Risks « News21 2011 National Project

A NEWS 21 NATIONAL INVESTIGATION

CONTAMINATION
RISKS ARE
EVERYWHERE

No progress has been made in stopping the spread of salmonella, the leading cause of foodborne illness in the U.S. Meat and poultry, eggs, fruits and vegetables and even pastries are all at risk.

Salmonella
Egg Risks
Unhealthy Produce

Pastry Deaths
Antibiotics
Pesticides

Salmonella

No progress is being made in stopping salmonella contamination of poultry, the leading cause of foodborne illness, as it spreads from farms and chicken houses to slaughterhouses and processing plants to stores, restaurants and homes.

Related Story: Lobster, Pig Star in USDA Ad Campaign

Related Story: Ground Turkey Linked to Drug-Resistant Bacteria

Egg Risks

Big egg companies avoid changes that could reduce salmonella contamination in eggs — for about two-tenths of a cent per dozen — even though a voluntary program in Pennsylvania is working.

Interactive: 11 Danger Points in Chicken Processing

Unhealthy Produce

Salmonella has been showing up on fruits and vegetables, a vital part of a healthy diet, sickening thousands and confounding growers and government regulators.

Pastry Deaths

A deadly salmonella outbreak from pastries distributed to seniors and churchgoers for a Catholic holy day in Rhode Island reveals failures in food handling safety and shortcomings in underfunded state inspections.

Related Story: Cash-strapped States Cut Food Safety Programs

Antibiotics

Farmers and ranchers still use large amounts of antibiotics, producing dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria in meat and poultry.

Pesticides

Federal approval of the chemical aldicarb for farming continues despite its documented health hazards, illustrating how special interests influence food safety policy.