BlogHer - Salmonella Outbreak: How Safe Is Our Food Supply? - Comments

Government IS failing us

Mocha Mama — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:07 -0500

Yes, I do believe that the government is failing us in finding the source of these outbreaks, and stopping them from happening altogether. I think that the American public puts too much trust into agencies that are more about their bottom line than they are about the health of their constituents. Part of the problem is that MOST of the food thats sold here isn't grown here, so a lot of the health standards that people expect their food to be in compliance with doesn't even apply, because it wasn't grown here.

I don't worry so much because my family eats locally grown organic fruits and veggies, so its not a concern in my household, but it does worry me because I know that people I love and care about don't think that there is any difference between conventional and organic, and have bought food that has been contaminated, and had to throw away. (Which wasted more money than had they went ahead and bought organic) I hope that American farmers move towards organic, so that these contamination issues can be lessened and hopefully eliminated.

www.mochamommyonthego.wordpress.com

Salmonella

Kathy333 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:54:55 -0500

I'm not worried and haven't changed our eating habits. Do I think about it? Sometimes. But I continue to eat and feed the family fresh veggies and fruits everyday, including tomatoes. I think like with everything, there is a risk. You could have tainted meat, or eat fish that is not cooked well at a restaurant and get sick. I have had food poisoning, years ago, after eating seafood out. I'll never forget how sick both my mom and I got. But I didn't stop eating out.

In our home, we've decided to start taking matters into our own hands to combat the rising costs and the other issues with grocery shopping and we've planted a garden. The entire family, from dad to mom to the girls, are involved. Each day we water, and we have been so excited when the first tomatoes and peppers started peeking through! If we had more space, we would plant even more!

Killing Salmonella

Cynthia Clampitt — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 11:58:00 -0500

I've had salmonella poisoning before, and yes, you do know when you have it. Nasty business. But I'm not worried about tomatoes. If they aren't from the local farmers market (which we know are safe), I just cut them up and make soup. The Center for Disease Control says you only need to get them to 145 degrees for 15 seconds to kill the salmonella, and that still leaves you with a really fresh-tasting soup.

Of course, soup isn't the only option. Sliced tomatoes on the grill are nice. A lightly sautéed bruschetta. Just get the tomatoes -- and basil or whatever else you're worried about -- to 145 degrees for 15 seconds. Then enjoy.

Cynthia

http://waltzingaustralia.wordpress.com

Salmonella Outbreak: How Safe Is Our Food Supply?

Catherine Morgan — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:40:04 -0500

The salmonella outbreak is getting worse, and the CDC still doesn't know exactly where it is coming from. This is the worst outbreak of salmonella in a decade. So, what does it mean? How safe is our food supply? Are you worried about this? Have you stopped eating tomatoes? Would you know if you had salmonella poisoning?

From the Food Poisoning Blog...

Salmonella infection can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.

Now Basil is joining the suspects in salmonella outbreak...

Basil may have joined the list of food suspected in an outbreak of Salmonella food poisoning that has sickened more than 1,000 people, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday.

The FDA said Lucky Green Trading Inc. of Garden Grove, California, had recalled all of its Thai basil after random testing had shown it tested positive for Salmonella.

From Food Democracy...

The toll far surpasses what had been considered the largest foodborne outbreak of the past decade, the 715 salmonella cases linked to peanut butter in 2006. In the mid-1990s, there were well over 1,000 cases of cyclospora linked to raspberries, and previous large outbreaks of salmonella from ice cream and milk.

The CDC acknowledges that for every case of salmonella confirmed to the government, there may be 30 to 40 others that go undiagnosed or unreported.

“The outbreak could actually be tens of thousands of people rather than 1,000 people,” agreed Caroline Smith DeWaal of the consumer advocacy Center for Science in the Public Interest. “It’s certainly a disturbing event to have this many illnesses spanning this many months.”

To make matters worse, no one is sure if the cause is tomatoes, peppers, cilantro or a combination of one or more.

From Fat Fighter TV...

More confusion - the CDC has found some people who got sick “were more likely to have recently consumed raw tomatoes, fresh jalapeño peppers, and fresh cilantro. These items were commonly, though not always, consumed together, so that study could not determine which item(s) caused the illnesses.”

So… now under investigation - raw tomatoes, jalapeños and serrano peppers, plus fresh cilantro. What a mess.

From One Big Health Nut...

Currently the FDA is now looking into farms and distribution centers that may have handled both types of suspected produce. The investigation to this point has been unsuccessful in pinpointing the exact cause and location of the salmonella outbreak. More than 40 states have reported confirmed cases of salmonella. Cases are still being reported and the FDA has warned that this outbreak is not over yet.

So, are you worried? Are you still eating tomatoes? Do you think our government is doing a good enough job at finding the cause of this outbreak? How safe is our food supply?

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at catherine-morgan.com, The Political Voices of Women, Care2 Election