A deadly food poisoning outbreak in Europe is highlighting the importance for food safety in the United States, according to news reports .
So far, an Escherichia coli strain has so far killed 22 people and made 2,333 people sick in Germany. Officials have targeted sprouts and cucumbers but have not yet been able to find out what is the culprit for the food poisonings.
“The European outbreak ‘is a good example of where food safety as a scientific matter is an enormously dynamic challenge. The bacteria themselves change, we know that the food system changes, the way food is produced changes.’ And FDA needs to be able keep on top of the changes,” the FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods said to news reports.
Food safety advocates said the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act, which was passed last year, could help prevent food poisoning outbreaks.
Passed last year, the new law gives FDA the authority to, among other things, focus more on preventing outbreaks than reacting to them, both locally and abroad. It also gives the agency new power to detain food that officials suspect of containing harmful pathogens. But so far, it hasn’t been funded.
As a Charleston personal injury attorney , I’m saddened to hear about this massive E. coli outbreak in Europe. I hope investigators can soon figure out the culprit of this illness.
While we don’t handle this type of food recall we feel that it’s important to educate the community that there has been a recall to help protect your safety. If you have been injured in a recall like this you might wish to contact a Charleston Personal Injury Lawyer who can help.