kendra (or anyone),
i would be interested in learning about data, or sources of data, which
support the statement: "people, many people, used to die from eating food
that was contaminated"
thanks,
craig
craig k harris
department of sociology
center for integrated plant systems
michigan state university
429b berkey hall
east lansing michigan 48824-1111
tel: 517-355-5048
fax: 517-432-2856
-----Original Message-----
From: Kendra Wise [mailto:wiseke@ohsu.edu]
Sent: Monday 24 January 2000 2:46 PM
To: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu
Subject: I think that we forget, at our pfood safety laws (long)
I think that we forget, at our peril, that the reason food safety laws were
enacted is because people, many people, used to die from eating food that
was contaminated. This was back when people knew their local dairyman or
butcher, when there was feedback about what was and wasn't OK, and when
individuals producing foodstuffs were accountable to their customers in the
first person. But at that time, more people died of acute foodborne illness
than die from it now now.
Current public health and food safety legislation was passed in response to
a national endemic of foodborne illness, subsequent sickness, and death.
This was not one or two people dying with a "well, guess I shouldn't have
had that raw milk, George" attitude. This was dozens and hundreds and
perhaps even thousands of people dying of typhus, cholera, brucellosis, and
a myriad other assortment of bacteria and viruses that pasteurization kills.
Are there health benefits to raw milk? Probably. Do these possible benefits
outweigh the risk to the greater population if pasteurization laws are
rescinded, regardless of the purported reliability or safety of the source?
No.
Keep in mind that public health laws are laws designed for the greater good
of the general population. They are utilitarian in their ethical
justification: They are designed to bring the greatest amount of good to the
greatest number of people, and to help ensure health for all by regulating
activities that we all depend on for our health. In short, the laws
prohibiting raw milk aren't based on your specific example. They're based on
the aggregate total milk producing facilities in the country.
Can you tell I'm a strong supporter of public health laws? I sure hope so.
I've never seen anyone die of typhus, brucellosis, or cholera. I've no
desire to change that state of affairs any time soon. And I do not think
that public health and food safety laws prohibit us from continuing with
sustainable farming and livestock techniques. I'm praying for the day when
all food is as safe as we can make it, and we can honestly say, "we don't
really need these food safety regulations any more." I hope that when that
day comes, we'll hold on to them as a reminder of the cost of our freedom
from disease.
Kendra Wise
wiseke@ohsu.edu
Portland, OR
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