 093766750012)
• Solid Gold WolfCub Large Breed Puppy Food (33-lb bag; Batch code starting with SGB1201A31X; Best before December 30, 2012; UPC 093766750029)
• Taste of the Wild (All package sizes and formulas; Best before dates between December 9, 2012 and April 7, 2013; Production codes have a number “2″ or “3″ in the 9th digit and the letter “X” in the 10th or 11th digit)
• Wellness Complete Health® Super5Mix® Large Breed Puppy (15 lb. and 30 lb. bags and 5 oz. sample bags; best by dates of JAN 9 2013 through JAN 11 2013)

Thanks to efoodalert.