The tomato industry lost $250 million dollars during the summer of 2008. Why? Because the FDA told the nation to stop buying tomatoes because they "thought" they were the cause of a massive salmonella outbreak that sickened approximately 40,000 people in the United States. The FDA was actually not able to implicate ONE tomato to the event. The first illness was on April 16, 2008 according the CDC, the last illness reported was on August 11, 2008. It turned out to be jalapeno peppers, but only after 85 days and 1250 reported cases (which means approximately 36,000 people were sick) did the FDA get it right.
In 2006, the E-Coli outbreak that involved spinach only lasted a few weeks, but there were significant illnesses and there were deaths associated with that outbreak. The efforts of the FDA and the government were swifter and more effective in that situation than in the salmonella event last summer.
The current peanut event is another instance of the FDA
showing their weakness in being able to handle outbreaks in an efficient and consumer protective method. The first illness was reported in either late August or early September. The public was notified in early January, at least 4 months after it began. By the time the public was notified there had been over 300 cases reported, which means at least 9,000 people had gotten sick. It continues with over 12,000 people having gotten sick at the time of this posting and there have been 5 deaths which "may" be associated with this outbreak. To date there have been over 150 recalls by various companies on peanut products from peanut butter to dog biscuits and everything in between.
The current peanut event is another instance of the FDA
showing their weakness in being able to handle outbreaks in an efficient and consumer protective method. The first illness was reported in either late August or early September. The public was notified in early January, at least 4 months after it began. By the time the public was notified there had been over 300 cases reported, which means at least 9,000 people had gotten sick. It continues with over 12,000 people having gotten sick at the time of this posting and there have been 5 deaths which "may" be associated with this outbreak. To date there have been over 150 recalls by various companies on peanut products from peanut butter to dog biscuits and everything in between.It doesn't have to be this way and it is the intent of www.usfoodtrace.com to change this. We need all the support we can get in letting our local, state and federal representatives know that not only has the past been so inadequately handled, but a part of the change that is needed is here and ready to be implemented. We appreciate any thoughts and comments. This is the initial posting on this subject and we will continue this process to inform the public, make our program known and get it implemented. Please visit us at www.usfoodtrace.com to learn more about what has happened, what we are all about and give us your thoughts.
