Ron Paul, libertarian congressman from Texas, has introduced a bill (HR 1830) to legalize the sale of raw milk across state lines–i.e. in interstate commerce. Below is his statement about the bill. First, check your facts about raw milk at www.realrawmilkfacts.com; see a listing of raw dairy outbreaks and recalls from last year
Oregon Salmonella outbreak counts at least 17 cases
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In the Oregon Salmonella outbreak linked to Dos Amigos mexican restaurant, Douglas County Health officials now say they have confirmed 17 cases. The illnesses are said to have taken place from April 9 through April 17.
KVAL.com reported today on the Salmonella outbreak:
Dawnelle Marshall from the Public Health Division of the Douglas County
FDA to announce new produce safety rules
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Largely due to a string of E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks linked to lettuce and other leafy greens, the FDA will soon announce new rules (as opposed to voluntary recommendations) for the production and packing of fresh produce. See FDA Produce Rule Announcement. The new rules will set enforceable standards for fresh produce safety at the
Salmonella outbreak in Hawaii: linked to imported ahi tuna?
KITV in Honolulu reported today that ten people have been infected and sickened by Salmonella in Hawaii recently, and all report having recently consumed imported ahi tuna.
At least 10 people have fallen ill with salmonella infections after eating imported ahi tuna, Hawaii Department of Health officials said on Thursday.
The people who became sick
The Real Face of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
Kyle Wolden, a nine year old boy from Mount Vernon, Washington and the son of a baseball coach at Stanwood High School, got to run the bases at Safeco Field before the Seattle Mariners’ game yesterday. 45,876 fans of Seattle Mariners baseball became even bigger fans of Kyle’s, and now probably have a better understanding of
Subway Shigella Outbreak: restaurant reopens, hundreds sickened
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The Subway restaurant located on Roosevelt Street in Lombard, Illinois that was the site of a major Shigella outbreak has finally reopened. Eleni Demertzis, of the Lombard Spectator, who has followed the Shigella outbreak since it was first announced by DuPage County Health Department on March 5, reports as follows:
The Lombard Subway reopened today after
Calls for Greater Transparency about Foodpoisoning Recalls and Outbreaks
This morning, Phyllis Entis of eFoodAlert.com posted an interesting article on the Montefiore Cheese Salmonella recall that has occurred in Austrialia, Tazmania, and New Zealand. Ms. Entis’s issue with the conduct of the recall seems to be delays in product testing that revealed the contamination, and dissemination of that critical information to the food-consuming public.
Summary of Food Safety Modernization Act (Senate debate pending)
Not exactly fresh out of committee, but out of committee nonetheless, senate bill 510 (a/k/a the Food Safety Modernization Act) makes its way to the senate floor soon, possibly this week. The full senate debate and subsequent vote is certainly timely, as just today Michael Moss was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his story on Stephanie Smiths E. coli O157:H7 illness and Linda Rivera’s long-awaited emergence from a Nevada hospital where she has spent almost a year after also being infected by E. coli O157:H7. Stephanie was sickened by a hamburger made by Cargill, and Linda by contaminated cookie dough made by Nestle.
The Food Safety Modernization Act is truly an important piece of legislation, in that it affects every citizen of this country, and even some abroad, on a daily basis. The bill substantially modifies the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetics Act, and generally gives the Food and Drug Administration better authority and ability to monitor the safety of our food supply, and take quicker and more effective action for food companies that don’t adequately protect against foodpoisoning risks.
Among other, more specific, things, the Food Safety Modernization Act:
Continue Reading Summary of Food Safety Modernization Act (Senate debate pending)
Michael Moss (NY Times) Wins the Pulitzer Prize for E. coli Story
Michael Moss has won the Pulitzer Prize for his article detailing the E. coli O157:H7 illness of Stephanie Smith and the outbreak, linked to Cargill ground beef, that changed her life forever. Mr. Moss’s article, published in October 2009 (two years after the Cargill outbreak), was titled "The Burger that Shattered Her Life
Norovirus Closes the Harvard Faculty Club
The Boston Globe reported today on a large norovirus outbreak at the Harvard Faculty Club. The Club is currently closed for deep-cleaning after 100-200 people fell ill shortly after Easter brunches held this past Sunday and Tuesday. Notably, this was the Club’s second closure in a week due to norovirus concerns.
It appears, however, that more than just the unlucky souls at