In July of 2009, the United States House of Representatives held committee hearings on Bill H.R. 1549, known as the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act of 2009. This legislation would attempt to halt the creation of antibiotic resistant bacteria (superbugs) through limitations on utilization of antibiotics in the livestock industry. Citing a 2003 study by the National Academy of Science linking... [more]

Whether it’s a Food Safety Inspection Service recall notice or an improvement in the safety evaluation techniques for the nation’s school lunch program, the government as well as producers are apparently beginning to realize the urgency associated with food safety. Foodborne illness outbreaks, whether they are associated with bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella or any other host of food poisoning... [more]

The Wall Street Journal just published an article that notes the FDA has concluded that food poisoning is becoming more prevalent. According to the article, yearly over 75 million cases of foodborne illnesses are reported. Additionally, over 300,000 people each year are hospitalized for some type of food poisoning and 5,000 people die as a result of these illnesses. What is causing this increase in... [more]

As emergency teams rushed to Haiti to provide supplies and medical assistance to injured victims, one of the main health issues that arose was maintaining the safety of the water supply. A January 13, 2010 CNN article entitled “Haiti Earthquake Could Trigger Medical ‘Perfect Storm,’” describes how animal feces and decaying bodies can contaminate available water causing diarrheal infections... [more]

On January 29, 2010, the New York State Department of Health issued a statement that Campylobacter food poisoning has sickened five individuals in the New York area who drank raw, unpasteurized milk. Willow Marsh Farm, which received proper governmental authorization to sell raw milk, has been implicated in the Campylobacter cases. New York State lab officials linked the Campylobacter to Willow Marsh... [more]

Data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s FoodNet Facts and Figures website shows that children under four have the highest number of cases of bacterial and parasitic infections when compared to older individuals.  Per 100,000 individuals, there were over 28 children younger than four who contracted campylobacter, nearly 75 diagnosed with Salmonella, and 27 infected with Shigella.... [more]

Yesterday, the FDA named Michael R. Taylor as the new Deputy Commissioner for Foods. This is a newly created position within the brand new “Office of Foods”.  Mr. Taylor will be responsible for overseeing the FDA’s various food and nutrition programs. No doubt qualified for this position, Taylor is a nationally recognized food safety expert, author, lawyer and professor who has held various... [more]

Campylobacteriosis usually occurs in single, sporadic cases, but it can also occur in outbreaks, when a number of people become ill at one time. Most cases of campylobacteriosis are associated with eating raw or undercooked poultry meat or from cross-contamination of other foods by these items. Infants may get the infection by contact with poultry packages in shopping carts. Outbreaks of Campylobacter... [more]

FSIS has developed new pathogen reduction performance standards for control of Salmonella and Campylobacter bacteria in chilled carcasses at young chicken (broiler) and turkey slaughter establishments that are eligible for agency verification sampling. FSIS has had standards for Salmonella but not for Campylobacter. These new standards respond to certain key recommendations of the President’s... [more]

Two families whose three young children became deathly ill in July 2008 from consuming E. coli O157:H7 contaminated raw milk produced by a Connecticut dairy are suing the dairy and Whole Foods Market Inc., the store where the tainted milk was sold. Raw milk is milk that has not gone through pasteurization, a heating process that is used to kill potential pathogens in the milk. All three children were... [more]