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Soda fountains contained fecal bacteria, study found

Written by CNN.com
Monday, 11 January 2010 10:47
By Madison Park, CNN cnnAuthor = "By Madison Park, CNN"; if(location.hostname.indexOf( 'edition.' ) > -1) {document.write('January 8, 2010 -- Updated 2335 GMT (0735 HKT)');} else {document.write('January 8, 2010 6:35 p.m. EST');} January 8, 2010 6:35 p.m. EST var clickExpire = "-1"; A study found that soda dispensed in the morning was more likely to have bacteria than when it is poured in the afternoon. (CNN) -- It fizzes. It quenches. And it could also contain fecal bacteria. Nearly half of the 90 beverages from soda fountain machines in one area in Virginia tested positive for coliform bacteria -- which could indicate possible fecal contamination, according to a study published in the January issue of International Journal of Food Microbiology. Researchers also detected antibiotic-resistant microbes and E.coli in the soda samples. "Certainly we come in contact with bacteria all the time," Renee Godard, lead author of the study and professor of biology and environmental studies at Hollins University, a private liberal arts college in Roanoke, Virginia. "It's simply that some bacteria may potentially cause some disease or gastrointestinal distress. One thing we hesitate with is that people get afraid of bacteria. Many of them are benign or helpful, but certainly, I don't want E.coli in my beverage." The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's drinking-water regulations require that all samples test negative for E.coli. Many of the soda beverages from the dispensers fell below U.S. drinking-water standards, according to the findings. "The large number of beverages and soda fountain machines containing E. coli is still of considerable concern... and suggests that more pathogenic strains of bacteria could persist and thrive in soda fountain machines if introduced," the authors wrote. Godard and her colleagues acquired 90 beverages of three types, (sugar soda, diet soda, water) from 30 fast food restaurants in a 22-mile area near Roanoke, in southern Virginia. They surveyed beverages from both self-service and employee-dispensed machines and the samples were tested. There were no reported outbreaks of food-borne illness related in the Roanoke area at the time of the study. They found that 48 percent of beverages obtained from soda fountains contained coliform bacteria, 11 percent contained E. coli (which are mostly harmless, but some can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia), and 17 percent had Chryseobacterium meningosepticum (which could sicken newborns or adults with weakened immune systems). Dean Cliver, professor of food safety emeritus at University of California Davis, said it would be premature to draw broad conclusions about all soda fountains from a localized study. "How sanitation regulations are promulgated and enforced in a community are different," Cliver said. "Some communities are more on to it than others. How much of a threat it represents? It's probably limited. Once again, it's a matter of what regulations are in place, who pays attention and whether it's being followed." The samples were contained in petri dishes and the bacteria multiplied within 48 hours, so much so that they became visible to the naked eye as 300 to 400 tiny dots, Godard said. A Hollins undergraduate microbiology student accidentally discovered that water from a restaurant beverage dispenser contained bacteria while completing a homework assignment. When the results came back, this piqued the interest of faculty and students. The researchers are uncertain how the bacteria got inside the beverage machines. "It could be from dispensing with a hand that wasn't clean or using wet rags to wipe down the machine," Godard said. "We haven't done the work to really identify those potential sources and how these bacteria get established." Manitowoc Foodservice, one of the leading manufacturers of ice and beverage equipment, did not have the opportunity to review the study, but released this statement in response to CNN.com's questions: "We emphasize in our product support material proper methods for and the importance of frequent, thorough cleaning and sanitizing of foodservice equipment. In food equipment as in any environment where microorganisms can occur naturally or be spread by contact, it is essential to follow proven steps for cleaning and sanitizing." The National Restaurant Association, a business association for the restaurant industry, e-mailed this statement in response to the findings: "While the results of this study are disconcerting, we feel that it isn't representative of our industry and that our guests can safely enjoy beverages from dispensers and single-serve containers alike." The American Beverage Association made this statement: "Fountain beverages are safe. Consumers can rest assured that our industry's fountain beverages pose no public health risk." The organization, which represents hundreds of beverage producers, distributors, and franchise companies stated that "Importantly, our industry meets, and often exceeds, all government health standards in bringing its products to market." Whether other outbreaks have occurred because of contaminated soda machines is difficult to determine, because food-related illnesses are notoriously challenging to pinpoint, Godard said. According to the research literature, one study has linked a 1998 outbreak to soda fountains after 99 soldiers in a U.S. Army base were hospitalized with gastroenteritis. Although ice can become contaminated, researchers ruled it out as the source of contamination after testing revealed that it did not contain coliform bacteria.

Ford sweeps Detroit Auto Show awards

Written by CNN.com

Monday, 11 January 2010 10:45

2010_ford_fusion_hybrid.top.jpg

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , senior writerJanuary 11, 2010: 10:41 AM ET

DETROIT (CNNMoney.com) -- After finishing off an enviable year for a domestic automaker, Ford Motor Co. won both the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards presented Monday at the start of Detroit's North American International Auto Show.

The Ford Fusion Hybrid sedan won Car of the Year and the Ford Transit Connect van won Truck of the Year.

"Winning both of these prestigious awards is confirmation that the ONE Ford plan is working, delivering industry-leading products for our customers," said Mark Fields, president of Ford's Americas division.

One Ford is CEO Alan Mulally's plan to have Ford sell largely the same vehicles in all major global markets rather than the previous method of designing and building entirely different cars for different markets.

Ford was the only automaker to gain market share last year, in large part because it was the only one not to be forced into bankruptcy.

But Ford is also gaining based on improved reliability and fuel economy. Consumer Report recently lauded Ford for acheving "world class" dependability in its cars. Here at the Detroit Auto Show, shortly after this announcement was made, Ford unveiled a new version of its Ford Focus compact car.

Any all-new or substantially redesigned passenger vehicle that entered the North American market in calendar year 2009 is eligible for the award. The vehicles are voted on by a jury of 49 prominent automotive journalists from the United States and Canada.

New from Ford: Drivable iPods

This is the second year in a row that Ford (F, Fortune 500) has won Truck of the Year. The F-150 pick-up was last year's recipient. The Hyundai Genesis won car of the year last year.

The Fusion Hybrid is a hybrid gas/electric version of Ford's popular Fusion mid-sized sedan. It gets 41 miles per gallon in the city and 36 on the highway and has received kudos from auto critics for being enjoyable to drive as well as for its efficiency.

The Fusion Hybrid was awarded the Motor Trend Car of the Year in November.

The Transit Connect is a small commercial van that Ford has sold in Europe for some time that is only just entering the U.S. market.

The last time one automaker took home both awards was in 2007 when General Motors won with the Saturn Aura sedan and the Chevrolet Silverado pick-up.

GM could have swept the awards again this year. The Buick LaCrosse sedan and Chevrolet Equinox SUV were among the three finalists for each award.

The other finalists were the Volkswagen Golf for Car of the Year and the Subaru Outback, a wagon-like crossover SUV, for Truck of the Year.

GMAC headed for $5 billion loss

Written by CNNMoney.com

Wednesday, 06 January 2010 10:43

By Colin Barr, senior writerJanuary 5, 2010: 4:58 PM ET

NEW YORK (Fortune) -- GMAC, the troubled finance company that last week scored a third government bailout, said Tuesday it expects to post a record fourth-quarter loss of $5 billion.

The company also said it has decided to try to sell its ResCap mortgage unit, which has lost billions of dollars since the U.S. housing market crashed. Those losses have strained the already stretched finances at GMAC, which is best known as a lender to the troubled U.S. auto industry.

ResCap has been "very much a millstone around the company's neck," GMAC chief Michael Carpenter told investors on a conference call Tuesday afternoon. He said GMAC's board entertained all alternatives for ResCap, including possible bankruptcy filings, before deciding to consider its so-called strategic alternatives.

Asked if he could describe what the alternatives might be, Carpenter replied, "Not really." He then said GMAC might sell some mortgage assets but added that the GMAC's plan is essentially "a blank sheet of paper."

GMAC last week raised $3.8 billion by selling preferred securities to the government, satisfying the capital deficit identified during stress tests last spring. The sale gave the U.S. a 56% stake in GMAC while cutting the stake of other shareholders, including private equity firm Cerberus and car maker GM, by a third.

GMAC got $7.5 billion from the government at the end of 2008 and $6 billion in the middle of last year, as regulators sought to shore up the sagging auto financing market.

GMAC lost more than $5 billion in the first nine months of 2009 and has lost money in six of the past seven quarters, including two quarters in 2008 in which it lost at least $2.5 billion.

In November, the company hired Carpenter, a former Citigroup (C, Fortune 500) executive, to take over for Alvaro de Molina, who had run GMAC since before the bailouts started.

At the time, Carpenter said his goal was "accelerating the strategic and operational changes necessary to focus GMAC on its core auto finance and related businesses."

First dedicated 3D networks coming to TV

Written by CNET.com

Wednesday, 06 January 2010 10:46

A viewer watching a 3D display at CES 2009.

(Credit: Marguerite Reardon/CNET)

A new television network featuring 24-7 three-dimensional content will be coming to your home in 2011. The venture is backed by Discovery Communications, owners of the Discovery Channel and its family of networks, Sony, and Imax.

According to the companies, all three firms will hold equal share in the joint venture. The goal, the companies wrote in a joint release, is to drive "consumer adoption of 3D televisions" and become a "long term" leader in the 3D home marketplace. When it launches, the network will be available only in the United States, but the companies did say they would explore international opportunities in the future.

So far, the 3D network doesn't have a name. But when it launches, the companies said it will feature "content from genres that are most appealing in 3D, including natural history, space, exploration, adventure, engineering, science and technology, motion pictures and children's programming from Discovery, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Imax, and other third-party providers."

As you might expect, Discovery will oversee network services and television rights. Sony will handle advertising sales and work with the industry to license television rights "to current and future 3D feature films, music-related 3D content, and game-related 3D content." Although Sony didn't say so in the release, it's probably safe to assume that all 3D content related to Sony Pictures, Sony BMG, and Sony's game studios will make their way to the channel.

For its part, Imax will "license television rights to future 3D films, [engage in] promotion through its owned-and-operated movie theaters across the U.S., and [offer] a suite of proprietary and patented image enhancement and 3D technologies."

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Assuming that regulatory approval is secured, the network should go live in 2011.

But that's not all
ESPN will also be delivering the first 3D television network to the home in June this year, USA Today is reporting.

Dubbed ESPN 3D, the channel will deliver more than 85 live sporting events in three dimensions. It won't run reruns, so the channel will be dark when no current sporting event are being aired. The USA Today says ESPN 3D will broadcast the Summer X Games, NBA events, as well as college basketball and football games.

To access either of the new 3D networks, users will need a 3D-capable TV, as well as 3D glasses. In other words, the barriers to entry are a bit high, but it's a new technology that has some excited. Now we'll just have to wait and see if it can become a new standard in the marketplace.

Suze Orman's easy money to-do list

Written by Oprah.com
Wednesday, 06 January 2010 10:40
By Suze Orman, O, The Oprah Magazine cnnAuthor = "By Suze Orman, O, The Oprah Magazine"; if(location.hostname.indexOf( 'edition.' ) > -1) {document.write('January 6, 2010 -- Updated 1347 GMT (2147 HKT)');} else {document.write('January 6, 2010 8:47 a.m. EST');} January 6, 2010 8:47 a.m. EST var clickExpire = "-1"; Financial expert Suze Orman details what to do to have a good money year (OPRAH.com) -- I know money is tight. I know you're busy. And I know tackling money issues isn't fun. But here's what I also know: You wish you could once and for all get your financial house in order. A recent study by Prudential Financial found that less than 25 percent of women feel they are "very well prepared" to handle financial matters. Seventy-eight percent said it is very important that they not become a financial burden to their loved ones, but just 24 percent are confident they can pull that off. You don't need all that stress! What follows is your 2010 financial to-do list. It's divided into three sections. Get a Grip focuses on where you are today: what you have, what you owe. Find Hidden Savings is about making more out of what you have. And Build Security is about knowing where to put all that money you free up. Post this list on the fridge, the bathroom mirror, or your bulletin board, and take it on in little chunks. Make 2010 the year you find your financial confidence. Oprah.com: When you should stop listening to a financial adviser Step 1: Get a Grip Track your spending Why it's important: You know the big-ticket expenses in your life, but all the smaller spending can also be a killer. Take a look at your monthly outflow, and I guarantee you will have a few "Yikes, I had no idea" moments. Do this now: Gather up your bank and credit card statements. Then go to my Web site, SuzeOrman.com, and click on Suze's Expense Sheet. Input your average monthly expenses, and get honest about where your money is going. Oprah.com: What money can teach you about personal power Calculate your net worth Why it's important: We tend to focus on assets and forget about debts. Financial security requires facing up to the big picture: assets minus debts. Do this now: Type "net worth calculator" into any search engine and you will find plenty of free online tools to help you take stock of your assets and debts. Check your credit profile Why it's important: Your credit score affects the interest rates you're offered on credit cards and loans, can be used to vet your job application, and in some states may influence your insurance premiums. So your credit reports, which determine your FICO score, need to be up-to-date and correct (mistakes abound). A score of at least 720 (the range is 300 to 850) earns you a gold star. Do this now: Go to AnnualCreditReport.com to get your free credit reports from the three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Every year, you are entitled to one free report from each. If a site asks for your credit card to receive a report, you're at the wrong place! Scour your reports for mistakes, and follow the directions for filing a dispute. Once corrections are made, go to MyFICO.com to buy your FICO credit score. You may receive offers for free credit scores. They are knockoffs of the real deal -- your FICO score is what most lenders and businesses check. It costs $16 to see your FICO score; with so much on the line, that's a small price to pay. Cut Spending by 10 Percent Why it's important: The median pay raise for 2010 is expected to be around 3 percent (the lowest forecast in 25 years). So challenge your family to give your budget a 10 percent raise by cutting your spending 10 percent. Do this now: Once you input your income and outflow into the Expense Sheet on my Web site, print it out and circle every expense that is a want (not a need), then figure out how to reduce or eliminate it. Oprah.com: Cut spending and create an emergency stash Step 2: Find hidden savings Shop for Insurance Deals Why it's important: You're always looking for the best prices -- why not on home and auto insurance, too? You're nuts if you don't comparison shop for auto insurance; you could save 10 percent or more. (But don't reduce your level of coverage. You want the right coverage for the best price.) Do this now: Go to InsWeb.com and NetQuote.com to find premium quotes from a variety of home and auto insurers. (For auto quotes from Progressive and GEICO, go to their Web sites.) Raise Your insurance deductibles Why it's important: Low deductibles of $250 or so can entice you to make claims for small-ticket items. Do that too often and your insurer may boost your premium or boot you completely. And there's a nice payoff for a higher deductible: Raise your auto and home deductibles to $1,000 or more and your premium cost falls at least 10 percent. Do this now: Call your current insurer and ask for a new quote based on a higher deductible. (But do this only if you have an emergency savings fund that can cover the cost of the deductible. Don't have that emergency fund set up? Grrr. See Build Security.) Check out a credit union Why it's important: Credit unions are often a better deal than banks and tend to pay higher yields on deposits. Do this now: Go to FindaCreditUnion.com and look for one that is part of the federal insurance program run by the National Credit Union Administration (go to NCUA.gov and click on Consumer Share Insurance Information and Tool Kit to check). Coverage is the same as at an FDIC bank -- $250,000 per person per credit union is fully insured, and additional coverage is based on the types of accounts you hold. Challenge your property-tax assessment Why it's important: Your tax is typically a percentage of your home's assessed value. If that assessment doesn't reflect today's market -- home values are down an average of 30 percent since the 2006 peak -- you may be overpaying. The National Taxpayers Union reports that more than half of all assessments are too high. Do this now: Contact your county tax assessor to learn how to challenge your assessment. TheNational Taxpayers Union also has a booklet on the topic. Step 3: Build Security Boost emergency fund to cover 8 months of living expenses Why it's important: By now I am sure you have started saving. The next step is to keep at it until you have at least eight months' worth of living expenses. Do this now: Go to MyFDICInsurance.gov for banks and NCUA.gov for credit unions to verify that your emergency fund is tucked away at an institution that is federally insured. Never invest your emergency savings in the stock market. Safe, not sorry, is all that matters. Get the maximum 401(k) match at your current job Why it's important: If you left it to your company to auto-enroll you in the plan when you were hired, there's a good chance your contribution rate is too low to max out on the match. Do this now: Call your human resources department or the company that runs your plan; boost your contribution so you qualify for the max match. Roll over 401(k)s from former employers into an IRA Why it's important: Once you leave a job, you can move your 401(k) to a brokerage or fund firm. You can roll over 401(k)s from multiple jobs into one new IRA; that's a great bookkeeping assist. An IRA rollover also frees you up to invest in low-cost funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stocks, and bonds. Do this now: If you don't yet have an account at a discount brokerage or no-load mutual fund company, pick one and then ask for its IRA rollover kit. Fund a Roth IRA Why it's important: After you max out on the company match in your 401(k), turn your retirement investing attention to funding a Roth IRA. In 2010 the maximum is $5,000 ($6,000 if you're 50 or older) for individuals with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) below $105,000 and married couples filing a joint return with MAGI below $167,000. Reduced contributions are phased out for individuals once MAGI hits $120,000; for married couples, eligibility disappears with MAGI above $177,000. Do this now: Don't get thrown by high minimums. Ask if there is a program that lets you invest small monthly sums of $50 or so. Sign on for an auto-investment plan and you may get around the advertised "initial minimum investment." Leave your retirement funds alone Why it's important: Can't handle the mortgage? That's no reason to raid your retirement funds. When that money runs out, you'll still face foreclosure, but you'll have lost your retirement savings, too. Do this now: Don't cash out your 401(k) when leaving a job. In addition to an early withdrawal penalty (if you're under age 55), your shortsightedness will cost you future gains. Go to MoneyChimp.com and click on the Calculator tab. Under "current principal," input the value of your 401(k). Leave "annual addition" blank. For "years to grow," enter the difference between your age and 65. For "interest rate," use a conservative 5 percent. Calculate the future value. The difference between that and the current value is what you'd give up by cashing out. Convert to a Roth IRA Why it's important: As of January 1, anyone can convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA (previously there was an income limit). The advantage is that money in a Roth can be withdrawn in retirement with no tax due. Withdrawals from traditional IRAs will be taxed at your ordinary income tax rate. Do this now: Convert in 2010 and you can spread your tax bill over the next two years. If you have both deductible and nondeductible traditional IRAs, ask a CPA to determine your tax liability. Oprah.com: 10 solid-gold ways to save money By Suze Orman from O, The Oprah Magazine, January 2010

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