The A to Z September 2001

The Norwalk Virus: can only sit in food. It can't multiply in food as bacteria do. The virus is killed by thorough cooking; survives freezing; is highly infectious and the body doesn't build immunity to it very well; resists chlorine and other sewage-treatment agents.

List of Terms:  N  (Return to Comprehensive List of Terms) > National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) A system that allows the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to detect when food-borne bacteria - which can cause disease in humans - begin to develop resistance to antimicrobials used in food animals. The program combines the resources of the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create a nationwide monitoring system. > National Center for Food Safety and Technology A consortium of the FDA, Illinois Institute of Technology, and food industry members working together to make food safer for the consumer. > National Food Safety Education MonthSM (NFSEM) Founded in 1994 by the International Food Safety Council - a coalition of restaurant and food industry professionals, the month of September is dedicated to focusing public attention on foodborne illness and the Fight BAC!TM campaign's 4 Steps to Food Safety: clean, cook, separate (combat cross-contamination), and chill. (Also see Fight BAC!TM Campaign.) > Norwalk Virus A potent virus that is rapidly gaining ground as a health threat. This and other Norwalk-like viruses may account for some 40% of all serious, non-bacterial foodborne illnesses. Photo: F.P. Walker, U.S. EPA Norwalk Virus Sources: Raw oysters/shellfish, cole slaw, salads, baked goods, frosting, contaminated water and ice, and person-to-person contact. Illness Incubation: 1 to 2 days after ingestion. Symptoms: Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, and fever. Duration: 1 to 2 days. > Nucleic Acid A polymer substance found in animal and plant cells that holds the genetic information. Two classes of nucleic acids are ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid. (Also see Deoxyribonucleic Acid and Ribonucleic Acid.) > Nucleoid A circular loop of double-stranded helical deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in a cell that is not enclosed in a membrane. Photo: Naomi Ward, Louisiana State University/Biological Sciences A Nucleoid Structure > Nucleus (see Cell)

Food Safety A to Z Reference Guide