BBQ Basics

However you call it, barbecue or barbeque or bar-b-que or bbq, barbacoa (Spanish), barbie (chiefly in Australia and New Zealand) or braai (in South Africa), it is a method and/or apparatus for cooking food with the heat and hot gases of a fire, smoking wood, hot coals of charcoal or with propane or other similar gases, and may include application of a marinade or basting sauce to the meat.

With the season upon us, here are some tips to prevent foodborne illness while searing your whatever over some form of heat.

TTFN, Fred.

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Bbq Basics 052207

pH

What is the connection between the 1920 Noble Prize Winner for Chemistry, the 1921 Noble Prize Winner for Physics, the development of microware radar and the Manhattan Project (which lead to the development of the atomic bomb)?

pH. I kid you not.

pH measurements are based on the Nernst Equation, developed by Dr. Hermann Nernst, the 1920 Noble Prize Winner for Chemistry. The later Nernst-Einstein Equation (Dr. Albert Einstein was the 1921 Noble Prize Winner for Physics) describes ion diffusion and mobility. The control knob of the original pH meter, designed by Dr. Orville Beckman, evolved into the Helipot (short for helical potentiometer), which was used by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to develop microware radar for military use. The principle of signal amplification lead to the development of micro-microammeter (which measures current and is calibrated to indicate the intensity of light, which later lead to the development of a dosimeter, which was used to measure the amount of radiation produced during the Manhattan Project.

Well, I'm impressed, but then that's just me.

This week, we'll look at pH.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "Above all things, never be afraid. The enemy who forces you to retreat is himself afraid of you at that very moment. " - Andre Maurois (French author, 1885 - 1967)

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pH

Metal Detection

Mention the words metal detector and you'll get completely different reactions from different people. For instance, some people think of combing a beach in search of coins or buried treasure. Other people think of airport security, or the handheld scanners at a concert or sporting event. Those of us in the food industry think about how metal detection plays a large part in the overall safety of our products.

The fact is that all of these scenarios are valid. Metal-detector technology is a huge part of our lives, with a range of uses that spans from leisure to work to safety. The metal detectors in airports, office buildings, schools, government agencies and prisons help ensure that no one is bringing a weapon onto the premises. Consumer-oriented metal detectors provide millions of people around the world with an opportunity to discover hidden treasures (along with lots of junk). Metal detectors are essential equipment for most food and pharmaceutical processors.

This week, we'll look at how metal detectors work.

TTFN, Fred.

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Metal Detectors

National Organic Program

In the earliest years of organic farming in the U.S., most of what was produced was consumed locally. In those years, it was common for the consumer to either have direct contact with the grower, or have confidence in a retailer who purchased directly from the grower. However, as the organic market began to expand in the 1970s, the supply chain lengthened. There was a greater likelihood that organic products would pass through many hands and travel many miles between the farmer and the consumer. Under such circumstances, the end buyer needed some means to confirm that the purchased product was truly organic. The organic industry addressed these needs through a process called third-party certification.

By the late 1980s, there were a number of private and state-run certifying bodies operating in the United States. Standards varied among these entities, causing problems in commerce. Certifiers often refused to recognize products certified by another agent as organic, which was a particular problem for organic livestock producers seeking feed, and for processors trying to source ingredients. In addition, a number of well-publicized incidents of fraud began to undermine the credibility of the organic industry. In an effort to curb these problems, the organic community pursued federal legislation. The result was the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, which mandated the creation of the National Organic Program (NOP) and the passage of uniform organic standards.

This week we'll take a look at the NOP.

TTFN, Fred.

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National Organic Program

Stop. Breathe. Think. Act.

The Ancient Greeks blamed the woodland sprite, Pan, for panic. He would follow people through the forest, causing frightening rustling noises in the bushes until the travelers would be running blindly in fear, resulting in cuts, scrapes, and contusions. This continued until the invention of another mischievous sprite, called “Attorney,” who would jump out of the bushes and sue Pan for all those cuts, scrapes, and contusions, putting the poor sprite out of business.

When we panic, our actions may seem unusual to people who have never experienced this phenomenon, but those actions were the simple and predictable result of panic, a perfectly normal human reaction. We need to expect it, allow for it and understand how it affects us.

"Stop. Breathe. Think. Act." is a GMP-related tip I used in a previous life. It's just as applicable here as anywhere else I've worked.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "It is not enough to aim; you must hit." - Italian Proverb

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03 Stop Breathe Think Act