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Worcester among top 20 ‘smiliest’ cities in the country, according to facial recognition scan

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Worcester is living up to its history as the birthplace of the smiley face. A recent study named it among the top 20 “smiliest” cities in the country.

HouseFresh, which describes itself as a team of indoor air quality experts, used Microsoft’s face recognition API to scan a database of Instagram photographs from every state and determine which cities and state were the “smiliest” and happiest.

The report found Concord, California was the “smiliest” city in the country with 74.4% of residents smiling in their photos.

Worcester came in as the 18th “smiliest” city with 56.6% of residents smiling in their photos, according to the report.

HouseFresh noted the city as a unique entry among the cities due to its history.

“Worcester is the city where Harvey Ball invented the smiley face. Worcester has nicknamed itself Smile City and even issues Smile City Passports offering discounts and offers at local businesses,” report author G. John Cole wrote. “No smile required, although the odds are you’ll be smiling intensely anyway.”

While Worcester is “smiley,” the state of Massachusetts ranked as the 46th “smiliest” state in the country, according to the report. Only 47.24% of residents in the state were smiling in their photos, the report stated.

Boston, the Bay State’s capital, had 54.24 % of residents smiling in their photos.

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Originally Appeared Here

5 Expert Tips for Growing Produce at Home

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Grocery store trips can feel wallet-draining these days – and that’s not an understatement. The USDA predicts that in 2022, supermarket prices will increase between 10 and 11 percent from the previous two years. This kind of inflation calls for trimming down your weekly grocery list to the essentials. But there’s another solution: Gardening can help cut down on produce spending too, since you’ll always have fresh herbs and vegetables on hand.

Think it’s too costly to maintain a garden? Think again. Rebecca Sears, Chief Gardening Guru for Ferry-Morse, gives Woman’s World pointers on growing produce at home without breaking the bank. 

How does growing your own food save money?

Gardening is an investment. You have to spend time, energy, and money to reap a good harvest — but it’s worth it! Finance writer Linsey Knerl lists the following expenses to consider before starting a garden:

  • Plants or seeds
  • Nutrient-rich soil (dirt, fertilizer, and worms)
  • Protection and structure for plants (cages, coverings, and fences)
  • Water for plants
  • Tools and accessories (tiller, gloves, and spade)

The total bill for gardening costs may vary depending on the type of produce you’re growing. However, a home garden could ultimately save you hundreds. Take it from Beth Brown (a mom of two) who’s saving about $400 monthly by growing squash, cantaloupe, lettuce, and tomatoes.

“The prices of food have really gone up just everywhere,” she told CBS News earlier this month. “So I have been growing a lot more vegetables to kind of keep up with that.” 

How do I start growing my own produce?

According to Sears, your dollar will stretch with a garden. “Some would be surprised to learn that you can get more for your money by growing produce rather than purchasing at the store,” she says.

Here are her money-saving tips for activating your inner home gardener.

One seed packet goes a long way.

Tomato seeds cost less than $3 per packet, but can yield as much as $500 worth of produce per packet. Flavorful herbs basil, thyme, oregano, and cilantro are also easy- to-grow seeds. Just one herb seed packet will produce a tasty supply from many plants — often for much less than purchasing just a few springs at the grocery store.

Courtesy of Ferry-Morse

No garden shed? No problem.

Save hundreds of dollars by using a cooler instead of purchasing a garden shed. Since it’s weatherproof, you can leave it by your garden to store tools, fertilizer, and any other materials. 

Consider using an organic granular fertilizer instead of liquid-based chemical fertilizers.

You’re going to have much more success in the long-term if you use a slow-release fertilizer that brings nutrients to the plants when you need them. An organic granular fertilizer is an ideal option, as it’ll yield better results for harvesting your produce.

Grow indoors for a year-round harvest.

Growing produce indoors during the year requires sunlight, good air flow, regular feeding, and watering. You can continue to save throughout the year by growing tomatoes inside throughout the off-season — though the plant’s production will slow down over time. Herbs can also be grown indoors throughout the year with the help of a grow light (available online and at gardening centers).

Bonus: Lavender is a versatile herb that helps save on your everyday home essentials.

Lavender is a natural deodorizer that gives a fresh scent to any room. It also has disinfectant properties and can be made into a cleaning solution. Growing lavender is an easy way to have a steady supply of the plant’s soothing properties right at your fingertips. 

Springs-of-fresh-lavendar-in-a-small-mason-jarCourtesy of Ferry-Morse

Enjoying inexpensive and organic produce is a major perk of growing it at home. Plus, frequent gardening is linked with boosting confidence and burning calories. Turns out having a green thumb can benefit your wallet and overall health!

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More in L.A. County eligible for monkeypox vaccines; California outlines isolation protocols

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Eligibility for monkeypox vaccines in Los Angeles County again expanded this week, increasing access to the two-dose series to more people meeting high-risk criteria, even as vaccine quantities remain limited.

Under the new parameters, the Los Angeles County Public Health Department will continue to primarily target vaccine distribution to gay or bisexual men and transgender people who have certain health or behavior risk factors, as the majority of confirmed cases in the county during this outbreak have been among LGBTQ men, a trend reflected across California and the globe.

Experts say the virus is spreading most easily through intimate skin-to-skin contact, including sex. However, monkeypox can be transmitted to anyone under the right circumstances, regardless of gender or sexuality.

Cases have continued to rapidly rise in recent weeks, more than doubling in L.A. County in the last two weeks, and rising by almost 40% statewide in the last week, according to the county and state public health departments. In L.A. County, confirmed and suspected cases surpassed 1,200 Monday. Statewide, the total reached 2,660 on Thursday. The vaccine supply remains low, but has steadily increased over the last few months.

As of Monday, gay or bisexual men and transgender people in L.A. County could receive the Jynneos vaccine if they had skin-to-skin or intimate contact, like kissing or hugging, with someone at a large venue during the last two weeks. And anyone who has engaged in transactional sex in the last two weeks is also newly eligible for the vaccine.

This follows an expansion of eligibility last week after the county received additional doses and federal officials authorized a new method of vaccine administration that can stretch one vial of the vaccine fivefold, which has allowed public health officials to stretch their limited doses. Except for those under 18 or with a history of keloid scars, all monkeypox vaccines in the county will be administered in the new method, which involves a shallower shot, between layers of skin, instead of into underlying fat.

Barbara Ferrer, director of L.A. County’s public health department, said her agency had expected to receive more doses from the federal government last week than were shipped, but acknowledged the new method of distribution has greatly increased its ability to reach those at risk. She said federal officials also indicated additional orders for more doses will soon be fulfilled.

“More doses will be available to communities like ours that have a population that’s at higher risk that we need to reach,” Ferrer said. “We haven’t received enough doses to reach all of them.”

The Jynneos vaccine is a two-dose series, with shots administered four weeks apart. It can be used preventively and within two weeks of an exposure.

Anyone who had previously been eligible for the shot in L.A. County, is still eligible, including people who have been identified through contact tracing as being at high risk or those with certain sexually transmitted diseases or on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, according to the county health department. People who meet the guidelines need only to self-attest their eligibility and can sign up for a vaccine appointment online or by phone with a local clinic or provider, including the health department at (833) 540-0473 from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The state also recently outlined isolation guidelines for those with a confirmed or suspected monkeypox case, recommending people stay at home until infection has been ruled out or their skin lesions are fully healed, with a fresh layer of skin formed and they’ve been free of other symptoms for at least 48 hours.

The guidance recommends limiting interactions with household members, especially skin-to-skin contact or sharing of towels or personal objects, and advises wearing a tight-fitting mask and covering any lesions when unable to avoid others. The guidance says people can resume limited, lower-risk activities if they’ve been free of fever, respiratory symptoms or new lesions for at least 48 hours and any lesions that can’t be covered — like those on the face — are fully healed. Those patients should bandage or cover any unhealed lesions, wear a well-fitting mask and avoid crowded settings.

Symptoms for monkeypox can last up to four weeks.

Many people are not yet eligible for monkeypox vaccines in L.A. County, but officials said workers in certain occupations can take steps to protect themselves.

“The risk of monkeypox remains low for the general public and that includes workers,” said Dr. Muntu Davism the county’s health officer. “[But] there are also a number of steps workers can take to generally protect themselves and their clients. … Our team has identified several sectors as priorities for this guidance.”

Officials identified certain “sectors as priorities for guidance” to protect themselves from monkeypox, like those who work in gyms, hotels, personal care, etc. But said there haven’t been any cases among people in these fields, and they still aren’t eligible for vaccines pic.twitter.com/z7RljTt65I

— Grace Toohey (@grace_2e) August 18, 2022

Davis said people working in gyms, hotels and other businesses that provide personal care services, like massage or skin care salons, can take additional steps to protect themselves, like staying home when sick, wearing gloves, disinfecting surfaces and washing their hands.

Muntu said that as of last week there have been no cases affiliated with these sectors, adding that most people who contract monkeypox recover without treatment.

However, many patients have reported extremely painful lesions, and Muntu said at least 26 people have been hospitalized in L.A. County for the illness. No one in the U.S. is known to have died of monkeypox.

Times staff writers Rong-Gong Lin II and Luke Money contributed to this report.


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Originally Appeared Here

Inflation Reduction Act Commits Significant Resources to Federal Environmental Justice Efforts | ArentFox Schiff

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The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) reflects the Biden Administration’s attention to issues of environmental justice and environmental equity. The IRA, directly and indirectly, invests in environmentally overburdened communities by: (1) seeking to reduce historic sources of pollution; (2) providing affordable and accessible sources of clean energy to disadvantaged communities; and (3) investing in communities to provide better jobs and address quality of life issues.

Funding in each of these areas is summarized below.

Pollution-Focused Funding

The IRA includes various grant programs to address emissions, air pollution, and other issues with historic pollution. The laundry list of big-ticket items includes:

  • $11 billion in funding occasioned by the reinstatement of the Superfund tax, intended to replenish funding for cleanups in communities that are disproportionately low income or otherwise overburdened by pollution sources.
  • $3 billion in funding for Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants to invest in community led projects in disadvantaged communities to address issues including public health harms related to pollution and climate change.
  • $3 billion in Neighborhood Access and Equity Grants to support a competitive grant program to address infrastructure issues, to mitigate impacts associated with transportation facilities, and to support equitable transportation planning.
  • $3 billion in grants and rebates to reduce air pollution at ports, with funding targeted to areas suffering from historically impaired air quality and to develop climate-action plans.
  • $1 billion to establish a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program to cover incremental costs associated with zero-emission school buses, garbage trucks, and transit buses, with a specific focus on equipment operated in areas with impaired air quality; and
  • $236 million for increased air pollution monitoring intended to benefit disadvantaged communities with persistent air quality issues.

Access to Clean Energy

The IRA contains a new appropriation to EPA called the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which provides increased and new funding under the Clean Air Act. EPA will provide direct grants to jump-start clean energy initiatives in low-income and disadvantaged communities. Qualified projects will reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of air pollution, in partnership with, or by leveraging investment from the private sector; or assisting communities to reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of air pollution. The appropriation sets aside 2 percent of the funding for EPA to administer the programs.

Of this amount, $7 billion is allocated for the deployment of technologies like rooftop or community solar in low-income and disadvantaged communities and $8 billion for a general fund making broad investments in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in these communities.

Investing in Communities

Finally, the IRA provides funds for various grant programs intended to benefit environmentally overburdened communities and augment climate-related resiliency efforts. These include:

  • $1.5 billion to plant trees, establish community and urban forests, and expand green spaces.
  • $550 million to ensure disadvantaged communities can plan, design, and construct water supply projects, focusing on communities or households that lack reliable access to clean water.
  • $397 million for Tribal governments to support the transition to renewable energy; to address drinking water shortages, drought relief, and wildlife programs; and to fund programming related to climate resilience and adaptation.

Related Environmental Justice Efforts

President Biden has elevated environmental justice, equity issues, and the IRA follows suit. President Biden issued EO 13985 on his first day in office to broadly require executive departments and agencies to “recognize and work to redress inequities in their policies and programs that serve as barriers to equal opportunity.” Shortly thereafter, the Biden Administration announced the “Justice40 Initiative,” (see here), setting a goal for 40 percent of the benefits of certain federal programs to go to “communities which are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution.” The Biden Administration has indicated that, between January 2021 and May 2022, Justice40-included programs totaled over $29 billion in opportunities.

The Biden Administration EJ efforts extend beyond funding. EPA personnel, including Administrator Michael Regan, emphasized in speeches that “environmental justice is not an add-on or afterthought – it is a central driving factor in all we do.” (See our discussion here.) EPA’s “Equity Action Plan” released in April committed EPA – among other things – to increase community engagement, to focus on equity in procurement and contracting, and using federal civil rights laws and a “whole of government” approach to advance environmental compliance. (See our discussion here.) One example of this approach is the US Department of Housing & Urban Development’s recent finding labeling the City of Chicago’s efforts to move a recycling facility from a wealthy, majority white neighborhood to a community that had been previously classified as “environmentally overburdened” as being problematic from an EJ perspective. (See our discussion here.)

Members of the Firm’s environmental group regularly monitor Biden Administration EJ efforts and the government’s implementation of IRA programs.

[View source.]

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Originally Appeared Here

Pure Water Oceanside Awarded $9.9 Million Federal Grant

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Pure Water OceansideThe newly operational Pure Water Oceanside facility, Photo by Jeremy Kemp

Pure Water Oceanside has been awarded a $9.9 million grant following a recommendation by the office of U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, it was announced Tuesday.

The funding will be awarded via the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART: Title XVI WIIN Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects funding, a statement from the city read. Oceanside is one of 25 applicants named for this funding.

“It is very important to the city that Pure Water Oceanside is affordable for our community,” Oceanside’s Water Utilities Director Lindsay Leahy said. “We have made great strides through the award of multiple grants, loans, and incentive programs through the Bureau of Reclamation, EPA, Department of Water Resources, Metropolitan Water District and the San Diego County Water Authority.

“We are thankful for the continued support from the Bureau of Reclamation,” she added. “This funding helps to ensure Oceanside can continue to develop a cost-effective, reliable, local water supply.”

Through its WaterSMART program, the Bureau of Reclamation provides grants to water districts and communities to “reclaim and reuse wastewater and impaired ground and surface water in the Western United States,” according to the bureau.

Pure Water Oceanside is intended to purify recycled water to create a new local source of drinking water that is clean, safe, drought-proof and environmentally sound. When finished, the project is slated to provide more than 32% of the city’s water supply — between 3 and 5 million gallons per day.

Before the project, the city imported nearly 90% of its drinking water from the Sacramento Bay Delta and the Colorado River. Pure Water Oceanside began operation and testing at the end of 2021, and final construction is expected to be complete at the end of 2022.

It will be the first operating potable reuse project in San Diego County.

–City News Service

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Back on the Bus – SNJ Today

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Nothing marks the beginning of school like the return of yellow school buses to our streets. Local school officials as well as commuters hope that all students who are offered bus service will take advantage of it.

School districts across the country experienced a huge shift during COVID.

“A higher number of parents were transporting students to school. We’re expecting more kids on the bus this year,” says Meg Finney, public information officer at Millville Public School.

She points out that it is safer for kids to be on the bus: “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says students are 70 times more likely to get to to school safely on a bus. Buses are very regulated. They are designed for public safety. We definitely want them to use the service.”

Maria L. Santiago, left, and Leah Depasquale, both drivers for Millville Public Schools, are eager to start the new school year.

It was challenging at the schools to handle the influx of drivers. “There are specific procedures in place at each school to make it as organized as possible,” Finney explains. “But some parents were sitting in line for an hour before school let out. That is a time commitment when using your own vehicle. You wouldn’t have to worry about it if they are using the service we provide.”

The same is true in Vineland. Mike Hall, director of transportation with Vineland Public Schools, is hopeful about the school year being better now that COVID is more under control.

“We had some serious bottlenecks as we had more parents transporting kids. We had many more cars on the property than we’ve ever had. The traffic was more than we could handle,” Hall says.

At the high school, traffic backed up to Main Road, a mile and a half away. The middle school traffic crept for a mile as well. Picking up was also a mess, starting an hour before school let out.

“I think we’re going back to normal ridership,” he says. “That’s what we’re anticipating.”

That is good news all around.

Maria L. Santiago, a bus driver who has been transporting Millville kids safely for more than 20 years, says she is ready.

“You get excited for the first day,” she says. “I’ve got my Lysol, my gloves, my wipes, my hand sanitizer. I’ve got the glass cleaner. I mop the floors, too. I put name tags up.”

Santiago drives special-needs and behavioral disorder kids, making her route longer than most, and she also has an aide. She clearly loves it and mixes in good advice with safe driving. “You get attached. If my kids have a bad day, I tell them to get a shower, do your chores. Tomorrow is a fresh day. We start again.”

Leah Depasquale, a driver starting her fourth year in Millville, also refers to her riders as “my kids.” Like other drivers, she runs the same route each day, first picking up high school students and taking them to school, then middle schoolers on that same route, then the elementary students. After school she returns the students home in the same order. Her route stays the same year to year.

“I like seeing all my kids. Kids who started with me in Kindergarten are now in 4th grade,” Depasquale says. “Some I’ve had for years and then a little brother or sister comes on the bus.”

Depasquale decorates her bus monthly for the kids.

Santiago and Depasquale meet up at Sheppard Bus Service’s headquarters in Millville. Sheppard provides the bus service for the Millville schools. This is go-time.

Cindy Carter, chief of operations at Sheppard, says drivers have “their route sheets. They are running dry routes [empty buses]. Consistency with our drivers is key. They get to know their children and their families.”

Owners John and Kelly Sheppard are second generation in this 70-year-old family-run business with more than 700 employees. In addition to the 500-plus school vehicles in five terminals in the state, they also operate a fleet providing other transportation services.

There are about 5,000 students in the Millville schools, most of them riding buses to school. Later this week, Millville will be distributing bus passes through the parent portal.

Finney offers these tips. “Once you know where your bus stop is, check it out ahead of time. Take three giant steps back so you’re six feet away from the curb.”

She reminds students this is “not a place to be goofing around. Everything should be packed up. This is not the time to be going through your backpack, not trying to finish up homework or to be on the phone. Practice good pedestrian safety. Never walk behind a bus. If walking in front, walk at least 10 feet in front of it. Always wait for the bus to stop. We have procedures for getting on and off the bus. It is a learning process for some.”

Students will need to show bus passes to drivers. “It’s part of getting acclimated to the school year,” Finney explains. “When you get on the bus, find a seat quickly. Get buckled. Stay seated; don’t lean over seats. Have all your belongings with you. Listen to the bus driver. All buses are equipped with cameras for safety.”

Her advice to parents is to get to know their kids’ bus driver: “Drivers are learning routes. Have some grace and patience, like anything else at the start of a school year, there might be little kinks to work out.”

Hall shares Vineland’s numbers: “We have just north of 11,000 students, close to 9,000 ride school buses. There are 23 schools, 160 school buses.”

Vineland has its own buses. “We’re having our drivers personally disinfect their own buses. It kills germs and so forth,” he says. “After every morning run, they will wipe down or spray down.”

Like the rest of the country, Vineland faced staffing shortages but found a game changer in running their own training center.

“In November we started our own CDL,” Hall continues. “We have four trainers. Before, drivers had to come in with a license. Now we can teach you all the way.”

Bus drivers-in-training have 20 hours of classroom training and 25 to 40 hours on the road. “We’re in great condition. I’m looking forward to getting started,” Hall says.

Both Sheppard bus drivers interviewed for this story are protective of their precious cargo. They want the public to be too. “Stop when these red lights are flashing. I need people to stop,” says Depasquale emphatically. She asks drivers to drive as if it were their own kids on the bus.

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Originally Appeared Here

Get tickets to a talk with Dr Alex George

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Join us for a talk with Dr Alex George at Good Housekeeping Live in partnership with Dyson, a two-day event at Carlton House Terrace, London on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 October in celebration of our 100th anniversary.

Taking place on Saturday 15 October at 1-1.45pm, How to Create a Happy, Clutter-Free Home, sponsored by Dyson will showcase how a clean and tidy home can positively impact your life.

With the help of organisational expert Dilly Carter of Declutter Dollies, UK mental health ambassador and star of BBC’s Sort Your Life Out Dr Alex George and a leading Dyson microbiologist, you’ll learn why decluttering is essential and how to organise great systems for your home. You’ll also discover how aspects of your home can potentially impact your wellbeing, the science behind making you love your home more, as well as how to feel more in control of your life. The session will be chaired by Good Housekeeping’s Editor-in-Chief, Gaby Huddart.

All ticket holders will take home a special 100th anniversary GH goodie bag. Book before August 31 and tickets are just £20.00, thanks to a 20% early bird discount.

BOOK HERE

All ticket holders can also enjoy a full day relaxing in the beautiful surroundings of Carlton House Terrace, grab light refreshments in the GH Cafe, browse the GH Bookshop and have the opportunity to attend the following free workshops and experiences:

  • FREE fashion talks – browse the latest looks and learn how to style them with the help of GH fashion director Oonagh Brennan.
  • FREE tablescaping demonstrations from the GH Homes team.
  • FREE cake and biscuit decorating demos from professional bakers.
  • FREE flower-arranging workshop from the experts at Bloom & Wild.
  • FREE guided taste test with the Good Housekeeping Institute team.
  • FREE guided tour of the Dyson Healthy Home exhibition area, plus floor-care demonstration by experts from Dyson and the GHI.
  • FREE mini treatments in The Beauty Parlour in partnership with Absolute Collagen.
  • FREE talks by the fragrance and cleaning experts at Zoflora on how to create a beautiful-smelling home.
  • FABULOUS live music.
  • THE CHANCE TO meet and chat to the GH team about life behind the scenes of your favourite magazine.

    Book before the end of August and you can take advantage of a 20% discount on the cost of all full-price Good Housekeeping Live tickets. Tickets for our How to Create a Happy, Clutter-Free Home event (sponsored by Dyson) are just £20.00.

    BOOK HERE

    Good Housekeeping Live in partnership with Dyson is a two-day event at Carlton House Terrace, London taking place on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 October in celebration of our 100-year anniversary.

    We’re delighted to offer you the opportunity to join the Good Housekeeping team for a packed programme featuring some of our favourite stars, experts and authors, which encompass live talks, masterclasses and cookery demonstrations.

    Other guests at our two-day event include Fern Britton, Nadiya Hussain, Shirley Ballas and Lucy Worsley.

    FULL LINE UP

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    Originally Appeared Here

Dept. of Natural Resources: Seeking public comment for environmental review of the Village Of Cobb Safe Drinking Water Loan Program Project

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MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the village of Cobb is an applicant for funding through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP) to improve its public drinking water system. The project includes the replacement of watermains on Clifton and School streets in the village of Cobb.

Activities related to this project are minor actions under Chapter NR 150, Wis. Admin. Code, for which no environmental analysis is required; however, following the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program federal requirement 40 C.F.R. §35.3580, an environmental review must be conducted before funding this project.

The Safe Drinking Water Loan Program has determined that the project will not result in significant adverse environmental effects, and no further environmental review or analysis is needed before proceeding with funding the project.

The public is encouraged to submit comments regarding this decision and the potential environmental impacts of this project. Submit comments by Sept. 6, 2022 to:

Department of Natural Resources
C/O Michelle Brietzman, Community Financial Assistance, CF/2
101 S Webster St.
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707
[email protected]gov or 608-490-0187

Based on the comments received, the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the funding process. The analysis would summarize the DNR’s consideration of the project’s impacts and reasonable alternatives.

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Originally Appeared Here

FDA Issues Urgent Nationwide Recall of Freeze-Dried Blueberries Distributed by a California Company Due to Lead Concerns

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Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted information about an urgent voluntary recall of two batches of imported blueberries that were distributed by a company out of the Los Angeles area. The freeze-dried blueberries were grown in Lithuania and distributed online and through retail stores across the United States.

According to the announcement, the recall was initiated because of the presence, or potential presence, of lead above the FDA’s recommended limits. Fortunately, at the time of the recall posting, the company had not received any reports of adverse events related to the use of the freeze-dried blueberries.

The recall notice warns:
People with high blood levels of lead may show no symptoms, but the condition may cause damage to the nervous system and internal organs. Acute lead poisoning may cause a wide range of symptoms, including abdominal pain, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and bloody or decreased urinary output. Children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning.

“Many people don’t associate lead exposure risks as ever coming from food products, for most, it’s more likely to be concerns about contaminated water or dusts from old lead-based paints,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “However, in just the last few years, there have been a number of recalls due to elevated levels of lead found in everything from imported spices to candies. The FDA even recently issued draft action levels for lead in single-strength (ready to drink) apple juice and other single-strength juices and juice blends.”

Helping food manufacturers, processors, importers and distributors test for lead, and other chemical or microbial contaminants, are the food scientists at LA Testing. With multiple laboratory locations in California, they offer food, beverage and product testing services. This form of testing can be instrumental for safeguarding the public from needless exposure risks and for protecting companies from the high costs associated with product recalls.

To learn more about testing for contaminants and pathogens in food products, please visit www.LATesting.com, email [email protected] or call (800) 755-1794.

About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for food, environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC Elite, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.

This news content may be integrated into any legitimate news gathering and publishing effort. Linking is permitted.

News Release Distribution and Press Release Distribution Services Provided by WebWire.

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Originally Appeared Here

Get tickets to a talk with author Kate Mosse

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Author Kate Mosse will be speaking at Good Housekeeping Live in partnership with Dyson, a two-day event at Carlton House Terrace, London on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 October in celebration of our 100th anniversary.

Kate is the bestselling author of 11 novels, including the hugely popular Languedoc Trilogy (Labyrinth, Sepulchre and Citadel), as well as non-fiction and plays, and is also co-founder of the Women’s Prize for Fiction. On Friday 14 October at 4.45-5.30pm, Kate will be talking about her 30-year career and celebrating the brilliant women from history who feature in her new book, Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries.

Everyone attending Kate’s talk will take home a signed copy of Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries, as well as a special 100th anniversary GH goodie bag. Book before August 31 and tickets are only £24.00, thanks to a 20% early bird discount.

BOOK HERE

All ticket holders can also enjoy a full day relaxing in the beautiful surroundings of Carlton House Terrace, grab light refreshments in the GH Cafe, browse the GH Bookshop and have the opportunity to attend the following free workshops and experiences:

  • FREE fashion talks – browse the latest looks and learn how to style them with the help of GH fashion director Oonagh Brennan.
  • FREE tablescaping demonstrations from the GH Homes team.
  • FREE cake and biscuit decorating demos from professional bakers.
  • FREE flower-arranging workshop from the experts at Bloom & Wild.
  • FREE guided taste test with the Good Housekeeping Institute team.
  • FREE guided tour of the Dyson Healthy Home exhibition area, plus floor-care demonstration by experts from Dyson and the GHI.
  • FREE mini treatments in The Beauty Parlour in partnership with Absolute Collagen.
  • FREE talks by the fragrance and cleaning experts at Zoflora on how to create a beautiful-smelling home.
  • FABULOUS live music.
  • THE CHANCE TO meet and chat to the GH team about life behind the scenes of your favourite magazine.

    Book before the end of August and you can take advantage of a 20% discount on the cost of all full-price Good Housekeeping Live tickets. Tickets for Kate’s talk are just £24.00.

    BOOK HERE

    Good Housekeeping Live in partnership with Dyson is a two-day event at Carlton House Terrace, London taking place on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 October in celebration of our 100-year anniversary.

    We’re delighted to offer you the opportunity to join the Good Housekeeping team for a packed programme featuring some of our favourite stars, experts and authors, which encompass live talks, masterclasses and cookery demonstrations.

    Other guests at our two-day event include Monica Galetti, Shirley Ballas, Fern Britton and Lucy Worsley.

    FULL LINE UP

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    Originally Appeared Here