The food safety net just showed us another huge tear as the result of contaminated peanut butter products. The problem will be felt for years in the peanut industry and will likely change the food safety landscape in many ways.
The government reaction has been harsh and focused in this latest deadly outbreak. More…
No one disputes the fact that our food safety net has several gaping holes. Like clockwork, one can seemingly depend on a major foodborne illness outbreak to occur every few weeks. This month it is peanut butter, again, a few months back it was peppers and tomatoes, before that potpies, veggie snacks, canned chili, etc…
In years past the practice in the US was to require a health certificate to work in the food industry. While on the surface this sounds like something to consider, the use of medical evaluation of food workers was often done without specific tests, medical personnel relying on medical history and a physical exam. Without specific…
Public health policy and food protection are issues that we expect the new Obama administration to address eagerly. Financial problems, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Home Land Security have shifted focus away from our core public health agenda, and now is the time to return our focus. Everyone agrees that public health programs have suffered in the last eight…
This outbreak is an example of scombroid poisoning. Scombroid enterotoxin is actually a heat stable bi-product of histamine, and results when dark-fleshed fish begin to decompose. Its one of the few illnesses through food that have a correlation directly to spoilage although there may be others (certain strains of C botulinum). Because the symptoms…
In a recent message to its members, Food and Water Watch says:
“Protecting Our Food: End Food Industry Self-Policing”. Consumers need strong standards and strong enforcement by government inspectors. The USDA must abandon attempts to let meat plants do their own inspections. The Food and Drug Administration needs new authority and resources to…
I referred this “anonymous sanitation complainant” to the proper authorities in the jurisdiction in question. This message brings up some very interesting points:
1. Working conditions and health of employees and the duty of the employer
2. Attitudes about cleanliness
3. Motivation
4. Self esteem
5. Communications
6. Duty to the public
7. Duty to…
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Food-borne Illness and its Effect on Tourism in Egypt
Egypt is a land of mystery and excitement that has drawn world travelers for centuries. Unlike many developing nations, the rich history and close ties to our own culture makes this travel destination especially attractive.
Whether one travels to Mexico City, Madrid, Hong Kong…