It's a fact: Good nutrition is important to staying healthy. In addition to eradicating hunger in Central Virginia, the CVFB is also concerned with the health of its constituents. The Internet has a wealth of information on nutrition, such as the two sites listed below:

	The American Dietetic Association's Web site has good general nutrition information and daily tips. Check out www.eatright.org and click on the "Healthy Lifestyle" tab at top left of Web page.
	Visit the Virginia Health Department's web site at for helpful nutrition information for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and families with preschoolers and toddlers.
	For the USDA's Food Guide Pyramid and good general nutrition education, visit the USDA's Food and Information Center's web site.
	You can also visit the American Diabetes Association's web site for information on nutrition for diabetics

Food Safety Information

Many local, state, and federal government agencies regulate the safety of the food we eat. In Virginia, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) maintains "front-line" responsibility as a regulatory agency. It also works with federal government agencies such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other state agencies such as the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), to ensure that consumers consistently receive food of the highest quality.

Yet no matter how much the food industry is regulated to ensure a safe food supply in the marketplace, you must properly store and prepare your food so that it remains safe.

The greatest risk of harm from food comes from some naturally occurring microscopic organisms, such as bacteria and viruses, which can cause severe illness. Symptoms of foodborne illness frequently include:

	Fever		Chills
	Abdominal cramps		Vomiting
	Diarrhea		In some cases, nerve damage and death can result.

The basic rules for reducing risk of food-borne illness-cleanliness, thorough cooking, and proper temperature control and storage-must be strictly followed to prevent disease-causing organisms from reproducing in numbers sufficient to cause illness.

For more information and tips on food safety, visit these sites:

	VDACS Web site
	USDA Web site
	FDA food safety quiz