Is The U.S. Doing Enough To Protect Our Food Supply?

enteritidis bacterium (CDC web site). Ways to protect your self from S.enteridis is to keep all eggs refrigerated, discard cracked or broken eggs, avoid eating raw eggs or dishes that contain raw eggs, and properly cooking all eggs (CDC web site). .
             The Campylobacter organism is a group of spiral-shaped bacteria that causes disease in humans and animals. Most human illness is caused by one species, called Campylobacter jejuni, 1% of human Campylobacter cases are caused by other species. Campylobacter jejuni develops best at the body temperature of a bird, and seems to be well adapted to birds, which carry it without becoming ill. The bacterium is fragile. It cannot tolerate being dried and can be killed by oxygen. It grows only if there is less than the atmospheric amount of oxygen present. Freezing reduces the number of Campylobacter bacteria present on raw meat (CDC web site). Campylobacter is most often contracted from improper handling or ingestion of raw poultry or from drinking contaminated water or milk, some cases have even been linked to contact with infected dogs and cats. The largest cause of infection is with raw poultry. the CDC recommends proper handling of all poultry and poultry product and that they be cooked to an internal temperature of 170-180 degrees (CDC web site). .
             Listeriosis is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Listeriosis is a potentially life threatening disease. Every year nearly five hundred people in the United States die from infection from Listeria (CDC web site). "Listeria monocytogenes is found in soil and water. Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil or from manure used as fertilizer. Animals can carry the bacterium without appearing ill and can contaminate foods of animal origin such as meats and dairy products. The bacterium has been found in a variety of raw foods, such as uncooked meats and vegetables, as well as in processed foods that become contaminated after processing, such as soft cheeses and cold cuts at the deli counter.