Food Safety - Do Not be a "Penny Wise and a Pound Foolish"
We should consider saving the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Microbiological Data Program.
Perhaps it is time for USDA and FDA to merge, or at least get on the same page
Chris Ingalls’s final part to his story “Mold at WA food plant reveals flaws in food safety net” underscores the need to consider a single food safety agency or at a minimum to get the USDA and FDA working together. So says, “Bill Marler, a Seattle attorney and renowned food safety advocate (blush).”
Some Seattle Area Grocers Stop Selling Sprouts
As I said to King 5 a few months ago:
“Sprout seeds can be contaminated when they’re grown, cause they’re grown outside,” says food safety attorney Bill Marler, of Seattle, “When the Sprouts are sprouted, you have to be exceedingly careful with the quality of the water, and how those sprouts are germinated because it’s like a perfect growing environment for bacteria.”
ABC Evening News (and others) Praise Food Safety News
Food Safety News dogged reporters did what the government and Taco Bell did not do, be open with the public about the Salmonella Outbreak Linked Taco Bell restaurants in ten states. FSN first reported that Oklahoma and Michigan broke ranks with the FDA, CDC and other states when those two states let FSN know the name of the mystery mexican-stye restaurant chain A. It is good that FSN is getting the recognition it deserves.
Other media citing Food Safety News:
LA Times, Reuters, Daily Mail, The Consumerist, CBS News, Huffington Post, Fox News, MSNBC, Etc.
Yet Another Transparency Problem - Meat Glue
Come on, at some point people that produce food need to stop with the BS and put food safety first.
KCTS Seattle Public Television Interview with Bill Marler, E. coli Attorney and Lawyer
From Seattle KCTS Public Television: Attorney, Lawyer and food-safety advocate Bill Marler talks about how his career has changed since the 1993 E. coli break in Seattle and his ongoing fight for tough food-safety laws.
Consumer Reports 75th anniversary: Protecting our food supply
Three food safety experts weighed in during a panel discussion at Grand Central Terminal on the biggest challenges facing our food safety system today and the role of the media in helping us overcome them.
Known for their writing and reporting which has helped propel marketplace and regulatory changes, the panelists included NYU professor and author Marion Nestle, New York Times reporter William Neuman, and attorney Bill Marler who founded FoodSafetyNews.com.
Questions posed by moderator Urvashi Rangan, Director of Consumer Safety and Sustainability at Consumer Reports, unearthed strong opinions from the experts on the responsibilities of food companies and producers, the need for stronger and more efficient government oversight, and how to engage the public to demand a safer food supply.
Fifth Listeria Cantaloupe Lawsuit Filed
Clarence Wells consumed cantaloupe on multiple occasions before becoming ill with symptoms of Listeria infection, including fluid retention, on August 23, 2011. By August 25, Mr. Wells had gained 9 pounds and had begun having difficulty breathing. He was taken to the ER, and was admitted to John’s Hopkins Medical Center later that day. On the morning of August 31, Mr. Wells’ condition deteriorated and his family was called to the hospital, where they found him unconscious. They never spoke to him, or saw him awake, again. Mr. Wells died the evening of August 31, 2011. See PDF of Complaint.
For more on Listeria Cantaloupe and other poisonous foods:
PBS Video - What Lessons have we learned since the Jack in the Box E. coli Outbreak?
PBS Station KCTS in Seattle spent nearly 30 minutes exploring where we were and where we are. We also talk for a long while about the book, "Poisoned," that chronicles the Jack in the Box outbreak.
Watch the full episode. See more KCTS 9 Connects.
Over 2,000 Ill, over 500 with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and now 19 Deaths in E. coli O104:H4 Outbreak
Outbreak Update
Besides Germany, illnesses have surfaced in Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Britain and United States (people who had visited Northern Germany). The source is still elusive, but officials are still warning consumers in Europe to not eat cucumbers, tomatoes or lettuce. Yesterday I spent the day talking with the Washington Post, CNN, CNBC, PBS about what has become the third largest but most deadly E. coli Outbreak in history. I did find time to do local Seattle T.V.
