E. coli has made some high-profile news headlines lately. The stories recall horrific memories for me of Chance’s illness, and yet they strengthen my resolve to tell our story and educate people about the danger of eating unsafe beef. They should represent a call to action for all of us.
Stephanie Smith
The recent New York Times article about dance instructor Stephanie Smith is another sad and preventable food safety tragedy. We faced the same horror that Smith did with our son Chance: bloody diarrhea, convulsions, and the eventual kidney shut-down. I’m frightened that this last summer, contamination led to the recall of beef from nearly 3,000 grocers in 41 states. We can—and must—do better in our country.
The article goes on to state that we are led to believe that the system for producing ground beef is safe, even though it is not. Someone asked me the other day if we should just avoid eating beef. I answered no, but until food safety regulations are improved, we must bear the responsibility to protect ourselves. Cook hamburger at home to 160 degrees; that will kill any bacteria that it might contain. Also remember to wash all vegetables and disinfect your kitchen counters.
Click here to read the full article by Michael Moss on the NY Times website.
Stephanie Smith survived her scare with E. coli and HUS but is currently paralyzed and faces a long road of physical therapy. I wish her the best in her recovery.
Lake of the Ozarks
Another story I have been following comes from the Kansas City Star. This is not food related, but instead concerns the ongoing saga of high levels of bacteria found in the water at the Lake of the Ozarks. I feel the story shows another example of the lack of understanding about E. coli and the threat it poses in our world today. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has been criticized for delays and confusion regarding beach closures. Swimmers at the Lake of the Ozarks are like beef consumers: they just want to know they are safe and desire a consistent message from authorities on how to mitigate threats from E. coli.
Click this link to read the entire story.
Many in our society today have a limited understanding of the threat this kind of killer bacteria presents. That is why it is critical that I continue to share our story and message to educate people about the risks and help protect their families. Whether in your hamburger or at the beach, E. coli kills.
A Responsibility Shift is Required
Some feel that the State of Missouri possibly covered up findings at the Lake of the Ozarks for fear of lost revenue from closing the beach over Memorial Day weekend. I don’t know enough to point any fingers there, but that possibility brings me back to food and the seductive power of profit.
This is a major flaw in the food safety system in place today: our government does not have the ability to recall tainted food. That burden falls on the company who produced the product. The power of the dollar in corporate America can delay or even hide safety findings, causing many to become sick unnecessarily.
A bill that passed the House of Representatives this summer, HR 2759, imposes tighter guidelines for inspections and creates opportunities for government-mandated food recalls. This is a step in the right direction, but we still have a long road ahead of us in improving the protection of our food supply.
The responsibility needs to be shifted away from confused consumers, and the change is long overdue.
Stay safe! -Kip
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