Laurel-based Sanderson Farms is part of a coalition trying, through political and consumer support, to speed up the federal government's policy review of the use of "natural" on meat and poultry labels. Sanderson Farms says some competitors inject up to 15 percent water, salt and sometimes carrageenin, a seaweed extract, into their product and call it "natural. The department requires all labels used to market meat, poultry and eggs be preapproved, and the agency is especially interested...

One reason for the growing interest is fear of an avian flu pandemic, says Offit, who's also chief of Infectious Diseases at Philadelphia's Children's Hospital and author of the new book, "Vaccinated: One Man's Quest to Defeat the World's Deadliest Diseases. It creates a leading fully integrated biologics and vaccines business with critical mass and enhances AstraZeneca's R&D science base through which we will deliver a stronger product pipeline. One reason for the growing interest is fear...

The main recommendation is for members of the public to stock up on 50 protective masks each, which are available in shops for a few francs. The Federal Health Office has issued a list of personal hygiene guidelines for the Swiss population in the event of a bird flu pandemic among humans. Additional personal hygiene recommendations : in the event of a pandemic : include the regular washing of hands with soap, using a tissue when coughing or sneezing which is then immediately thrown away,...

The petroleum used for synthetic fertilizer is more costly, so farmers of all sorts are looking for something less expensive to spread. Rising oil prices make for premium on Oregon chicken manure. Demand won't diminish, he said, because farmers are unlikely to forego the advantages of chicken manure even if petroleum prices fall. Chicken manure, which the Eugene company also sells, costs about $15 per acre, although it costs more to spread. An alternative is cow manure, but growers say it...

From choosing your meats to cooking them up to serving them up, look no further. If you press your index finger and thumb together, and press the fleshiest part of your thumb, the firmness is very close to that of a rare steak. Preparing the grill _ Once you've determined how the food will be grilled, prepare the cooking grate. In hot weather or with small cuts of meat such as chicken breasts, the meat may need only 15 to 20 minutes to come to cool room temperature. Ground meat is the...

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