While I was “vacationing” in Greece and Italy over the last weeks, Fresh Express was recalling even more romaine lettuce salad products because of potential E. coli contamination (an earlier Salmonella recall occurred two months ago). Of course, that does not count a Fresh Express outbreak that did sicken people in April and no recall
What would Pericles do?
After hiking around the Parthenon in the heat of the day (tried to do it early, but there was a four hour strike by workers) and watching the changing of the guards in front of the Parliament Building, we headed back to the hotel and discussed where to eat tonight. The consensus, after a week
No, this is not a travel blog
The Parthenon (Ancient Greek: Παρθενœéν) is a temple in the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to of the Greek goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their protector. Its construction began in 447 BC and was completed in 438 BC.
(View from dinner at the Hotel Bretagne)
Nine years. They built it in nine years
Never far from being reminded of my job
Sitting on my deck in the village of Oia on the Island of Santorini is about the last place I thought I would think about why my job is so important. I then received this email:
Hi Bill,
I hope you, your family and your terrific team in Seattle are doing well! I came across
Lawyers, Microbiologists, and Safe Food
There must be a good joke about a lawyer who sidles up to a bar and strikes up a conversation with the microbiologist on the next stool. I don’t know the punch line, but rest assured it will have something to do with the microbiologist peering through a microscope, and the lawyer chasing ambulances. The
I’m Vacationing as the President works on Food Safety
The rumors are flying around here on the Eastside of Crete that President Obama and family will be staying here in Elounda soon. If true, I must admit that it is not that bad of an idea. The weather is perfect, the water clear and warm, the food fresh and healthy and ancient history at
A Day off from being a Lawyer and Blogger
I received a few emails from readers who did not get their daily quota of Marler Blog wondering what happened. Well, I went fishing in the Florida Keys.
And, actually caught something (catch and release) – 125 pound Tarpon – which took me over two and a half hours to bring along side the boat.
If I were a CEO of a food manufacturing company at the beginning of a food poisoning outbreak what would I do?
Imagine that the phone call comes or an email pops into your inbox–"Sir, we have been contacted by (you pick: CDC, FDA, USDA, or a state or local health department), and they say your product (lettuce, raw milk, or a frozen dinner) has been linked to illnesses. What do we do?"
So, what do you
S. 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act – Santa does not exist and neither does bi-partisanship
I was reading Carl Hulse’s article “Legislative Hurdles in an Era of Conflict” in the New York Times this morning and had one of those moments like when I first learned that Santa Claus was in fact not real. Yes, perhaps I should have figured it out before I entered 7th grade, but I was
Food Safety moves forward one step at a time, slowly, but forward
Sitting in the private conference room of U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank yesterday with Stephanie and her mom Sharon as the judge carefully considered the settlement with Cargill, brought home again to me the reality of Stephanie’s struggle – all because she ate a hamburger. As AP reported, “Smith and Cargill announced the settlement