Bacteria don't care about Boundaries

Going through Covid times has definitely made us clear that bacteria know no boundaries. They travel through distances and spread their horror.

Watching “Poisoned” felt so similar to what I have been reading for the last two years. All about food borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance and associated zoonotic diseases.?

The recent Netflix documentary “Poisoned: The Dirty Truth about Your Food” gave me a broader understanding about all of the above topics.?

The movie talks about how consumers are falling into the trap of the burgeoning food industry. No food is safe to eat- be it meat or plants. Why? It is because the food is contaminated by bacteria. The bacteria which are naked to eye and sometimes even to the long list of secure processing. They develop their shield and end up in our bodies, grow their and start eating us up gradually.?

"Explored in "Poisoned" is the issue of large cattle feedlots near Yuma, Arizona, and California's Central Valley. This risky setup leads to animal waste contaminating irrigation canals, affecting crops like romaine lettuce. Similarly, crowded conditions and poor sanitation in some factory farms breed Salmonella, which can taint poultry and eggs."

Jack in the Box E.coli outbreak

Bringing the memories of Jack in the Box, the horrific e-coli outbreak in 1992-1993. The E. coli outbreak is one of the most notorious foodborne illness incidents in the United States. It was linked to undercooked hamburgers served at the fast-food chain. The outbreak resulted in over 700 reported cases of E. coli infection and tragically claimed the lives of four children. This crisis exposed the dangers of foodborne pathogens and prompted significant changes in food safety regulations and practices within the fast-food industry. It led to stricter guidelines for cooking ground beef and heightened awareness of the importance of food safety in the restaurant and food processing industries.

Bagged Fresh Spinach

The spinach outbreak in the United States refers to a series of foodborne illness incidents primarily caused by E. coli O157:H7 contamination in fresh spinach in 2006. This outbreak affected multiple states and led to severe illnesses, including kidney failure, and tragically, several deaths.

The source of the contamination was traced back to a specific brand of bagged fresh spinach. The outbreak prompted a massive recall of spinach products and a temporary halt in spinach production and sales. Investigations revealed that the contamination likely occurred due to contact with fecal matter from nearby cattle operations, highlighting the need for improved farming and food safety practices.

This outbreak had a significant impact on the fresh produce industry, leading to increased scrutiny and stricter safety regulations for leafy greens and other fresh vegetables to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The continued terror of Romaine Lettuce

The romaine lettuce disease outbreak, occurring in multiple instances in the United States in recent years, has been linked to pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella. These outbreaks have resulted in numerous cases of foodborne illnesses, including hospitalizations and sometimes fatalities. Contamination has been traced back to various sources, including irrigation water, farming practices, and processing facilities. To combat these outbreaks, health authorities have issued warnings and recalls, urging consumers to avoid consuming romaine lettuce until the situation is resolved. These incidents have underscored the need for enhanced food safety measures throughout the romaine lettuce supply chain to prevent future outbreaks and protect public health.

All that Peanut might not be Healthy

The Peanut Butter Salmonella incident occurred in 2008 and 2009 when contaminated peanut butter products led to a widespread outbreak of Salmonella infections in the United States. The outbreak was traced back to a peanut processing plant in Georgia operated by the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). This contamination resulted in thousands of reported cases of Salmonella-related illnesses, hospitalizations, and nine deaths. It triggered one of the largest food recalls in U.S. history, affecting numerous peanut butter and peanut-containing products. This incident exposed significant gaps in food safety oversight and led to more stringent regulations, emphasizing the importance of robust quality control and inspection procedures in food manufacturing.

Such outbreaks have been devastating for so many lives and reasons behind the tragedies are plenty. Starting from negligence from manufactures, non-stricter policies through companies/authorities to poor knowledge of consumers about such outbreaks and how they can be prevented.

Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About your Food

- Harsha Doriya