ISBN: 978-1-55270-572-8
W ritten by:
Iain W illiamson
Entrepreneurial Business Consultants of Canada
P.O. Box 7200, Station A, Toronto, ON M5W 1X8
Published in Canada by:
Productive Publications,
1930 Yonge St., #1210, Toronto ON M4S 1Z4
Phone: (416) 483-0634 Fax: (416) 322-7434
Canadian W eb Site: www.ProductivePublications.ca
American W eb Site: www.ProductivePublications.com
Front Cover Art:
Diner from Dover Clip Art
Skeleton from CoolClips
Copyright eBook PDF version © 2013 by Productive Publications
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without written permission of the author.
ABOUT THIS BOOK
If you’ve ever suffered from food poisoning, you’re certainly not alone. About 76 million Americans
and between 11 and 13 million Canadians suffer from a foodborne illness every year. That means
that over one-in-every four suffers from some form of food poisoning on an annual basis. Food
poisoning is now one of the leading causes of illness in both Canada and the United States. Deaths
due to foodborne pathogens total about 5,000 annually for the US. That means that m ore people
die every year than were murdered in 9/11. Yet, we don’t hold memorial services for them.
This book alerts you to the most common bacteria, spores, parasites and viruses that could kill you.
It then covers some of the more recent tragedies: the 2008 listeriosis crisis in Canada which killed
22 innocent people; the peanut salmonella outbreak in the US which killed 8 people and the
melamine milk scandal in China where more than 294,000 children became ill and six died.
If you examine the regulatory systems governing food safety in both Canada and the US, you will
uncover a jurisdictional “fuddle muddle”. If you look at the response to listeria monocytogenes crisis
in Canada you will find the confessions of “lessons learned” from various government agencies. This
resulted in a secret investigation by a $2.7 Million Bird with No Wings. It resulted in hearings by a
Parliamentary Subcommittee that turned into a Political Brew Ha-Ha. Finally, a Judicial Enquiry
was killed and buried and there appears to have been no police investigation into the 22 deaths.
The industry hides behind the veil of HACCP, which is a methodology for anticipating hazards, and
uses it as an excuse to avoid thorough end-of-production line testing, with the result that
contaminated foods are entering the food chain. This was clearly illustrated by the 2009 listeriosis
crisis in Canada where the contaminated products were produced by a HACCP accredited facility.
New and inexpensive packaging technology exists that can detect pathogens in plastic wrapped food.
Industry and government are basically ignoring this leading-edge Canadian technology by keeping
their fingers crossed in the blind hope that another tragedy will not occur; but it surely will!
Of course, illness and death due to food are not confined to the presence of bacteria, spores, parasites
and viruses; they could also be caused by colour additives, environmental contamination and the
Mountains of Sugar, Canyons of Salt and Pools of Fat that are featured in the canned and prepared
foods in your local supermarket, which can lead to obesity, diabetes, heart failure and stroke.
This book suggests that much of your food may not be healthy. It may not be safe!
Six common sense initiatives are covered that could greatly improve food safety in both Canada and
the US. The biggest tragedy is that solutions already exist for many of the problems, yet industry is
reluctant to use them and governments fail to act. It’s up to you to make sure that your voice is heard
by your political representatives! However, the greatest power you have as a consumer, is that you
can decide what to buy and what not to buy when you go grocery shopping!
Dedication
This book is dedicated to the 22 innocent Canadians who died of listeriosis in 2008
and to the 8 innocent Americans who died of salmonella poisoning in 2009. It is
dedicated to their silent bravery when they succumbed to horrible deaths.
Unfortunately, as this book will demonstrate, every one of them is a personal
tragedy that could have been avoided.
This book is also written in the hope that their lives were not sacrificed in vain and
that our political masters will be prodded into doing something constructive for a
change; rather than pointing fingers at everyone except themselves.
iv
Acknowledgements
In particular, I would like to thank the Hon. Mike Espy, Chairman of Toxin Alert together
with Bill Bodenahmer, President of Toxin Alert, for kindly giving me permission to reprint
some of the material they used to support their efforts to encourage the use of diagnostic
food packaging technology in their testimony before the Parliamentary Subcommittee
hearings on food safety.
I would also like to thank Ronald L. Doering of the Ottawa law firm Gowling, Lafleur,
Henderson LLP for his kind permission to quote some extracts from his excellent monthly
newsletter, FoodLaw.
Thanks are also due to Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Office of Health for Ontario
for permission to quote from his report on the 2008 Listeriosis Outbreak in Ontario. The
team at Toronto Public Health are also due my gratitude for raising many of the issues
relating to food safety in a big city in their three excellent reports issued in April 2009.
I acknowledge the contribution of Susan Eng, Vice-President, Advocacy of CARP, a New
Vision of Aging for Canada, for her response to the release of the Report of the
Independent Investigator into the 2008 Listeriosis Outbreak.
Although I scarcely quoted from them, I want to congratulate Rob Cribb of The Toronto
Star and David McKie of the CBC for their excellent investigative journalism which
helped lift the lid on what appears to be a can of worms and helped provide me with some
of the inspiration to write this book.
I acknowledge much of the excellent work which has been performed by the US Centre
for Disease Control (CDC) and I am grateful to the US Government for its copyright free
policy which has enabled me to quote from some of their excellent descriptions of the
bacteria, parasites and viruses that can cause foodborne illness.
I would also like to thank the many others who have performed research, surveys or
published scientific papers or articles that have helped contribute to many of my ideas and
thoughts. Their contributions are acknowledged in the text.
Last, but not least, ! would like to thank Vicki for tirelessly proof reading the many drafts
of this book and for her very helpful suggestions that made all this possible.
v
Disclosure
This book covers many medical conditions which can arise as a result of food poisoning.
People with symptoms should seek proper medical advice since many of the conditions
described can be life-threatening. The information provided in this book is for information
and discussion purposes only. It is not meant to replace professional medical diagnosis.
It is important to consult with your physician on any health matter.
For full disclosure, my business, Productive Publications, is a shareholder in Toxin Alert
and I am very frustrated that this leading edge Canadian technology is not getting proper
recognition for what it can do to save Canadian lives and protect their health. However,
I am not a Director, Officer or an insider in Toxin Alert. The views expressed in this book
are entirely my own and do not necessarily represent those of Toxin Alert or any other
company featured in this book.
Toxin Alert and another company featured by the name of Bioniche Life Sciences are
publically traded companies and no recommendation is made to purchase or sell the shares
of these companies and potential investors should seek the advice of a registered
professional investment advisor before making any decision.
I am not a member of any political party, however, in April 2009, I lobbied all Members
of Parliament to introduce a Private Member’s Bill to make Diagnostic Food Packaging
Mandatory for all Plastic Wrapped Foods Sold in Canada, provided that:
•
•
•
It addresses the concerns of their constituents.
It provides the industry with a reasonable length of time to implement the change.
They can agree to the language of the Bill and the details contained in it.
At the time of writing this book, no such Private Member’s Bill had been introduced in the
Canada’s House of Commons.
vi
Disclaimer
The information contained herein is provided by the writer, to the best of his knowledge,
understanding and belief, solely for informational purposes as a public service to promote
consumer awareness of the dangers imposed to the health of each and every individual
living today.
Further, both the writer and publisher, Productive Publications, do not represent or endorse
the accuracy or reliability of any of the information, statements, content or research
(collectively, the “materials”) contained herein distributed through, or linked, downloaded
or accessed from any of the services or people referred to in this book.
The reader hereby acknowledges that any reliance upon any “materials” shall be at his/her
sole risk. The writer reserves the right, at his sole discretion and without any obligation,
to make improvements to, or correct any error or omissions in any portion of the
“materials” set forth herein.
The writer expressly disclaims any and all warranties, expressed or implied, including
without limitation warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, with
respect to the service or any materials and products. In no event shall the writer be liable
for any direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, or consequential damages of any kind
whatsoever with respect to the materials set forth herein.
It should be made clear that this book does not constitute medical advice and is not
intended to be a substitute for proper medical care provided by a physician. Both the
author and the publisher, Productive Publications, assume no responsibility for any
circumstances arising out of the use, misuse, interpretation or application of any
information supplied in this publication. Always consult with your doctor for appropriate
examinations, treatment, testing, and care recommendations. Do not rely on information
provided in this book as a tool for self-diagnosis.
Please seek the advice of licensed financial advisor before making any investment or
financial planning decisions on the publically traded companies mentioned in this book.
The written material provided on these companies is for information purposes about their
activities and technology with regard to food safety only and should not be regarded as
inducements to purchase or sell their shares.
vii
List of Acronyms Used
ARS
Agricultural Research Service (under USDA)
BSE
spongiform encepalopathy (“Mad Cow” Disease)
CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Service
CCDR
Canada Communicable Disease Report
CDC
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
CFIA
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
CFU
colony forming units
CHD
Coronary heart disease
vCJD
Creutzfeldt-Jacob (mad cow disease in humans)
CSPI
Centre for Science in the Public Interest
CVS
Compliance Verification System
EARS
Early Aberration Reporting System
EFSA
European Food Safety Authority
FBI
US Federal Bureau of Investigation
FDA
US Food and Drug Administration
FIORP
Foodborne Illness Outbreak Response Protocol
GBS
Guillain-Barré syndrome
GMOs
Genetically Modified Organisms
viii
List of Acronyms Used
GTA
Greater Toronto Area
HACCP
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points
HUS
Hemolytic uremic syndrome
ICAO
International Civil Aviation Organization
IID
Infectious intestinal disease
iPHIS
Public Health Information System
MRLs
maximum residue limits
NASA
US National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NLVs
Norwalk-like viruses
PBS
(US) Public Broadcasting Service
PHAC
Public Health Agency of Canada
RTU
ready-to-use foodstuffs
SARS
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
STEC
Shiga toxin-producing
USDA
US Department of Agriculture
GAO
US Government's General Accounting Office
WASH
World Action on Salt and Health
WHO
World Health Organization
ix
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Our Food is One of the Leading Causes of Illness:
The Scope of the Problem
The Numbers are Horrific. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Number of Deaths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
An Interesting Twist: Transmission by Means Other than Food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Another Alarming Twist: Possible Longer-Term Effects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
2
3
4
Chapter 2
Our Industrial Society Gets More than Indigestion:
The Real Costs of the Problem
Personal Tragedy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lost Productivity and Heath Care Costs.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tarnished Reputation of Secondary Suppliers in the Domestic Market. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tarnished Reputation in the Global Food Market. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
5
6
6
Chapter 3
Death by Foodborne Bacteria, Parasites and Viruses:
Some Deadly "Bugs" You Really Don't Want to Meet!
Montezuma's Revenge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
The W itches of Salem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
The Total Number of Culprits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Death from Bacteria and Spores.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Listeria monocytogenes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Salmonella. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Typhoid Fever (Salmonella typhi). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Bacillus cereus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Foodborne Botulism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Brucella. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Campylobacter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Clostridium perfringens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
x
Contents
E. coli and Escherichia coli O157:H7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shigella spp.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Staphylococcus food poisoning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foodborne Streptococcus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Toxigenic Vibrio cholerae. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vibris vulnificus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vibrio parahaemolyticus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Yersinia enterocolitica. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Death by Parasite .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cryptosporidium parvum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cyclospora cayetanensis.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Giardia lamblia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Toxoplasma gondii. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trichinella spiralis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Death by Virus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Norwalk-like viruses (NLVs): also known as Norovirus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rotavirus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Astrovirus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hepatitis A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Chapter 4
Where Do These "Bugs" Usually Lurk?
A Detective's Guide to Locating the Bad Guys
The “Bugs” that Hide In Your Fridge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Your Exposure Increases W hen You Eat Outside. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How Safe is the Food Your W aiter Serves in a Restaurant or Food Outlet? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In the Food Served in Institutions:Prisons, Hospitals, Old Age Homes or Day Care Facilities. .
Dirty Utensils, Containers and Dishes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Or..in the food You Buy in a Grocery Store?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Contamination from Reusable Grocery Bags. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Industrialization and Globalization of Our Food Supply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Contents
Chapter 5
What’s on the Menu?
Cold Slices to Kill, Peanuts from Hell or the Milk of Death!
Cold Slices to Kill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Environment Causes vs. Direct Animal Cause. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Peanuts from Hell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Milk of Death. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
W hich Do You Think was the Right Approach?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Tomato that May Not Have Been Guilty!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lettuce and Spinach You W ouldn’t Feed to Your Pet Rabbit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Burgers of Death. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Holiday W eekend Special: Hotdogs Laced with Listeria Monocytogenes!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pistachio Nuts from Hades. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Challenge of Traceability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Challenge of Lost Corporate Profits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Chapter 6
Insecticide and Other Residues:
If it Kills Bugs - It Could Kill You!
Pesticide Residues on Fruit and Vegetables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
An Organic Deception?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Colours to Kill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Alar on Apples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suspects: Artificial Sweeteners that may Kill.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mercury in Tuna.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Arsenic Poisoning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lead Poisoning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Traces of Carcinogens in Malt W hiskey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Traces of Dioxins in Food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bisphenol A (BPA): Guilty or Not Guilty?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mad Cow Disease.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trans Fat: A Partial Victory!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
xii
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Contents
Chapter 7
If You're Really Hungry:
Don't Swallow a Horse!
Fish Bones, Chicken Bones, Nut Shells and Seeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
The Physical “Things” that Get into Our Food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
W hile I’m Still in a Silly Mood!.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Chapter 8
Mountains of Sugar, Canyons of Salt, Pools of Fat:
Welcome to Your Local Supermarket!
A Personal Story.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Slow Death by Salt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A Tsar of Salt was Born: Did it Make any Difference?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Slow Death by Fat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A Cholesterol Cure Denied?.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Slow Death by Sugar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
59
60
61
63
64
65
Chapter 9
Why Are Your Kids Ten Times Bigger than They Should Be?
Hormones and Other Additives
A Not so Funny Cartoon.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Canadian Accused of Allowing Abusive Use of Growth Hormones in Cattle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Chapter 10
The Real Grapes of Wrath:
The Threat of Bioterrorism
Poisoned Grapes from Chile.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
The Challenges of Detection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Bioterrorism W arning by Former US Secretary of Health and Human Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
xiii
Contents
Chapter 11
Built Like a Rock, Travels Like a Rock, Tastes Like a Rock–Is it a Rock?
No....it's a Tomato! Will Genetically Altered Foods Harm You?
W ill Genetically Altered Foods Harm You?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
W elcome to the Scientifically Engineered “Perfect” Tomato. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Health Hazards Associated with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
There is Little Confidence that Genetically Modified Food is Safe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
71
71
72
72
Chapter 12
Death by Food Label:
The Little White Lies of Incorrect or Misleading Labelling
The Labelling of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
Labels of Death. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Kiss of Death.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other Killers.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Labels that Lie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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73
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75
W hat is Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compliance Verification System (CVS).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
HACCP Has Become Ingrained in the Food Industry’s Psyche. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
HACCP’s Abysmal Failure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
HACCP Fails to Recognise Higher Risks of Foodborne Illnesss to the Elderly.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Voodoo Science” not “Science-Based”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“National Health Objective” Levels that are Unacceptable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Haines Report: A Call for Stronger Regulation.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
77
76
79
80
81
82
83
86
Chapter 13
Have Another Cup of Coffee and Pray (HACCP):
“Science-Based” Standards of Convenience for the Food Industry
xiv
Contents
Chapter 14
Excrement Extravaganza:
The "Dime Test"
I Have to Admit that This is a Really Shitty Chapter!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The “Dime Test”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Death by W ater: The W alkerton Tragedy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Excrement isn’t the Only Problem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
89
89
90
91
Chapter 15
The Fuddle Muddle:
Who Was in Charge in the 2008 Listeria Crisis?
W ho Knew W hat W hen?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turf W ars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
An Impending Election.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The US Fuddle Muddle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The W ay the Chinese Handled Their Regulatory Crisis.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
93
95
96
96
97
Chapter 16
A Sick Joke:
The Canadian Government Response
The Health Minister Attends the US Democaratic Convention. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Sick Jokes.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Chapter 17
Crocodile Tears:
The Confessions of "Lessons Learned"
Three Sets of Confessions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Lessons Learned” by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Lessons Learned” by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Lessons Learned” by Health Canada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Crocodiles Don’t Cry!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
xv
101
101
102
102
102
Contents
Chapter 18
The Quick Settlement:
A Bargain at $120,000 a Corpse
The Class Action Law Suits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Settlement of the Suits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Cost to the Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Chapter 19
The $2.7 Million Bird With No Wings:
A Secret Enquiry is Hatched
An “Independent” Investigator Operates in Secret. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inability to Subpoena W itnesses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Term of Reference # iv.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Precautionary Labelling” -- a Joke?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fine-Tuning the Fuddle Muddle.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
W as the Investigator Acting as an Apologist for Unacceptable Practices?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
W as there an Attempt by the Investigator to Shift the Blame?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
W hat W as Missing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
It Cost $2.7 Million of YOUR Money. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
105
106
106
108
109
109
110
111
112
Chapter 20
A Political Brew Ha-Ha:
The Subcommittee on Food Safety Holds Hearings
Harper Gets Severely Criticised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Le cirque politique: A Political Circus is Born!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Shared Responsibilities”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Alas, HACCP Reigns Supreme!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Political Partisanship Destroyed the Subcommittee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
xvi
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114
115
116
116
Contents
Chapter 21
A Judicial Investigation:
Killed and Buried
The Subcommittee’s First Recommendation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Dissenting Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shortcomings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Limited Scope of an Investigation Under the Inquiries Act. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pre-outbreak Chronology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unanswered Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Killed and Buried. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
119
119
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Chapter 22
The "Obvious" Fixes that Only a Few Want to Support:
New Technologies that Could Correct the Problem
There’s a Glimmer of Hope for Some New Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Antibody-based Diagnostics and Therapeutics.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diagnostic Food Packaging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
100% Inspection is Possible!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A Plea to Make Diagnostic Food Packaging Mandatory in Canada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A Call to Introduce a Private Member’s Bill to Make
Diagnostic Food Packaging Mandatory in Canada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A Vaccine to Eliminate E. coli 0157:H7 in Cattle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Irradiation of Food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pasteurization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Activated Packaging.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Nanotechnology in Food Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Join Chemical Alley!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
xvii
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125
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129
130
131
131
131
132
Contents
Chapter 23
The Industry Says Your Food is Safe:
What do YOU Think?
Escape from the trenches in W W I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IBM Study Reveals that Less than 20% of American Consumers
Feel that the Food they Buy is Safe and Healthy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Food Safety is also a Major Concern to the Canadian Public. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consumers Have Started Voting with their Pocketbooks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Take a Look at CFIA’s Hazard Alert List!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Take a Look at FDA’s Hazard Alert List!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Is Our Food Safe?.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
133
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134
135
136
136
137
137
Chapter 24
A New Vision for Food Safety:
Six Common Sense Steps to Stop the Next Tragedy
First: Insist on Government End-of-Product-Line Testing
Plus In-Plant Environmental Testing and Enforcement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Second: Put the Real Meaning of “Zero” Back into “Zero Tolerance”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Third: Eliminate the Fuddle Muddle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fourth: Make End-of-Product-Line Testing Results Public. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fifth: Make Diagnostic Food Packaging Mandatory for All Food Producers and Importers. . .
Sixth: Encourage the Use of Diagnostic Food Packaging at the Consumer Level. . . . . . . . . . .
139
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141
143
144
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Chapter 25
The Victim Nobody Wants to Talk About:
But....Could it Have Been You or Me?
The
The
The
The
Political Nematode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Victims of Death W hich W e Didn’t Hear From. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tragedy of Innocent Children W hose Lives W ere Snuffed Out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Biggest Tragedy of All: the Technology Exists to Help
Prevent Deaths from Foodborne Illness But It is Not Being Used. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Make Sure Your Voice is Heard!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
xviii
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150
151
Chapter 1
Our Food is One of the Leading Causes of Illness:
The Scope of the Problem
The Numbers are Horrific
The World Heath Organization (WHO) has estimated that there are as many as one
billion cases of foodborne illness in the world every year which result in the
deaths of about 2 million children under the age of five. As recently as October
2009, The Ghanaian Times quoted Dr. Benjamin Kumbour, Ghana’s Deputy
Minister of Health, who said that about 2.2 million children and adults die
annually from foodborne diseases in Africa alone. How many elsewhere?
Recent figures for the US are not available, but a 1996 study, prepared by the
Centre for Disease Control (CDC), entitled Food-Related Illness and Death in the
United States, suggested that 76 million cases of food poisoning occur every year
which represents about 36% of all illnesses. That is equivalent to about one-inevery four people based on the population of 304 million.
The same study estimated that there were 325,000 hospitalizations in the US each
year which could be attributed to foodborne illnesses and of these only about
60,000 can be attributed to known pathogens.
The US Army estimates that approximately 20% of its troops are compromised by
dysentery. This can be very serious because soldiers cannot rush to the washroom
in the middle of a battle.
Health Canada estimates that between 11 and 13 million Canadians suffer from a
foodbrone illness every year. That is out of a population of 33 million. This means
1
Death by Food: Why More People in North America Die
By Food Poisoning than Were Murdered in 9/11
that over one-in-every three Canadians gets sick every year. Another estimate by
Toronto Public Health in its April 2009 staff report on Food Safety and Foodborne
Illness in Toronto suggests that about 15% (one-in-every six) of the city population
gets sick on an annual basis.
Many people suffering from food-related illnesses do not seek medical attention and
consequently the number of incidences may be under-reported. I can personally
attest to this when I was horribly sick a couple of years ago. Rather than calling an
ambulance, I spent most of the night in my washroom and by morning I had started
to recover. I was an “unrecorded statistic”.
Regardless of which figures you choose, foodborne disease is a leading cause of
illness and it can be deadly.
Number of Deaths
The report, Food-Related Illness and Death in the United States, that I referred to
earlier, estimated that there were about 5,000 deaths each year caused by foodborne
illness, but that only 1,800 could be attributed to known pathogens. Scary, isn’t it?
That means that more people die every year than were murdered in 9/11. In
spite of this, there is no memorial service, laying of wreaths by the President or
minutes of silence. They die horrible silent deaths. They are buried in silence. They
are grieved in silence by loved ones. Yet, the incidence of foodborne illness
continues; largely in silence and it appears that the food industry is happy to keep
it that way and muddle their way through another year which brings more deaths!
I don’t in anyway want to belittle the horrible tragedy of 9/11....but this is repeated
each and every year by innocent people who simply eat the food in front of them.
2
Our Food is One of the Leading Causes of Illness:
The Scope of the Problem
In 1989, Todd in preliminary estimates of costs of foodborne disease in the United
States, published in the Journal Food Protect, used a combination of methods,
including extrapolation from Canadian surveillance data, to derive an estimate of
12.5 million foodborne illnesses and 522 related deaths each year in Canada. In my
research, I was unable to locate any studies which are more recent, although Health
Canada uses an estimate of 11 to 13 million cases of foodborne illnesses each year.
An Interesting Twist:
Transmission by Means Other than Food
A 2003 study on Food Poisoning by the British Parliamentary Office of Science and
Technology found that an average of one-in-five people suffers from an infectious
intestinal disease (IID), every year. Interestingly enough, of the estimated 10.5
million cases in England and Wales during 1995, only about 2.5 million could be
directly attributed to the consumption of food. The balance was attributed to
person-to-person contact and contact with animals.
This begs the obvious question. If a person gets food poisoning from eating
contaminated food, then that infected person could pass on their condition through
person-to-person contact at which time it will be classified as an IID. This, in turn,
casts a horrifying new twist on the consumption of contaminated food. The British
numbers could be taken to suggest that a person who is suffering from certain kinds
of food poisoning could pass the bacterial infection on to an average of three other
people. I really think that this bears further investigation.
The study also attributed some of the illness to contact with animals. If these are
pets which have consumed contaminated foods, then steps have to be taken to
ensure that pet food is free of contamination. If the human infection is caused by
contact with farm animals, then those farm animals place humans at risk of illness
when the animals enter the food supply chain at the slaughterhouse or other facility.
This is of great concern, since the animals of many industrial scale meat and fowl
3
Death by Food: Why More People in North America Die
By Food Poisoning than Were Murdered in 9/11
producers live in crowded conditions in which they are basically standing or lying
in their own faeces, as was so graphically portrayed in the excellent new
documentary film: Food, Inc.
All of this suggests that people who become ill due to the consumption of
contaminated food, could become transmitters of pathogens to other people. The
same amy be true for animals. This brings a horrifying dimension to death by food.
Another Alarming Twist: Possible Longer-Term Effects
An alarming twist to foodborne illness, associated with salmonella, was revealed
in a study by the Statens Serum Institute of Copenhagen and reported in the British
Medical Journal of February 2003. It followed the patients who had contracted this
foodborne disease for one year after their illness and found that death was threetimes more likely to occur than in their control group.
Similar results were obtained when patients who had suffered from Camphlobacter
and Yersinia entrocolitica were followed.
In the U.S., the University of Utah tracked children who had been stricken with e.
coli poisoning. It found that as many as 10% of them 10 to 20 years later developed
hemolytic uremic syndrome, commonly known by the acronym HUS. This
condition can lead to kidney failure and death. I’ll cover these “bugs” in a later
chapter, but the point I want to emphasise here is that certain foodborne illnesses
may contribute to death well after the patient has been “cured”.
4
Chapter 2
Our Industrial Society Gets More than Indigestion:
The Real Costs of the Problem
Personal Tragedy
You’ve heard of the lives of young children and elders being snuffed out. I don’t
need to dwell on the personal tragedy. It’s emotional costs are huge.
Lost Productivity and Heath Care Costs
The 2000 report of research project entitled Intestinal Disease Study Executive
Committee in England estimated that infectious intestinal diseases (IIDs) cost the
economy £750 million per year; equivalent to about $1.5 billion Canadian.
Popular estimates in the US place the annual cost to the economy of $35 billion.
Comparable figures for Canada are not available, but an April 2009 study entitled
Foodborne Illness in Toronto prepared by Toronto Public Health estimates that the
cost to that city on an annual basis is between $476 million and $587 million.
A study from Hamilton, Ontario estimated the average annual cost per case of
foodborne illness at $1,089 and a similar study in British Columbia published in
2008 in the International Journal of Food Microbiology, placed the figure at
$1,343.
Aside from the direct costs in the form of sick leave and lost productivity, there is
a significant burden placed on the medical system. In Canada and the UK, these
become part of the government’s costs of providing state-supported health care and
in turn, are supported by public and industry through the taxation system. In the US,
5
Death by Food: Why More People in North America Die
By Food Poisoning than Were Murdered in 9/11
it is the private insurers and industry that have to bear the health cost burden and
in turn, these costs are passed onto the consumer in the form of higher prices for
products or services or directly to the employee through higher insurance premiums.
For those who are uninsured in the US, they have to pay out of their own pockets
if they can afford it, or through government-funded Medicaid, which is not
available to everyone and millions of people fall through the cracks in the system.
No matter how you look at it, the costs are staggering and represent a huge burden
to the economy and the health care system. As I mentioned previously, several
foodborne illnesses have long-term effects which can last for many years or may be
permanent; extending the costs of healthcare.
Tarnished Reputation of Secondary Suppliers in the Domestic Market
The 2008 listeriosis crisis in Canada and the salmonella contaminated peanuts from
Georgia affected many companies which incorporated the contaminated products
in their own products. There were the costs of not only of the recalls themselves but
the indirect costs of bad publicity which may have affected the profits of many of
these “secondary suppliers”.
Tarnished Reputation in the Global Food Market
There is another challenge which food producers face and that is their international
reputation. The “Mad Cow” or spongiform encepalopathy (BSE) crisis in the UK
and the US led to trade bans and tarnished reputations as reliable suppliers of safe
food. A number of years ago, some arsenic-laced grapes from Chile which led to
a ban on imports of Chilean grapes by the US, which was devastating to growers
in that South American nation.
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