Salmonella Contamination

Why in news?

• The United States authorities have refused Indian spice-related shipments over salmonella contamination.

About

• Salmonella is a group of bacteriathat can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever called salmonellosis.
• Salmonella naturally lives in animals’ intestinesand can be found in their feces (poop).
• The bacteria then spread to humans if they come in contact with salmonella-infected animals or items in their environment.
• People infected with Salmonella might have diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. 
• Some people—especially children younger than 5 years old, adults 65 years and older, and people with weakened immune systems—may experience more severe illness that requires medical treatment or hospitalization.

Paradox of Thrift

About

• The concept was popularized by British economist John Maynard Keynesin his 1936 book The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money.
• The paradox of thrift,also known as the paradox of savings, refers to the theory that a rise in the savings rate of individuals can cause a fall in the overall savings in an economy.
• This is in contrast to the belief that a rise in individuals’ savings rates will cause a rise in the overall savings in the economy.
• So even though savings may be good for an individual household, it is believed that it may not be good for the wider economy.

Bisphenol A

Why in news?

• Plastics have caused serious concerns associated with the chemicals that leach out from plastics during use including  bisphenol A (BPA).

About Bisphenol A (BPA) 

• It is a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics.
• It is found in various products including shatterproof windows, eyewear, water bottles, and epoxy resins that coat some metal food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes.
• The primary source of exposure to BPA for most people is through the diet.
  • While air, dust, and water are other possible sources of exposure, BPA in food and beverages accounts for the majority of daily human exposure.
• Bisphenol A can leach into food from the protective internal epoxy resin coatings of canned foods and from consumer products such as polycarbonate tableware, food storage containers, water bottles, and baby bottles.
• BPA is known to disrupt endocrine function and has been associated with reproductive disorders, obesity, and increased risk of certain cancers.