Foodborne illness costs U.S. $152 billion a year
Foodborne illnesses cost the United States $152 billion in health-related expenses each year, according to a study just released by consumer and public health groups.
Food safety advocates are hoping that the study will boost efforts in Congress to overhaul the nation’s antiquated food safety system.
Uh, don’t hold your breath!
Dozens of pathogens, many of them unknown, creep into the food supply each year, sickening millions. The price tag includes medical costs, lost productivity and quality-of-life, according to a study from the Produce Safety Project…
The latest study to delve into foodborne illnesses comes as Congress works to craft legislation that would mark the first major overhaul of the food safety system in 50 years…
“My hope… is that the sobering numbers of this report will compel the Senate to act immediately on food safety legislation,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, who has vigorously pushed for food safety reform. “We literally cannot afford to wait.”
The Republican Party thinks the whole world can wait while they say NO another hundred times. The Democrats are still waiting to grow a backbone before they press even the simple majority they’ve had since the 2008 election.
RTFA. The rest of us are free to sicken and die.
It’s time for WAR ON FOOD!
Jägermeister
March 3, 2010 at 8:41 pm
What’s sobering to me is the fact it’s 2010 and people actually have a need to say such things.
I’m probably just old fashioned but I kind of thought protecting the citizens from poison food would have registered somewhat higher on the politicians list of things-to-do, starting back in, say… 1776, give or take a few years.
Cinaedh
March 4, 2010 at 6:37 am
We are all well and good and there is no problem until it is you getting sick or the whole nation is watching buildings crumble in smoke. A few people we don’t know using a little more toilet paper then average doesn’t rate a comment.
Mr. Fusion
March 4, 2010 at 11:19 am