Tailgating 101--Keeping Food Safe Pre- and Post Game (Part 1)

Football is a really big deal for those of us living in the southeastern part of the United States. SEC rivalry is fierce and very competitive. Auburn University, home of the 2010 BCS Champions, is in my backyard.

When I came here as an assistant faculty member, I could not believe the electricity that hangs in the air before, during and after an Auburn football. When I first landed on the Plains, I had never seen anything like the spirit of the Auburn family in my entire young life.

Folks would begin staking out “their” tailgating sites, setting up tents and tables several days ahead of time. Game day yielded even more excitement with fans showing up in all sorts of wild spirit gear including simply painting their partially nude bods in funky designs using orange and blue, hopefully washable, paint. Pom poms and noise makers were everywhere. The noise level of the crowd went up in direct proportion to the consumption of alcohol that no one was allowed to consume on campus.

Auburn University became a party zone from early morning on the day of the game until the wee hours of the following morning. Grills, televisions, generators and more were set up, sort of like a home away from home concept. Folks put on elaborate spreads, if for nothing else than to sustain themselves. They might eat two, three, four or more meals on the grounds of “their” tailgating spot depending on game time.

One of the purposes of tailgating, in addition to providing nutritional subsidy, is purely social. Eating, drinking, playing games, talking, laughing and basically having a carefree time are a real draw to the idea of tailgating. But, if one of your group should just happen to eat food that just may not be at its prime, the party can quickly head south.

Here is where I come in.

Is the Rice We Are Eating Safe?

Seeing numerous Tweets and various posts about arsenic levels in the rice we consume, I decided to see what all the fuss was about. It appears that the arsenic levels of rice produced in certain parts of this country are particularly high.

As you well know, those of us eating a gluten free diet consume a lot of rice. Are we consuming a food that can cause cancers such as bladder and lung down the line? The truth is I truly don't know. Apparently, this battle begun some time ago, but it appears that someone or something finely got the attention of the FDA, USDA and the legislature to the point a group of Congressmen has recently proposed legislation limiting the amount of arsenic allowed in rice and rice products.

Here are some on the cites I have visited in an effort to get a better understanding of the problem:

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/09/lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-set-arsenic-limits-for-rice-products/

http://celiac-disease.com/arsenic-in-riceshould-celiacs-be-concerned/

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/11/arsenic-in-your-food/index.htm

What does this mean for us?  From a personal standpoint, I think I will stick with imported rice along with substituting other grains such as Quinoa into some of our favorite dishes. I am going to have to tweak my perfectly balanced flour blend drastically. The bottom line is that I want my family and myself to be safe.

I have provided this information so that you can make an informed decision for your family.

Follow and tweet with me on Twitter

Connect with me on Facebook

Join my circle on Google+

Follow me on Pinterest