When discussing food safety awareness, it’s essential to recognize the diverse perspectives of consumers, industry stakeholders, and regulatory bodies. Ultimately, our common goal is safe, healthy food for everyone. Eating healthily provides the vital nutrients necessary for our bodies to create new cells, eliminate toxins, and function effectively each day. Safe food is crucial—it keeps us healthy and alive. No one should ever suffer illness or death from consuming food. Alarmingly, each year in the United States, 48 million people get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne illnesses—a statistic that has remained unchanged for years. On a global scale, 600 million people are affected by foodborne infections from unsanitary food, leading to 420,000 deaths annually. These figures are staggering and entirely preventable.
As both an individual and a co-host of the "Don’t Eat Poop!" – a food safety podcast, I believe it’s vital to raise awareness among listeners in all genres in an engaging and educational way. We aim to cover topics that are relevant to current events and fundamental food safety principles for “food safety enthusiasts,” corporations, families, and friends, featuring subjects that are both serious and enjoyable.
Many foodborne illnesses stem from poor personal hygiene. Recently, we explored the fascinating history of hand hygiene. Did you know that in the 1800s, doctors often exposed themselves to “cadaverous particles” during autopsies and then delivered babies without washing their hands? The mortality rates were shockingly high. It wasn’t until the 1980s that hand hygiene was formally integrated into American healthcare with the establishment of national hand hygiene guidelines.
While handwashing is something we all understand, it’s crucial to emphasize the underlying importance of the practice. Simply instructing someone to “do it this way” isn’t sufficient; we must explain the “why” behind our actions i.e. Washing your hands with soap and water is crucial to prevent contamination, which can potentially make you or someone else sick—and in severe cases, may even lead to death.
~ excerpt from "Navigating Food Safety: Protecting Public Health in the 21st Century" to be published later this year.
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Francine Shaw, can be seen on the podcast Don't Eat Poop! (https://savvyfs.com/podcast/) with her co-host Matt Regusci, along with occasional guests, as they dive into all things food safety: from industry trends and news to common frustrations and beyond. Discover everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the food supply chain—plus a few things you wish you hadn’t learned! Expect humorous, fresh perspectives on this (potentially deadly!) serious topic.
Her book WHO WATCHES THE KITCHEN? A Health Inspector Uncovers the Dirt on Her Way to Safe Food Advocacy can be purchased on Amazon at https://a.co/d/eIBLLfH
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