Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Ten riskiest foods regulated by the FDA
A is for Afghanistan, B is for Budget, C is for Climate Change . . . down the list somewhere there a government role for food safety. [The free market hasn't done a very good job under laissez faire.]
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) lists [.pdf]
THE TEN RISKIEST FOODS REGULATED BY THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
LEAFY GREENS: 363 outbreaks involving 13,568 reported cases of illness
EGGS: 352 outbreaks involving 11,163 reported cases of illness
TUNA: 268 outbreaks involving 2341 reported cases of illness
OYSTERS: 132 outbreaks involving 3409 reported cases of illness
POTATOES: 108 outbreaks involving 3659 reported cases of illness
CHEESE: 83 outbreaks involving 2761 reported cases of illness
ICE CREAM: 74 outbreaks involving 2594 reported cases of illness
TOMATOES: 31 outbreaks involving 3292 reported cases of illness
SPROUTS: 31 outbreaks involving 2022 reported cases of illness
BERRIES: 25 outbreaks involving 3397 reported cases of illness
My guess is that there's 100 unreported case for every one that is reported.
Why I care: I'm a consumer of food, I like being healthy, and I can't see the pathogens when I'm buying food in the store.
Link to CSPI.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) lists [.pdf]
THE TEN RISKIEST FOODS REGULATED BY THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
LEAFY GREENS: 363 outbreaks involving 13,568 reported cases of illness
EGGS: 352 outbreaks involving 11,163 reported cases of illness
TUNA: 268 outbreaks involving 2341 reported cases of illness
OYSTERS: 132 outbreaks involving 3409 reported cases of illness
POTATOES: 108 outbreaks involving 3659 reported cases of illness
CHEESE: 83 outbreaks involving 2761 reported cases of illness
ICE CREAM: 74 outbreaks involving 2594 reported cases of illness
TOMATOES: 31 outbreaks involving 3292 reported cases of illness
SPROUTS: 31 outbreaks involving 2022 reported cases of illness
BERRIES: 25 outbreaks involving 3397 reported cases of illness
My guess is that there's 100 unreported case for every one that is reported.
Why I care: I'm a consumer of food, I like being healthy, and I can't see the pathogens when I'm buying food in the store.
Link to CSPI.
Technorati Tags: Health, Science
Comments:
Since you and I were children, many things have been regulated, some things have had their regulation changed, and very few things have been deregulated.
Before you go blaming free markets, you should identify them, because most markets are hampered in one way or another, and I'd appreciate a chance to point out how what you think is free is actually simply badly regulated.
For example, you are complaining here about how poor a job the FDA does at governing food safety, so I don't see how you can criticize free markets in an article whose chief point is how badly governments do when they hamper markets.
But what bothers me most about your niggling is that you totally get it why networks should be free to pass all packets, but you don't understand why people should be free to trade any way they want. It's like ... the EXACT same issue, dude.
Before you go blaming free markets, you should identify them, because most markets are hampered in one way or another, and I'd appreciate a chance to point out how what you think is free is actually simply badly regulated.
For example, you are complaining here about how poor a job the FDA does at governing food safety, so I don't see how you can criticize free markets in an article whose chief point is how badly governments do when they hamper markets.
But what bothers me most about your niggling is that you totally get it why networks should be free to pass all packets, but you don't understand why people should be free to trade any way they want. It's like ... the EXACT same issue, dude.
David
Been a while since I visited your blog
Keep up he good work(s)
Been involved with food safety, now owning a local to local food distribution business and watching trends.
Still in "stealth" mode, but have a project in beta for "farm to fork" tracking.
Benefits consumers in trace-back, benefits grower in pinpointing day,field where problem is/was
Ciao
Chip
Post a Comment
Been a while since I visited your blog
Keep up he good work(s)
Been involved with food safety, now owning a local to local food distribution business and watching trends.
Still in "stealth" mode, but have a project in beta for "farm to fork" tracking.
Benefits consumers in trace-back, benefits grower in pinpointing day,field where problem is/was
Ciao
Chip
