For decades, I have fought for safe food.
In 1994, I wrote an Op-Ed for The New York Times titled "Tragedy Wasn’t Enough", in which I exposed how television executives canceled a project that would have shared the story of the landmark 1993 Jack in the Box E.coli outbreak and of my young son’s death—an innocent life taken by a preventable foodborne illness. Their reasoning? The story wasn’t controversial enough. They said it lacked the sex and violence needed to engage a wide audience. In their quest for a more “compelling” narrative, they even suggested re-framing me not as an advocate, but as a grieving father who turned to drugs or violence. They even proposed rewriting history - such that my son survived - to make the story more palatable for viewers. How bitterly ironic that, 30 years ago, the senseless death of a child wasn’t deemed sensational enough, and that the brutal truth about our failed food safety system was too much for the world to face.
Today, that same story has finally been told to a world-wide audience. "Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food," is a 2023 Netflix documentary that exposes the ongoing crises in food safety. This film lays bare the human cost of foodborne illnesses and the systemic failures that continue to allow such preventable tragedies to occur.
Appearing in this documentary through interviews and commentary was not easy. Reliving the tragedy that claimed my son’s life was deeply painful, but it was necessary. My involvement was driven by a singular hope: that my son’s death—representing the tens of thousands of others lost to foodborne illness—might ignite the meaningful change in our food safety regulations that has been desperately needed for decades. I shared our family’s story hoping no other parent would ever have to endure the same heartbreak.
At the documentary’s world premiere in New York, during a live screening at the Tribeca Film Festival, I found myself reflecting on an earlier visit I made that same day to the 9/11 Memorial. Standing before the memorial, surrounded by the names etched into the stone, I felt the profound power of remembrance—a nation’s enduring tribute to lives lost and grief shared. Yet, a sobering thought emerged: Where is our national tribute for the thousands of lives claimed annually by foodborne pathogens? While the 9/11 Memorial stands as a powerful symbol of remembrance, "Poisoned" offers the closest representation of a memorial for those lost due to failures in food safety. Beyond a tribute, the documentary serves as a rallying cry, a call to action, and a testament to the resilience of those committed to securing a safer food system. The film underscores that the fight for improved food safety transcends statistics—it centers on people, their lives, and our collective duty to prevent needless suffering.
Now, “Poisoned” has been honored with the 2024 Emmy for Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary. This award offers a rare moment of celebration—something we don’t often talk about in food safety. This Emmy is not just an award for the filmmakers; it is a victory for every family whose loved ones have been stolen by preventable foodborne illnesses. For me, this recognition is an overdue acknowledgment of the power of storytelling—of including names, faces, and personal stories with the statistics so frequently cited at industry events. More importantly, it is a tribute to the tireless advocacy of those who truly bear the burden of disease, who have worked relentlessly to remind industry leaders and policymakers of the devastating impact that systemic failures in food safety have on families like mine.
This recognition is even more poignant at a time when consumers and legislators are grappling with the implications of the recent Listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head premium deli meats. The Emmy is not merely an acknowledgment of past failures; it is a call to action for the present. The Listeria recall is yet another reminder that our food safety system remains fragile—still failing to protect us from dangers we can and must prevent.
The stories of foodborne illness featured in the documentary, and echoed in the headlines, are just the beginning of a larger conversation. Awareness is not enough. We must demand stronger regulatory oversight and stricter enforcement of food safety laws. The time for complacency is over. This is an urgent moment for reform, and the responsibility lies squarely with policymakers, industry leaders, and each of us who care about the safety of the food we consume.
By honoring "Poisoned," the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has amplified this urgent message. They have sent a powerful signal: these preventable tragedies can no longer be ignored. I sincerely hope that this moment will continue to drive the reforms we so desperately need in the U.S. food safety system. For too long, profit has been prioritized over public health. It is time for those in power to listen, to act, and to protect the lives that are at risk.
This award and the success of the documentary are a testament to the relentless efforts of food safety victims, advocates, experts, and reformers who have long fought for stronger protections. As we reflect on this milestone, my hope is that no other family will ever again have to live with a chair forever empty at their table due to preventable failures in food safety. Let this recognition strengthen the resolve of the courageous individuals within our system who are working every day to protect every plate.
This Emmy award is more than a celebration of film making; it is an opportunity for us all to prevent these stories of the realities of food safety failures from slipping into the shadows of history as another untold story. I hope that this award cultivates and validates courage, that industry uses this as a tool to engage all stakeholders, and that viewers are inspired to prioritize food safety.
The future of food safety is in our hands, and like the Emmy trophy, it must be cherished and protected.
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