Sludge Watch ==> Sorry, bureaucrats just aren't that into you

[Maureen Reilly]

Sorry, bureaucrats just aren't that into you

28.nov.06
Commentary from the Food Safety Network
Douglas Powell
foodsafety.ksu.edu

If Canadian cattle or chickens get sick, the public is told all about it.
If Canadian people get sick, not so much.
The silence surrounding salmonella in Hershey's chocolate made in Smiths 
Falls, Ont., this month is just another episode in the arrogant and 
dysfunctional father-knows-best approach to providing health advice 
practiced by various Canadian authorities. Dr. Phil would say the 
relationship between officials at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) 
and the Canadian public is like a couple headed for divorce: they don't 
speak unless forced to, and when asked, it's denial, deceit and deception.
The American-based Hershey Co. finally relented to media pressure and 
identified the mystery ingredient thought to contain salmonella (soy 
lecithin). At one point, a spokesthingy for CFIA said that since the 
contamination had been contained, and the tainted products recalled, there 
was no longer a public safety interest in divulging the source of the 
salmonella.

Poop happens -- literally on the product, and metaphorically out of the 
mouths of bureaucrats.

Public health officials in Hamilton, Ont., tried the same tact earlier this 
week, saying that it was not necessary to notify the public of a foodborne 
illness outbreak -- norovirus spread by an ill banquet hall food handler 
that sickened about 100 -- because the situation was contained and deemed 
under control. Except when that many people get sick, word is going to get 
out, as it did. One local wrote, "I know of 45 people who became ill during 
this outbreak, including
two who went to the hospital. . It would have been very helpful to all if 
the health department people had given immediate information on symptoms, 
how to deal with it and how to prevent it spreading. Putting that 
information out after all those originally infected have recovered is 
stupid, which pretty much sums up the health department, with the addition 
of arrogant and anachronistic."

I can imagine Dr. Phil asking in his Texas drawl "How's that working out for 
ya?"
The public has a right to know.

On Sept. 14, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public 
about E. coli O157:H7 in spinach, which eventually sickened 200 -- including 
one Canadian -- and killed four. It took a slumberous CFIA a full day to 
issue similar advice to Canadians who, along with retailers, were waiting 
and concerned.
FDA did an excellent job communicating about the risk posed by spinach, 
including the emphasis that washing would do . nothing. CFIA continued to 
put the responsibility on consumers, stressing the need to wash fresh 
produce rather than tell farmers and processors to smarten up.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) told Americans on Monday, Oct. 30 
that salmonella -- in what was eventually determined to be tomatoes --  
sickened 172 people in 18 states. At least two of the victims were Canadian.

The next day, CFIA issued a press release "to educate" Canadians on how to 
safely handle fresh produce. Except just like E. coli O157:H7 contaminated 
spinach, there is little consumers can do to control dangerous bugs on fresh 
produce; it has to be controlled on the farm. It wasn't until the following 
Saturday that CFIA finally acknowledged the tomato outbreak, and even then, 
stressed the solution was in consumers' hands, not farmers'. Pointing 
fingers is a common tactic in a bad relationship, especially when one 
partner is in full denial mode: I did not; I don't know what you're talking 
about; it's all your fault, you started it.
Research has established that an early release of information sets the pace 
for resolution of the problem, it may prevent similar situations elsewhere, 
and, most importantly, people are entitled to information that affects their 
lives.

The most frustrating part is that CFIA is staffed with individuals who are 
excellent public advocates and spokespeople. On issues relating to mad cow 
disease or avian influenza, CFIA goes out of its way to communicate with 
Canadians, perhaps fearing that any crisis of confidence will reduce sales 
and impact Canadian farms.
Yet when it comes to the 11 to 13 million foodborne illnesses in Canada each 
and every year, CFIA has adopted a policy of don't ask, don't tell.
It's time for counseling. Maybe Dr. Phil can get the public and CFIA into a 
relationship based on open communication, trust, and respect. But, like any 
counseling, it will only work if both parties are committed.

Douglas Powell is scientific director of the Food Safety Network at Kansas 
State University,
dpowell at ksu.edu
foodsafety.ksu.edu
785-317-0560