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Maybe it is just coincidence but we’ve now had three major outbreaks of e.coli O157:H7 since Sept 2006.

1. Bagged Spinach in western states killed 3 and sickened at least 199
2. Taco Bell on East Coast in NY, NJ, and PA from green onions/scallions: 62 sick, 49 hospitalized
3. John’s Taco in Iowa 14 hospital, 36 sickened and this is still developing

Here are the FDA press releases on the first two incidents:

FDA Statement on Foodborne E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach–Update October 4, 2006
FDA Statement on Foodborne E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach–Update October 12, 2006
FDA Investigating E. Coli O157 Infections Associated with Taco Bell Restaurants in Northeast
UPDATE: FDA Investigates E. Coli O157 Cases Associated with Taco Bell Restaurants

The most recent is from a Taco Johns (not associated with Taco Bell) in Iowa and the source of the problem has not yet been identified. I would not surprise me though if it ends up being green onions also and maybe from the same source.

14 hospitalized after dining at Iowa restaurant; E. coli suspected - CNN.com

This brings the total to almost 200 sickened and more than 63 hospitalized in the past four months due to e. coli. The CDC states that 61 deaths occur each year due to e coli. I think just about anyone would come to the conclusion that there is likely a problem and some changes need to happen.

I should point out that e. coli is found in the human gut and is normally present and does not normally cause problems. However, this particular strain O157:H7 is particularly virulent and affects people but the worst effects are seen mainly in the elderly or the young. This strain comes primarily from cattle and is found in cattle feces. This can get into water supplies and if that water is used for irrigation, it can lead to contamination. Another problem is that bacteria can form biofilms which are practically impossible to wash off.

There are estimates that tens of thousands of people are sickened each year due to food based illness but the problem is very much under estimated mainly due to sickness not being reported.

The authority for foods can be broken down into meat and poultry which is inspected by the US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) and other foods which fall into the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A major problem is that the FDA not set up to do field testing and monitoring.like the USDA does with meats. For example, the USDA has 7,000 inspectors inspecting 6,000 plants daily whereas the FDA has only 800 for food. Inspections of food processing plants which fall within the FDA’s jurisdiction are inspected only about once every five years!

While I’m focusing on e coli here, but there are other concerns such as salmonela, hepatitis and other food-borne illnesses.

All of this has lead to the call for a new agency. I’m not sure if that is a good idea, but I do think increasing the cooperation between the food and meat/poultry inspectors would be useful. I think again that the problem is not that the FDA does not understand its mission but that they are not funded adequately to do the functions they have been assigned.

Calls for new agency
Chemical & Engineering News: Government & Policy - Food Safety System
ScienceDaily: Calls For A New Food Safety Regulatory Agency Follow Spinach Tragedy

Here is a quote from the Chemical & Engineering News article that supports my position.

According to Michael R. Taylor, an epidemiologist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the primary missing element is resources. FDA does not have the resources to do inspections and set up testing systems, nor does it have a mandate “to drive primary prevention at the point of production,” he says. Another problem, he says, is no one—not the head of CDC, FDA, or USDA or California officials—is in charge of preventing the next outbreak of E. coli in spinach or lettuce. When it comes to food, Taylor says, “all play a role, but no one is in charge, and no one fairly can be held accountable.”

If food safety is an issue, then the FDA should be funded adequately in order to bring this expectation into reality.

I would point out though that there other daily risks that are much more hazardous such as driving your car or even death from the flu. However, this does not mean that steps should not be taken to minimize the risks regarding foods.

Other Resources

E. coli infection, disease information, NCID, CDC

Disease Listing, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Gen Info | CDC Bacterial, Mycotic Diseases

The Cincinnati Post - Death by dining: excellent article

US FDA/CFSAN - Nationwide E. Coli O157:H7 Outbreak: Questions and Answers (last updated Oct 20, 2006) only reall covers the spinach incident.
CFSAN Video Library: Dr. X and the Quest for Food Safety (Real Media and Windows Media files)

Recent Science Friday programs on food safety
September 22, 2006, Hour Two: Tracking Food Safety / Solar Energy
November 24, 2006, Hour One: Food

Do our fears add up? - Town Online: good article on everyday risks.

Technorati Tags: e coli, FDA, food safety

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