Upgrade Your Salad
“Guess what’s for lunch? Salad!” Rarely is there cheering from the household with the announcement of salad as part of a meal. What did salad do to make people cringe at the thought of it? Perhaps, it is what’s in the salad or what’s missing. Lisa Peterson, University of Illinois Nutrition and...
The Mediterranean Lifestyle
Sea breeze, warm weather, laying in a hammock while surrounded by beautiful architecture, and soaking up the sun sounds like a dream right now. Just because we can’t physically be there, doesn’t mean we can’t eat like we are living in the Mediterranean. Over time, researchers have found...
COVID creates shortage of PPE for pesticide applicators
The shortage of personal protection equipment (PPE) extends beyond medical staff and first responders. Pesticide applicators are struggling to find the equipment required by law. Sales of respirators, face shields, and N95 face masks are being directed to health care and front-line workers,...
Produce farms provided COVID-19 disinfecting guidelines
New FDA food safety guidelines require local farmers to review and adapt their current food safety practices.
"There has never been a more important time to review food contact surfaces and high touch surface cleaning, sanitization, and disinfection procedures," says Zach Grant,...
Every Step Counts
What is the one way to be active that does not require any special skill, gym membership, or equipment? Walking! Generally walking briskly (2 ½ miles per hour or faster), swimming, yard work, gardening, dancing, and bicycling are all considered moderate intensity. The Physical Activity...
Are murder hornets here in Illinois; not likely
URBANA, Ill. - There has been a recent surge of interest in an invasive insect pest, the Asian Giant Hornet (AGH), or Vespa mandarinia. AGHs are the largest hornets in the world and are identifiable by their size and distinct bright yellow or orange heads. While well known for their large...
Farmers struggle with processing plant closures; What COVID-19 means for your dinner table
URBANA, Ill. – Headlines about dairy farms dumping milk and livestock being euthanized are a sharp contrast to empty meat cases. The novel coronavirus outbreak has disrupted the nation’s food supply chain, resulting in increased prices for panicked shoppers and major losses for Illinois farmers...
Respect electricity’s potential wrath
May is Electrical Safety Month
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Along with National Strawberry Month and National Barbecue Month, May heralds in a more serious observance: Electrical Safety Month. Electricity can be extremely dangerous, yet people rarely spend time considering...
Is Gluten-Free Right for Me?
May is celiac disease awareness month. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder resulting in damage to the lining of the small intestine from consuming the protein gluten. Damage to the small intestine prevents the body from absorbing nutrients and may lead to nutrient deficiencies, infertility...