It was reported this week that Daxing District People’s Court of China convicted Zhao Lianhai for disturbing the social order during the tainted-milk scandal in 2008, sentencing him to two-and-a-half years in prison. Zhao’s own four-year-old son became sick after consuming milk-containing melamine, which is used in plastics and fertilizer production. In 2008, melamine-tainted milk
How deadly is this cantaloupe Listeria monocytogenes outbreak and when will it end?
Are there as many as 292 ill and 61 dead and could illnesses be reported through November 23, 2011?
As of November 1, 2011, the CDC has reported that a total of 139 persons infected with any of the four outbreak-associated strains of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported to CDC from 28 states.
The number
My view of Food Safety from the 19th Floor of the Plaza in Manhattan
I am still in New York (which by the way got hit with a freak October snowstorm – that included thunder and lightening), after being on a food safety panel at Grand Central Station as part of Consumer Report’s 75th anniversary on Friday. After the panel, I got to meet with the son of a
Dealing in Death – Cantaloupes and Listeria
Since “organicfarmer” posted this comment on Food Safety News last week, I have not been able to shake it from my head:
It’s really sad that farms and farmers are getting the brunt of this. I am sad these people died, but median age of 78…. give me a break. I my opinion there is
Jensen Farms Frontera Listeria Outbreak – Now Third Most Deadly
At 72 sickened with 13 deaths the Jensen Farms Frontera Listeria Outbreak has moved into third place in the United States most deadly foodborne illness outbreaks. The numbers of ill and dead are expected to increase in this recent Listeria Outbreak.
• January 1985
• Vehicle: cheese
• Number ill: 142
•
Separating the Wheat from the Chaff – The Reality of Proving a Foodborne Illness Case
For those avid readers of my blog (in addition to my mom and dad), you have seen a version or two of this document over the years. This time I have done some real editing and additions (and subtractions) that I hope you find useful as you evaluate foodborne illness claims as a plaintiff or
Free Subscription to Marler Blog – Get Free Book – “Poisoned”
Although I have had over 1,000,000 visitors to Marler Blog so far this year, I have just over 1,000 subscribers. So, the first 500 new subscribers will get a free book. Just subscribe here and email me your address at bmarler@marlerclark.com. Here is a sample platter of the reviews on “Poisoned” that have come
Food Safety News Publisher’s Platform – Private AG
Tune into Food Safety News Sunday morning and read the full story.
Everyone seems to hate government now days. From being afraid of the FDA “food police” trying to steal your seeds, to trying to privatize social security, government is perceived as both overbearing and incompetent (at the same time). Some want to gut the
Death in Arizona by E. coli O104:H4 Confirmed by CDC – Total Human Damage $4 Billion
E. coli O104:H4, a non-O157 E. coli, is here in the United States
According to the CDC, in the United States, six confirmed cases of STEC O104:H4 infections have been identified. Of these six cases, five recently traveled to Germany, where they were likely exposed. Bacterial isolates from four HUS cases reported in Arizona
The FDA and Revisionist History of its Position on non-O157 E. coli
I am old enough to remember when Politburo members would disappear from photos, and I was bothered by the Europeans when I posted – “EFSA and ECDC Change Published Risk Assessment because “some key partners involved felt that it may unnecessarily harm the company to publish its name while the investigations (into E. coli O104:H4 Outbreak) are still ongoing” – a few days ago, but, this really, in the U.S., the day after the 4th of July?
U.S. FDA CFSAN Deputy Director Donald Kraemer made a statement on June 3, 2011 regarding the E. coli O104:H4 outbreak in Europe. This statement was published on the FDA Web site and on various news Web sites. I touted it a day ago in my post – “The FDA considers any disease-causing strain of E. coli in food to be illegal. What is FSIS’s Position?”
Now the FDA Web site has a statement with different words than the original one.
The original paragraph read (my emphasis):
“Food growers, manufacturers and distributors are responsible for marketing safe food and taking any steps necessary to ensure that their products are indeed safe,” said Donald Kraemer, deputy director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “The FDA considers any disease-causing strain of E. coli in food to be illegal. The FDA has provided scientific guidance to the produce industry on ways to minimize the risk of E. coli, and these methods will reduce the risk of the strain of E. coli causing the European outbreak as well as the more common strains.”
The new paragraph reads:
“Food growers, manufacturers and distributors are responsible for marketing safe food and taking any steps necessary to ensure that their products are indeed safe,” said Donald Kraemer, deputy director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “The FDA has provided scientific guidance to the produce industry on ways to minimize the risk of E. coli, and these methods will reduce the risk of the strain of E. coli causing the European outbreak as well as the more common strains.”
The bold and italic sentence – “The FDA considers any disease-causing strain of E. coli in food to be illegal” – has been removed from the FDA Web site. The FDA Web site does not mention this change nor the reason for this revision.
There are about 1,000 subscribers to my blog and over 10,000 visitors a day – many in government and the media. Do you think someone will ask the FDA about the revision?
FYI:
Donald W. Kraemer, Deputy Director, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, MD, Phone: 301-436-2429, E-mail: donald.kraemer@fda.hhs.gov
See below for the original and revised releases:Continue Reading The FDA and Revisionist History of its Position on non-O157 E. coli