(Reuters) – Two U.S. food makers have voluntarily recalled snacks contaminated by peanuts, while another firm increased its recall of alfalfa products due to salmonella contamination, the Food and Drug Administration said on Sunday.

Green Bay, Wisconsin-based Eillien’s Candies, Inc. recalled its Yogurt Raisins, Granola Mix and Cinnamon Granola Mix products while Maribel’s Sweets Inc of New York recalled its New York Handbag Collection chocolates because the products may contain undeclared peanuts, the FDA said.

Both companies said there have been no reports of illness, but warned that people with peanut allergies could face serious or life-threatening reactions if they consumed the products.

“The recall was initiated when it was discovered that Yogurt Covered Peanuts may have been mixed with Yogurt Covered Raisins,” Eillien’s said.

Eillien’s recall affects products with a “sell by” date prior to December 22, 2012 and that were distributed throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Colorado.

The contaminated Maribel’s Sweets chocolates, which may contain tree nuts or peanuts, are packaged in either blue or red boxes with varying quantities — 9, 16, 25, or 100 — and distributed between November 1 and December 23 of this year, the company said.

Maribel’s Sweets said the contamination problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company’s production and packaging processes.

The recalled chocolates were distributed nationwide in retail stores and through mail orders, the company said.

Meanwhile, Texas-based Green Valley Food Corp has increased to 6,723 the number of cases it recalled of its “Let’s Grow Healthy Together!” alfalfa sprouts, up from an initial recall of 650 cases on Friday.

The product, packaged in small plastic containers, was distributed to retail chains and food distribution centers in Texas, the company said.

On December 12, “a random sample was taken from a customer we currently supply. The product tested positive for Salmonella,” an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, the company said.

There have been no confirmed illnesses related to the recalled product, the company said.

(Reporting by Eric Johnson; Editing by Tim Gaynor)

SUNDAY, Dec. 25 (HealthDay News) — Being hospitalized during the
holidays can be emotionally difficult, but there are ways to help patients
keep their spirits up, experts say.

“While the psychological impact may be short-lived, the bottom line is
people would rather be well and home than sick and away,” Joshua Klapow, a
clinical psychologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB),
explained in a university news release.

“The holidays are about social interactions, the sharing of emotions
and connecting as humans, and there is nothing written that says this
cannot occur in a hospital setting. Bring the holidays to the hospital,”
Klapow said.

Many hospitals take steps to boost the spirits of their patients over
the holidays, such as providing music therapy and collecting toys for
children. There are also a number of things that friends and family
members can do to help their loved ones deal with their situation, added
Jordan DeMoss, assistant vice president of the UAB Hospital.

The best thing people can do is to spend time with someone while they
are in the hospital, DeMoss suggested. Visitors should let patients know
they are happy to be there, he added.

“Convey to them that you are celebrating that they are here with you.
Focus on the meaning of the holiday, and not so much the environment,” De
Moss said.

If being there in person is not possible, take advantage of hospital
Wi-Fi and try to connect with someone in the hospital online or through
Skype, he suggested.

DeMoss recommended several other ways to celebrate the holidays with
those who are hospitalized, including:

• Brighten up the patient’s room with holiday decorations.
• Bring a favorite holiday food the patient is allowed to eat, or make a
  special request in the hospital cafeteria.
• Schedule a doctor-approved massage for the patient by a licensed
  therapist who makes “house calls.”
• Ask about music therapy or bring a music player to fill the room with
  holiday tunes.
• Bring familiar activities from home into the hospital to pass the
  time, such as knitting or games.

Even strangers can lift the spirits of people who are hospitalized over
the holidays, added Terri Middlebrooks, nurse manager in the Acute Care
for Elders unit at UAB Highlands Hospital.

“Last year I told my daughter about a patient on our floor who had no
family or friends to visit him. She brought a Christmas tree to his room,”
Middlebrooks said in the news release. “Soon enough, the whole staff was
participating and bringing him presents and other goodies.”

More information

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has more on how to
beat the

holiday blues .

Copyright © 2011HealthDay. All rights reserved.

SATURDAY, Dec. 17 (HealthDay News) — From buying a Christmas
tree to stringing up lights and wrapping gifts, there are a number of
health and safety issues parents and guardians should consider during the
holidays, according to child health experts.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers the following tips to help
keep children and the whole family safe:

Christmas trees

• Make sure, if you select an artificial tree, that it is
  flame-resistant.
• When selecting a live tree, find one that is fresh. Being green,
  having a sticky trunk and having needles that don’t bend, fall off or
  break easily are signs that a tree is fresh and less likely to pose a fire
  hazard.
• Trim a few inches off the bottom of the trunk to help it absorb more
  water and refill the tree stand with water regularly.
• Trees should not be set up in high-traffic areas or near fireplaces,
  radiators or portable heaters.

Holiday lights

• When hanging tree lights, always make sure that each bulb works and
  there are no frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections.
• To avoid electrocution, electric lights should never be used on a
  metallic tree.
• When decorating with lights outside, check to make sure the lights
  have been certified for outdoor use.
• Hooks and insulated staples should be used to hold lights in place —
  not nails or tacks.
• All lights should be plugged into circuits with ground fault circuit
  interrupters to avoid potential shocks.
• Never leave lights on when you are not home because a short circuit
  could cause a fire.
• When it’s time to take lights down, don’t pull or tug on them.

Decorations

• Only flame-resistant materials should be hung on a tree.
• Choose only plastic or nonleaded tinsel or artificial icicles.
• Open flames, such as lighted candles, should not be placed near a tree
  or in an area where children can touch them or knock them over.
• Avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable — especially if there
  are small children in the home.
• Decorations with small parts or those that look like real candy or
  food should also not be used near small children, who could swallow or
  choke on them.
• Wear gloves and follow directions carefully when using spun glass,
  known as “angel hair,” or fake snow sprays.

Wrappings

• All wrapping papers, bags, ribbons and bows should be removed from
  fireplace areas once gifts have been opened to avoid fire hazards.
• Quickly dispose of plastic bags and long ribbons, which can pose
  suffocation hazards to small children.

Toys

• Be sure to select age-appropriate toys to match the abilities, skills
  and interests of each child, and to avoid potential dangers such as
  choking on small parts or button batteries.
• Give children under the age of 10 years battery-operated toys rather
  than those that must be plugged in to an electrical outlet.
• Strings and ribbons should be removed from toys before they are given
  to young children to avoid strangulation, particularly cords that are more
  than 12 inches long.
• Toys should be kept in a designated location to keep youngsters from
  gaining access to older kids’ toys.

Food

• Keep hot liquids and foods away from the edges of tables and counters
  where they could be easily reached by young kids or knocked over.
• Be sure young children do not have access to microwave ovens.
• Fully cook meats and poultry, and thoroughly wash raw vegetables and
  fruits to avoid harmful bacteria.
• Frequent hand washing and using separate utensils during food
  preparation will also help avoid bacterial infection.
• Thaw raw meat in the refrigerator and put cooked foods away within two
  hours of preparation.

Visiting

• Clean up immediately after a holiday party so that children do not
  face potentially dangerous situations in the morning, such as leftover
  spoiled food or alcoholic beverages.
• Remember that not all homes you visit will be child-proofed, so be
  aware of potential dangers, such as unlocked medicine or cleaning supply
  cabinets.
• Keep a laminated list of important phone numbers, such as the police,
  fire department and pediatrician, that can be accessed in the event of an
  emergency. The Poison Help Line is 1-800-222-1222.
• Traveling and holiday festivities can be stressful for children. Try
  to maintain children’s sleep, nap and eating schedules to help them feel
  more comfortable.

Fireplaces

• Remove all greens and other decorations from fireplace area and be
  sure the flue is open before building a fire.
• Keep “fire salts,” which produce colored flames, away from children.
  They contain heavy metals that can cause intense stomach and intestinal
  irritation and vomiting if swallowed.
• Do not burn wrapping paper in the fireplace.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides additional
holiday
health and safety tips .

Copyright © 2011HealthDay. All rights reserved.

SATURDAY, Dec. 17 (HealthDay News) — The busy holiday season may
disrupt many people’s daily routines, but at this time of year it is
especially important to remember to look after your teeth, an expert
advises.

“Holiday get-togethers tend to lead people to consume sugary treats and
drink alcoholic beverages more than usual,” Dr. George Shepley,
spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry, said in an academy news
release.

“Additionally, with their busy schedules and increased stress levels,
I’ve noticed that my patients’ oral hygiene suffers. They forget the most
basic of oral hygiene tasks that can counteract the effects of sugary
snacks and drinks,” he pointed out.

Shepley offers suggestions on a number of ways to protect your teeth
during the holiday season.

To reduce the risk of damage from drinking red and white wines, which
are highly acidic and can eat away at a tooth’s enamel, refrain from
swishing wine around in your mouth and drink water between glasses of wine
to rinse acid from your teeth.

And, while holiday goodies such as cookies, chocolate and candy canes
are tempting, the sugar in them promotes the growth of cavity-causing
bacteria. If you can’t brush or floss after eating sweet treats, drink
water or chew a piece of sugarless gum, which will increased saliva flow
and help wash away the bacteria.

Finally, Shepley pointed out, holiday stress can cause some people to
grind or clench their teeth, potentially resulting in chipped teeth, jaw
pain and headaches.

“Finding ways to alleviate your anxiety can help, but it’s also
important to see your dentist, who can recommend solutions like a custom
night guard,” Shepley said. “Wearing one at night will prevent you from
taking out the holiday stress on your teeth while you sleep.”

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about keeping your

teeth and mouth healthy .

Copyright © 2011HealthDay. All rights reserved.

(HealthDay News) — A case of food poisoning can ruin anyone’s
holidays. So take care with your turkey to reduce your risk of food-borne
illness.

The American Dietetic Association offers these suggestions for buying
and cooking turkey:

• When buying the bird, make sure its packaging is well-sealed. Make
  the turkey the last item added to your grocery cart, and bag it separately
  from other groceries.
• Freeze the whole, uncooked turkey in its original wrapping.
• Never thaw your turkey on the counter. Instead, defrost it in the
  microwave, let it defrost slowly in the fridge, or let it defrost in cold
  water.
• Wash hands carefully before and after handling the turkey.
• Use a meat thermometer, making sure the cooked turkey reaches at least
  165 degrees Fahrenheit. Measure the temperature at the innermost portion
  of the turkey thigh.

Copyright © 2011HealthDay. All rights reserved.