Investigating gender violence in Jamaica.

As Jamaica moves through implementation of their National Policy on Gender Equality and develops harassment legislation, this article attempts to investigate current levels and trends of gender-based violence in Jamaica. All analyses make use of existing data and data formats in developing performance indicators that illustrate the current state of gender violence in Jamaica. The analyses provide a baseline for the future assessment and comparison with internationally accepted gender-based violence indicators.

Comparison of bacterial counts obtained from naturally contaminated foods by means of Stomacher and blender.

Four Regional Health Protection Branch laboratories each compared aerobic colony counts obtained after "stomaching" and blending, for a minimum of 10 samples in each of the seven food groups: dry pastas; chocolate and cocoa powders; frozen entrees (macaroni and cheese, chow mein, chop suey, fried rice, seafood casseroles, and Salisbury steak); nonfat dry milk; shrimp and crabmeats; spices; and breakfast sausages. Overall, counts obtained after using the Stomacher were equivalent to or higher than counts obtained after using the blender in 73% of the comparisons (alpha = 0.05).

Donairs (Gyros) - Potential Hazards and Control.

Because of concerns that meat in donairs could allow growth of pathogens during cooking and overnight cooling of leftovers, 34 donairs from eleven establishments had temperatures taken and were examined microbiologically. Temperatures varied depending on depth of measurement and stage from the raw product to reheated leftovers. These were frequently >4 or <60°C and could be considered at temperatures favorable for growth of pathogens.