Food safety has become an increasingly important governmental issue. FoodQualityNews.com posted notification of two public food safety meetings to be held soon in Washington, D.C. On March 10th, 2010, the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) will host an informational meeting on E. coli O157:H7 tracking. On March 30, 2010, several governmental agencies will be hosting another food safety meeting focused on reducing the occurrence of foodborne illnesses. It will be conducted by the FDA, CDC, and FSIS. According to the U.S. Under Secretary for Food Safety, “[t]his meeting will help us develop the specific measures we need to see which policies work best to improve food safety.” The article entitled, “U.S. Government to Host Food Safety Meetings,” provides websites where additional information can be obtained.
The March 10th meeting, which will focus on E. coli food poisoning, can provide insight into how E. coli outbreaks are traced. E. coli O157:H7 is a bacterium that can cause severe food poisoning. E. coli symptoms include bloody diarrhea and abdominal discomfort. In addition, E. coli food poisoning can result in further complications including the onset of hemolytic uremic syndrome commonly referred to as HUS. Hemolytic uremic syndrome can result in kidney damage and patients may need dialysis. Young children are typically more susceptible to HUS than other age groups. However, you should know that HUS can be fatal at any age.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2010
