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Ringing in the New Year with Traditionally Lucky Foods and Their Facts

December 27, 2017 LaKeya Jones, Agricultural Statistician, National Agricultural Statistics Service

The holidays are often a time for family, fun, and food. New Year’s is no exception. One thing many nations around the world have in common is the belief that eating certain foods on New Year’s will bring good luck and prosperity in the 12 months to follow.

Research and Science

Holiday Leftovers? We’ve Got You Covered!

December 26, 2017 Marianne Gravely, MS, Senior Technical Information Specialist, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA

All good things must come to an end, including the holidays. But leftovers from your holiday celebrations can help stretch out your holiday cheer.

Health and Safety

Hawaii: Home of a World-Class Pineapple Collection

December 20, 2017 Jan Suszkiw, Public Affairs Specialist, USDA Agricultural Research Service

Whether eaten sliced or as a pizza topping, pineapple is a delicious and versatile tropical fruit that ranks third in worldwide popularity behind the banana and mango.

Research and Science

Holiday Silver Lining: Avoiding Foodborne Illnesses While Traveling with Food

December 18, 2017 Janice López-Muñoz, BS, MSIH, Public Affairs Specialist, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA

As if the winter holidays are not enough stress, between making your gift list, shopping for gifts and deciding which party to attend, some of us add holiday travel to our to-do lists. Immediately following the decision to visit relative or friends for the holidays comes the big question — what food...

Health and Safety

Don’t Get Roasted by Foodborne Illnesses this Winter

December 13, 2017 Janice López-Muñoz, BS, MSIH, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA

The holidays are all about sharing, having fun and, of course…food!!! I bet you will agree that a good holiday get-together always includes delicious traditional dishes or special recipes.

Health and Safety

Protecting the Earth’s ‘Thin Skin’

December 12, 2017 Jan Suszkiw, Public Affairs Specialist, USDA Agricultural Research Service

Though remarkably thin, soil makes up a layer of the Earth’s crust that’s vital to human survival. The soil is a living, breathing thing that, like the body’s skin, requires care and attention lest we lose its many benefits.

Research and Science

Time Management: The Key to a Food Safe Holiday

December 06, 2017 Marianne Gravely, MS, Senior Technical Information Specialist, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA

The holiday season is a prized time; it’s that festive season that seems to be here before you know it, and you wonder how you will find the time to do everything you need to do to celebrate properly with family and friends. The holidays are also when we share favorite, treasured foods with our...

Health and Safety

NIFA Programs Support Soil Health

December 04, 2017 Hope Marshall, Communications Staff, National Institute of Food and Agriculture

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), one-third of the planet’s soils are degraded. This condition is caused by a number of natural factors, including wind and water erosion and nutrient imbalances, but people also leave an indelible impact on the earth...

Research and Science

APHIS Leads Ongoing Series of Surveys and Studies about Antibiotic Use on Farms

December 01, 2017 Dr. Brian McCluskey, Associate Deputy Director, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

The human and animal health communities recently celebrated World Antibiotic Awareness Week. Did you know that USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) plays an important role in the conversation about antibiotic use? We gather real-world data on the use of antimicrobial agents on U...

Research and Science

What to Do with Your Leftover Turkey? The G20 Meeting of the Agricultural Chief Scientists May Have Some Insight

November 28, 2017 Genevieve Croft, International Affairs Fellow, Office of the Chief Scientist

What should you have done with all of that leftover Thanksgiving turkey? Should you have frozen it, given it away, or composted it? Maybe these aren’t even the right questions. Should you have bought a smaller bird? What would you have done if you were in the country of Turkey? Or if you were in...

Research and Science