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Food Safety Risks in The United States

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Food Safety In the United States, food safety risks are at the lowest they have ever been, however in order to maintain this low risk, public demand for effective food policies is at an all time high. Food is actually the source of over 200 known diseases, exposing us to various bacteria, viruses, toxins, parasites, metals, and prions. According to information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) food borne diseases are known to cause around 3,000 deaths yearly in the United States; and pathogens such as salmonella, listeria, and toxoplasma are to blame for 30 percent of those deaths. While young children are more likely to fall ill from food, than other age groups, adults 50 and up account for the majority of …show more content…

“Illnesses from bagged spinach in 2006 led to a nationwide scare and the virtual suspension of all fresh bagged spinach sales in America, but there were only three known deaths. In 2011, listeria on melons from Colorado caused the single worst food-borne disease outbreak since 1985, but with only 33 known deaths” (Paarlberg, 186). Food contamination can come from many sources from production, to delivery, and all the way to your plate. In a factory, unsanitary equipment and inadequate sterilization during slaughter can lead to contamination; as well as unclean processing and packaging. In retail outlets, inadequate refrigeration can be an issue, and in restaurants poor hygiene habits of cooks and servers introduce risks for contamination. In order to prevent food contamination, there are federal departments responsible for food safety. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), is apart of the Department of Agriculture, and is responsible for meat and poultry. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is apart of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and is responsible for everything not covered by the FSIS. State public health agencies and city and country health departments also continuously monitor food safety. A salmonella outbreak in 2010 triggered the passing of a new food safety law (the Food Safety Modernization Act), which gave the FDA the responsibility

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