Opinion
My passion for public health stems from my career as an infectious disease doctor, watching families cope with the heartbreak caused by preventable diseases, including foodborne illness. I know what it feels like to explain to a husband in shock that the reason his wife is on life support is because of something she ate… Continue Reading
Opinion
This is somewhat of a reprint of an Op-ed of a few years ago. However, in light of this week’s 76-count indictment of Stewart Parnell and four others, I thought a reprint was in order. Everyone seems to hate government nowadays. From being afraid the FDA “food police” will try to steal your seeds, to… Continue Reading
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have analyzed data on all foodborne illness outbreaks that occurred in 2009 and 2010, pinpointing the pathogens and foods that were most frequently the source of outbreaks. While many figures matched those from previous years, CDC found that outbreaks linked to raw dairy had increased, and the number… Continue Reading
At least 167 residents around Casper, Wyo. have reported suffering from gastrointestinal illnesses in the past week, according to the Casper-Natrona County Health Department. The evidence points to a Norovirus contamination at a buffet-style Golden Corral restaurant in east Casper as the source, health department director Robert Harrington told Food Safety News. Thus far, none of… Continue Reading
A chemical that inhibits insect growth may help combat the spread of foodborne bacteria carried by house flies, according to new research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Scientists at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service have found that pyriproxyfen – a pesticide that’s been shown to stunt mosquito growth – has the same effect on fly… Continue Reading
I saved the last of our “About-Bug” updates for Norovirus – and you will see why. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that noroviruses cause nearly 21 million cases of acute gastroenteritis annually, making noroviruses the leading cause of gastroenteritis in adults in the United States. According to a relatively recent article… Continue Reading
Update: Since this article was originally published, eight more cases of E. coli O157:H7 were confirmed to be part of this outbreak, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 98. There are an additional 175 suspected cases, according to North Ireland’s Public Health Agency, as reported by BBC News on the afternoon of Monday October… Continue Reading
At least 179 citizens of Northern Ireland are suspected to be infected with E. coli after eating at Flicks Restaurant in Belfast, BBC reports. An official from the Public Health Agency called it the nation’s worst E. coli outbreak ever. Thus far, officials have identified 25 laboratory-confirmed cases and 154 suspected cases. Six people have… Continue Reading
As many as 20 students at California’s Claremont McKenna College are recovering from symptoms of food poisoning, according to CMC Forum. The student-run news service reports that the illnesses, which were marked by severe stomach pain and vomiting, did not involve alcohol. Several students required early Sunday morning emergency room treatment. Art Davis, resident assistant… Continue Reading
An article entitled, “Annual Cost of Illness and Quality-Adjusted Life Year Losses in the United States Due to 14 Foodborne Pathogens,” which appears in this month’s Journal of Food Protection, again points to the personal and societal costs of food that went bad. The article, written by Sandra Hoffman, Michael Batz and J. Glenn Morris,… Continue Reading
Those plain-speaking public service announcements warning consumers about foodborne illnesses and promoting food safety practices are gearing up for another summer run starting just before the 4th of July. The Food Safe Families campaign is the work of the non-profit Ad Council for the federal government’s top three food safety agencies, USDA’s Food Safety and… Continue Reading