What are federal agencies up to these days? Fighting Obesity, Monitoring Radiation, and Investigating an Outbreak

Fighting Obesity

Once we’re given the unpleasant news about how many calories the foods listed on our menu contain, will we all choose to eat salads (with low-cal dressing) for lunch and vegetable soup for dinner?  Probably not. Nevertheless, the FDA is determined to follow through on a provision of the 2010 health care reform law, which stipulated that  restaurant chains would have to prominently post calorie counts for their regular menu items. The agency has just proposed new rules requiring many types of food suppliers and establishments to post the calorie contents of the foods they’re offering for sale.  These proposed rules are subject to another round of public comment before they are finalized. 

The new rules would apply to about 280,000 establishments, and calorie counts could be on menus by the end of this year or early 2012. The FDA’s proposal now says the  requirement would apply to restaurants and fast food chains with 20 or more locations, bakeries, vending machines, coffee chains, and convenience and grocery stores.  Not included are these: movie theatres, bowling alleys, and airliners.  Alcohol is also exempted. At least, you won’t have to be reminded that that big bag of buttered popcorn you routinely  nibble on throughout movie has roughly 1,000 calories.  (Let’s hope your family of 8 kids and 2 adults is sharing one bag.) 

In the past 40 years, the rate of obesity in the U.S. has almost doubled. Since about 1/3 of the calories people consume are eaten out, the FDA hopes that this information (which consumers already have on packaged goods they eat and serve at home) will encourage buyers to make more low-calorie choices.  But a study of New York City’s pioneering  law on posting calories in restaurant chains suggests otherwise.  Perhaps with tears in their eyes, the researchers reported that, once the numbers were posted, the average customer ordered slightly more calories than before the labeling law went into effect.  (To read about this study, click here.)

Monitoring Radiation

CNN reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is increasing its nationwide monitoring of radiation because 2 states (California and Washington) have reported very low levels of radiation in milk. Radioactive iodine was detected in samples from Spokane Washington and San Luis Obispo County, California.  However, these were 5,000 times lower than the acceptable  limit set by the FDA.  Moreover, the isotope involved has a very short half-life (about 8 days), so the level found in milk and milk products is expected to decline quite quickly.

Investigating an Outbreak

Many recalls of edible products  are not the result of  reported illnesses, but this one is, and it’s a rather scary illness.  The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is working with public health officials in many states and with the USDA-FSIS to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Hadar infections.  As of April 1, 12 people had become infected with a strain that is resistant to many commonly prescribed antibiotics. There have been infections reported in 10 states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Washington, and Wisconsin),.  Among the 12 people who became ill, 3 required hospitalization, and all survived. 

At least three of the victims reported eating Jennie-0 ground turkey burgers the week before their illness began.  In some states, Jennie-0  turkey burgers were collected and they tested positive for the strain that caused the illnesses.  On April 1, 2011, Jennie-0 Turkey Store  recalled 54,960 pounds of frozen, raw turkey burger products that may be contaminated with salmonella.  Check your fridge and  freezer to see if you have any of this product.  If so, go to this link for more information about  this recall. The USDA news release on this recall contains information on the lot codes of the products suspected of being contaminated. 

Source(s):

msnbc.msn.com  “FDA proposes calorie counts on menus”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42381553/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/

abcnews.go.com  “FDA Proposes Calorie Counts on Menus”
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=13276275

Chicago Tribune  Business section “Calories could be new item on menus”

April 2, 2011

yourhealthfirst.com CNN Health “EPA boosts radiation monitoring after low levels found in milk”
www.yourhealthfirst.com/en/rsss/?3  

nytimes.com  N.Y./Region  “Calorie Postings Don’t Change Habits, Study Finds”
www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/nyregion/06calories.html

cdc.gov/ Salmonella “Investigation Announcement: Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Hadar Infections Associated with Turkey Burgers”
www.cdc.gov/salmonella/hadar0411/040411/index.html

usda.gov  News Releases  “Minnesota Firm Recalls turkey and Burger Products Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination”
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_028_2011_Release/index.asp