I'm proud of you, TJ.
Happy Birthday! —Dad
P.S. I hope you haven't grown up too much that you still won't join your old man at a ball game!
]]>Within minutes, Chance and I had headphones on and were on the radio sharing our story. (Chance had ice cream all over his face while we were doing the interview.) I thanked Jennifer for allowing me to speak and she gave me a hug when we left. The next night, as all of the radio personalities were closing out the telethon, each was sharing their favorite kid story from the week. Marti and I were both listening while driving in separate cars to meet for dinner. To our shock and amazement, Jennifer Wild said, "My favorite story was about the little boy Chance who contracted E. coli." She got that far and began to cry—never able to finish.
I remember Marti calling me saying, "Are you listening to this? She's talking about Chance." We both began to cry on the phone with each other. I'll always remember that moment.
That brings me to this year's telethon. They had two mothers on the radio who told their story. In summary, one little girl named Skyler stopped breathing in her father's arms and died due to a hole in her heart. That story reminded me of when Chance stopped breathing in Marti's arms. Two months later, Skyler's best friend from day care, Loryn, was admitted to The Children's Hospital with the same defect.
During surgery, Loryn stopped breathing. The doctors revived her and when she was stable she shared the following story with her mother: "I saw Skyler, we were playing and then we took a nap. Then she wrapped her angel arms around me before I woke up."
Simply amazing! I appreciate the courage of those two mothers sharing their story on the radio. I found tears streaming down my face after I heard them.
The telethon ends today (Friday, February 18). I encourage everyone to call 1-800-458-Kids and become a "miracle maker." For $15 a month (.50 cents a day) you could help the kids at The Children's Hospital and help miracles happen. Please tell others to make this call as well. This amazing hospital is responsible for saving the lives of many children, including my son Chance. They deserve our support!
Click here to learn more about the telethon, and Alice 105.9 FM
Stay safe! —Kip
]]>Thank you for contacting me regarding the Food Safety Modernization Act, S.510. I appreciate your concern on this matter.
In the wake of recent outbreaks of food-borne illness and nationwide recalls of contaminated food from both domestic and foreign sources, lawmakers in Congress have highlighted the need to modernize and strengthen our nation’s food safety system. Several food safety bills have been introduced in the 111th Congress—each one containing a different proposal for improving our food safety system.
In the Senate, S.510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, introduced by Senator Richard Durbin is one approach to improving food safety nationwide. The bill would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to expand the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to regulate food and give the Food and Drug Administration new authorities and resources.
S. 510 would require processing facilities to put in place preventative food safety plans and require importers to verify the safety of foreign suppliers and imported food. The bill also seeks to improve our ability to detect and respond to food-borne illness outbreaks by increasing the frequency of FDA inspections, improving surveillance systems, and giving the FDA the authority to recall products in the event of a food-borne illness outbreak. S.510 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP).
It is important that these legislative proposals do not imperil the future of organic agriculture, small scale farmers, or backyard gardens. The growth of the organic food industry has been tremendous, and has become an increasingly significant sector of agriculture in Colorado and across America. Over 260 of Colorado’s farmers and ranchers have certified organic operations, with over 100,000 acres in organic production. In addition, Colorado has 61 organic food processors and handlers, which provide 920 jobs and boast $560 million in annual sales of certified organic products.
As a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) and the Senate Agriculture Committee, I will work with my colleagues to ensure a fair, comprehensive, and effective system is established that both improves the safety of our nation’s food supply and works for family farmers and producers of all sizes and types. I am optimistic that we will succeed in achieving these common goals.
For more information about my priorities as a U.S. Senator and about issues of importance to Colorado and our nation, I invite you to visit my website at http://bennet.senate.gov/. Again, thank you for contacting me.
Sincerely,
Michael Bennet
United States Senator
—Kip
]]>—Kip
]]>Click here to read the story, or go directly to the video by clicking here.
Enjoy the story and video, and then please pass them on to the parents of young children you might know. Let's keep them safe!
—Kip
]]>S.510 Summary:
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to expand the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to regulate food, including by authorizing the Secretary to suspend the registration of a food facility. Requires each food facility to evaluate hazards and implement preventive controls. Directs the Secretary to assess and collect fees related to:Summary taken from OpenCongress.org
Requires the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture to prepare the National Agriculture and Food Defense Strategy. Requires the Secretary to:
- food facility reinspection;
- food recalls; and
- the voluntary qualified importer program.
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to enhance foodborne illness surveillance systems. Authorizes the Secretary to order an immediate cessation of distribution, or a recall, of food. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist state, local, and tribal governments in preparing for, assessing, decontaminating, and recovering from an agriculture or food emergency. Provides for:
- identify preventive programs and practices to promote the safety and security of food;
- promulgate regulations on sanitary food transportation practices;
- develop a policy to manage the risk of food allergy and anaphylaxis in schools and early childhood education programs;
- allocate inspection resources based on the risk profile of food facilities or food;
- recognize bodies that accredit food testing laboratories; and
- improve the capacity of the Secretary to track and trace raw agricultural commodities.
- foreign supplier verification activities;
- a voluntary qualified importer program; and
- the inspection of foreign facilities registered to import food.
Stay safe! —Kip
]]>Also participating on the call was Michael Taylor, senior advisor to Commissioner Margaret Hamburg of the FDA. Mr. Taylor spoke about the goals of putting these procedures in place should the bill be passed. He felt that it would take two years to get most items up and running and five years before everything would be in place and running efficiently.
This lengthy implementation time is one of the reasons our lawmakers will speed up the legislative process and get new, tough laws in place soon to improve the safety of our food. It can’t happen quickly enough!
Stay safe. —Kip
]]>You can find CFI’s website at www.foodborneillness.org. I applaud Barb and all who work to bring these issues, and their possible solutions, to the forefront.
The second studio guest, Nicole Fenstermaker, and I have been friends since I reached out to her after she lost her daughter, Abby, to E. coli in May of 2009. She shared Abby’s heartbreaking story with the TV audience. Nicole and I speak often together about our mutual desire to make a difference in bringing about positive change in food safety reform. I think of Abby everyday and I grieve for her, too.
The remaining time on the show was spent in a general discussion on hamburger and how safe it is to eat. Two panelists on both sides of the issue participated in this dialogue. I felt neither panelist made a strong case either way. As always, I crave to hear a more solution-oriented viewpoint. We need to be talking about how we can make our food safer and then do something about it.
Bottom line, though, I’m glad Larry King ran the show on this topic and am looking forward to viewing or even participating on follow-up episodes on food safety.
—Kip
]]>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
]]>
"I couldn't put the book down! I don't know how you did it, but I got chills and was living the nightmare with you."
—David, friend of the family
“Okay, I didn't cry or anything like that...well I guess that’s not true, I did cry.... You got me. You really got me!"
—my friend, Andy
“I couldn’t put it down.”
—my mother’s neighbor
“Honestly, it’s so intense I have to put it down, because emotionally I can’t handle it.”
—my friend, “Coov”
"I am truly impressed with the essence and emotions you were able to portray via your words."
—Gary, father of the friend who helped me write the book
“The pace is just right—you had me holding my breath and heart racing at times; but I was also discouraged, worried, sad…and then celebrating….”
—Janis, mother of the wife of the friend who helped me write the book
Thanks to all for your support and praise!
—Kip
]]>P.S. For those of you keeping track, I had zero heart attacks during the book publishing process, but I did have shortness of breath the entire time...
]]>I learned yesterday how much Chance enjoyed partaking of the samples at Costco. Who knew? You never know what a child will find exciting or important. He spent the day before catching grasshoppers, Daddy Longlegs, and “criggeds.” Exciting…priceless.
I’ll tell you what I find important: family—two daughters that amaze me with their beauty and singing ability; a son who can hit the fairway by rimming a golf-ball off a basketball hoop into a rain gutter; and another son who just learned how to ride a bike and swim before beginning kindergarten.
This is an emotional time for me. We just returned from a trip to South Dakota, where Chance got sick four years ago. I couldn’t bear to take him with us this time. This is my birthday weekend. When you read the book you will learn about my best birthday gift ever—my son’s second chance on life.
I expect to have our book in hand within weeks; the launch party is scheduled for September 12, 2009. Stay tuned; I can’t wait to share my whole story with you!
]]>—Stay safe! Kip