In my magazine reading this weekend I've stumbled across a couple of interesting things that I didn't know about and I wanted to share...
1. Are you wondering whether that piece of fruit you're about to serve your kid is organic? Look at the PLU code on the sticker or packaging. If it starts with a 9, it's organic. If not, it may have been treated with pesticides.
2. Having a Raccoon in your backyard may make your child sick..These animals choose a spot to repeatedly us as a latrine, and their feces can carry a dangerous parasite known as Baylisascaris procyonis. According to a recent study in Emerging Infectious Diseases, raccoon latrines were present in more than half of the back yards that researchers investigated in suburban Chicago. Raccoons are common across the country, so check your yard every other week for small pieces of poop, the diameter of your thumb, suggests study author Kristen Page, PHD. Use disposable gloves to put them in a plastic bag and douse the area with boiling water.
