A new study by University of Ohio researchers suggests that the bacteria that cause diseases ranging from bubonic plague to gastric illness have an ability to turn the genes that make them infectious on or off.

If scientists can discover how disease-causing bacteria do that then it they might be able to create drugs that could turn the genes off that make the bacteria infectious rendering

Researchers from Duke University Medical Center have found that a common herbal extract extract Forskolin, from the Indian coleus plant, can cut down on urinary tract infections and may also enhance the effect of the antibiotics used to treat such infections.

Forskolin, which is sold in health food stores and promoted as an allergy and fat loss aid has the ability to reduce the urinary tract infections in the bladder that relapse even after treatment with antibiotics as it kills the bacteria that cause 90 percent of infections in the bladder

Scientists say they've found the source of a deadly E. coli outbreak. A small farm with a leased field that spinach was grown on is likely to blame for the outbreak that resulted in the deaths of at least three people and sickened 200 more.

Authorities say they found the strain on a ranch in Paicines Ranch near a field that's leased to Mission Organics, a spinach grower. They also found E. coli in river water, cattle feces and pig feces on the ranch within a mile of the spinach fields that was from the same strain

A study found that the Food and Drug Administration has been slacking when it comes to inspections. This comes at a time when food recalls paint the headlines in the media.

FDA inspections are down 47 percent from three years ago when inspection numbers peaked. After 9/11 the FDA was ordered to pump up food inspections because of possible threats from terrorists

According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture, new risk-based, elaborate meat inspections will be carried out in April at some meat and poultry plants despite concerns raised by industry and consumer groups.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Food Safety, Dr. Richard A Raymond in a news conference on Thursday that the new "robust" risk-based inspection (RBI) will be carried out in 254 processing plants in 30 locations starting in April. The plan is expected to expand to 150 locations by the end of 2007