Claire received her J.D. degree from Hofstra University School of Law with a concentration in Energy and the Environment in May 2010. She received her B.A., majoring in English, from Villanova University, magna cum laude. During law school, Claire served as Articles Editor for the Hofstra Labor & Employment Law Journal, was elected President of the Legal Emergency Aid Project and elected Treasurer of Hofstra Law Women. She is currently pursuing an LL.M. degree in Food and Agricultural Law at the University of Arkansas School of Law. In August 2010, Claire was selected as the recipient of the Marler Clark Graduate Assistantship, part of a new public/private partnership that will allow the University of Arkansas School of Law to partner with leaders in the food and agricultural legal communities. Although she began the LL.M. Program in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Claire is now living in Seattle in order to devote more time to her work at Marler Clark and is completing her LL.M. degree through distance learning. In addition to her academic and professional commitments, Claire blogs on Food Poison Journal and has been published in the Food and Drug Law Institute's Update and the American Agricultural Law Association's Update.
The City of Lubbock issued a news release Wednesday warning that anyone who ate at Cheddar's Casual Café, 4009 S. Loop 289, in Lubbock, Texas from August 31 through September 8 may have been exposed to Hepatitis A through a restaurant employee.According to local TV station KCBD and the news release:An employee of the restaurant, who has not worked at...
According to reporter Steven Elbow of The Capital Times, health officials from State and Green counties in Wisconsin are investigating an E. coli outbreak that has claimed the life of a 1-year-old girl and has sickened several others.Elbow wrote:"The Wisconsin Division of Public Health and our department here in Green County are investigating a cluster of nine confirmed E. coli...
Health Canada, Canada's government agency responsible for national public health, last week issued a press release reminding its citizens not to drink raw (unpasteurized) milk because it could contain bacteria that can make you seriously ill.The agency explains:Unpasteurized milk has historically been linked to many serious diseases. In addition, several different kinds of bacteria that could be found in raw...
Esther French, Mattea Kramer and Maggie Clark, fellows with News21, a national university reporting project at the University of Maryland, recently conducted an investigation into the safety of poultry sold at certain farmers' markets in Washington D.C. Their report appeared in the July 22 issue of the Washington Post. The investigation revealed some unsettling results and appears to indicate that...
This past weekend, environmental health professionals, local, state and federal health department officials, industry representatives, teachers and students, convened in Columbus, Ohio for the 75th National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) Annual Educational Conference (AEC). However, as organizers of the event described, it is so much more than just a conference. NEHA representatives explained that the event provides attendees with opportunities...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Thursday that it is disclosing more information about inspections and court actions, and now has a web portal on its enforcement activities as part of Phase II of the agency's Transparency Initiative. Now, FDA's enforcement and compliance-related activities will be more accessible, downloadable, and searchable online.According to FDA's press release:The information includes...
Scientists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) working at the Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Research Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland, have developed and patented an advanced scanning system to be used in fresh produce packinghouses to detect certain kinds of exterior defects or contaminants.According to an article published May 10, by Marcia Wood, Public Affairs Specialist...
When considering the best time of year to eat oysters, clams, mussels, and other mollusks, consumers may often hear the advice, "Never eat shellfish unless there is an R in the month." This rule of thumb suggests that it is safer to eat shellfish from September through April and to avoid it from May to August. Although it is true...
Several months ago, Gerald O'Malley, the director of clinical research at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital's Emergency Department in Philadelphia, took a stroll through Philadelphia's Chinatown district. Recently hired by the hospital in July 2010, O'Malley wanted to orient himself with his new neighborhood. On his walk, he noticed dozens of shops selling colorfully decorated ceramic kitchenware. Upon seeing this, O'Malley,...
The prevalence of fecal Salmonella and anti-microbial Salmonella is lower in certified-organic broiler chickens than in chickens that are conventionally raised, according to a study recently published in the journal Foodborne Pathogens and Disease. The study was conducted by scientists at the University of Georgia in collaboration with scientists at Ohio State University and North Carolina State University. The authors point out in the...
In an effort to improve transparency and accountability in the food system, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) launched a new policy on March 16 to post quarterly information on its website regarding the agency's compliance and enforcement activities. Previously, CFIA published information on its website on prosecution bulletins only when a conviction was obtained against a company for violating food...
In the past decade, modern industrial agriculture has experienced a stream of negative media attention, a significant departure from the typical pastoral image of American farming. The livestock industry in particular has come under fire with the release of undercover videos exposing animal cruelty. In 2004, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) secretly filmed a video revealing...
Daniel Imhoff, a researcher, farmer, author of numerous articles and books, independent publisher, and speaker, recently gave a presentation at the University of Washington about the upcoming 2012 Farm Bill. The March 1 event, sponsored by Northwest Farm Bill Action Group and the University of Washington's Department of Urban Planning and Design in the College of Built Environments, drew a...
In 1990, the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) was enacted by Congress with the purpose of assuring consumers that organically produced products meet a consistent, nationwide standard. Prior to the passage of this federal law, private and State agencies were responsible for certifying organic practices. As a result, there was no uniform standard guaranteeing the consumer that "organic" meant the same...
Legally used in certain countries outside the United States as a prescription medical treatment for asthma in humans and airway obstruction in horses, clenbuterol, classified as a beta2-adrenergic agonist, is perhaps more commonly known for its illegal use by athletes and bodybuilders to increase lean muscle mass and reduce body fat.It also has gained widespread popularity among livestock producers who...
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