Robhigh Essay Research Paper Food Safety

Robhigh Essay, Research Paper

Food Safety: Is It Controllable . With America consuming amassing amounts of food, the food safety laws in affect will not be enough to keep Americans happy. At a Jack in the Box restaurant in Tacoma, Washington, on January 11, 1993, a young boy by the name of Michael Nole ate what seemed to be a harmless cheeseburger. A day later, Michael came down with a bad case of diarrhea and stomach cramps. At a Seattle hospital, ten days later, Michael was pronounced dead due to heart and kidney failure. This unfortunate accident began to raise questions about the food safety in America. Could America have a food safety problem. In 1985 the midwest was shocked when 200,000 people became ill after drinking milk that had been contaminated by salmonella typhimurium. In another more horrifying instance, a rare bacteria, listeria monocytogens, was responsible for 47 deaths when it was found in a Mexican type soft cheese (Cooper 483). These cases only account for a very, very small amount of the cases reported each year. Some researchers state that over 9,000 people are reported dead due to food contamination(Castellands 1; Cooper 483; Summer Food 92). While others feel that it is slightly less than that putting it at only 7,000 deaths a year (Puzo 2). Even with these outrageous numbers, expertsbelieve that only five percent of all smaller cases of food contamination are reported ortaken care of by a professional. More and more reports of food contamination are appearingand this is causing Americans to see that something needs to be done about this problem thatis plaguing the American food supply. An increase in contamination found in chicken and chicken products has caused a shift in concern, from the meat industry to the poultry industry. The most common contamination found in chickens is a bacteria called salmonella(Rogers 3).Not only can salmonella be found in chickens, but it also can be found in raw eggs andimproperly handled meat and dairy products(Silberner food 63; safety 92). According to theCenter for Disease Control (CDC) 2.5 million people suffer with stomach cramps, vomiting &diarrhea because of salmonella, each year. It is also estimated that from around 500 to3,000 deaths are due to the deadly bacteria(Silberner 63; summer food 92). In 1989,infections caused by salmonella found in eggs only accounted for 6% of all the totalsalmonella cases. In later 1994, the egg-borne salmonella increased to over 48% of allcases. Eggs become contaminated from the mother chicken who eats feed that containssalmonella. This feed is made from ground chicken byproducts such as intestines, feet,heads or bone. The ground byproducts are then mixed with feed and fed to chickens(Rogers3). Salmonella found in carcasses occurs during the slaughtering process(Patrick 584).Because chickens eat each others droppings, the bacteria is easily spread through a largegroup(McAuliff 1). With bacteria easily spread, new laws are needed to lower this spread. The bacteria is found in the animals feces and during slaughter, the intestines can be split open and bacteria is spread throughout the carcass(Patrick 554). Under the new Clinton administration, promises have been made for changes in the prevention of contamination from occurring. Mike Espy, agriculture secretary, asked Congress to provide funds for 200 new meat andpoultry inspectors. Espy also asked for funds for a new system that aims at preventing contamination at vulnerable points during production(Cooper 485).Some of the symptoms that may point to salmonella bacteria include diarrhea, fever andabdominal pain lasting five to seven days. Salmonella found in infants and the elderly mayeven lead to death(Rogers 3). Salmonella is a growing problem, but is not the onlycontamination concern. A new growing concern in food safety is due to a strain of Escheriechia Coli (E.Coli), or better known as 0157:H7(Laliberte 31). E.Coli, is found in beef, cheese and Mexican foods(Cooper 487). E.Coli is found in cattle fecal matter, where it lives and spreads. During the slaughtering process, the intestines, which hold fecal matter, are cut and the bacteria comes in contact with the rest of the animal’s carcass(Grogen 50; Laliberte 31). According to the Center for Disease Control, 0157:H7 causes 15,000 to 20,000 illnesses a year. E.Coli is also responsible for 250 to 300 deaths a year(Food safety 92; Laliberte 31). Half of the 300 dead are 15 years of age or younger(Laliberte 31). Side effects of E.Coli are a good reminder to see a doctor for a check up. After just a few days of intake, even small amounts can cause cramps, bloody diarrhea and a condition known as hemolyric uremic syndrome (HUS) which could lead to kidney failure, damage to the brain, stroke and sometimes death(Laliberte 31). Following a large epidemic of E.Coli found in the Jack in the Box food chain, Mike Espy, agriculture secretary for the Clinton administration, announced a new proposal for prevention. First the system would improve the current system by incorporating new scientific techniques to detect E.Coli, in much shorter times than the current systems induces. He also wanted 550 new employees to fill the vacancies in the food Safety and Inspection service 7,400 man strong crew(Cooper 495). The Agriculture Department introduceda program that would use advanced scientific techniques that would detect and eliminatethreats to food safety during the production process, from the f