Taco Bell, E. coli and the fast food nation

Posted Dec 11th 2006 12:39PM by Michael Rainey

Yum Brands' (NYSE:YUM) Taco Bell now says that the food at all of its restaurants is safe. The green onions suspected as the source of the recent E. coli outbreak in the northeast are gone, and the company has switched suppliers in the region. Over 50 people have ended up in the hospital as a result of the E. coli outbreak, but there is hope that the worst is past, despite the fact the bacteria has surfaced in a Taco Bell in New York City.

The question is why E. coli continues to be such a threat to consumers throughout the country. In today's New York Times, Eric Schlosser addresses the issue. Schlosser is the author of Fast Food Nation, a fascinating and at times alarming look at the fast food industry and its place in American culture. He argues that changes in the way food is produced in the US over the last 40 years have raised the odds of widespread outbreaks of E.coli and other food-borne pathogens.

One big change is the concentration of producers. Food in the US is now produced by a few large corporations, rather than many smaller ones. For example, today 13 slaughterhouses produce most of the meat eaten by Americans. This means that once there is a problem, it tends to spread far and wide within a large company's national network. Years ago, when producers were smaller, problems in the food supply chain would remain local.

The second big change is in the food safety system. Large food corporations have fought relentlessly to reduce the number and frequency of federal inspections. In the 1970s, the Food and Drug Administration made 35,000 food safety inspections per year. Today, there are less than 3,400. And the number of inspectors has fallen by roughly 20%.

So the solution to the problem seems fairly obvious. Given the growth of the food network, we need more food safety inspectors. And there needs to be real penalties for producers who break the rules. This runs contrary to the American suspicion of government, but if the government doesn't monitor the safety of the food system, who will? As Schlosser writes, "whether you're a Republican or a Democrat, you still have to eat." And eating without worrying about E.coli seems like something worth paying for.

Tags: e. coli, E.Coli, Eric Schlosser, EricSchlosser, Taco Bell, TacoBell, YUM

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-11-2006 @ 1:13PM

syl said...

On a somewhat related note, Taco Bell has considered starting a breakfast menu at their restaurants. Interesting... :)

12-11-2006 @ 7:03PM

Emilio Paletta said...

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT Emilio Paletta Author copyright 2006 Food-chain rhetoric has become common place. Beginning with the fish scare, referred to as "The Tuna Wars," the FDA warned of high levels of mercury in the supply. They scared the daylights out of those employed in the fishing industry, not to mention Charley the Tuna. Fearful, many fishermen switched professions becoming Air Traffic Controllers. Not content with screwing up the fishing industry, the FAA asserted these new recruits were taking cat naps while on the job. Is there no rest for the weary? Unions jumped into the fray claiming controllers never nap, but instead remain hard on the job, following guidelines set by former president Bill Clinton; while in the oval office. Soon after the mad cow calamity stampeded onto the scene. Oprah dedicated an entire show to' Mad Cow Disease,' branding cattlemen as irresponsible, for giving the public a bum steer. She cautioned loyal fans not to eat hamburger. Cattlemen went berserk, demanding Oprah's hide. After thousands of cattle ranchers sued Oprah, during an interview she changed her tune saying,
" Mad Cow Disease,' What udder nonsense! "

Next to take flight was avian flu. Poultry farmers were warned to contact their physician in the event they themselves, developed a sudden urge to crap on automobile windshields! " What if my wife's canary is pooping on my reading glasses; while napping," asked one farmer? The FDA advised him to make sure his wife's canary never dozes off! When something like this occurs someone always cashes in. Have you noticed how vaccine maker's stocks have been flying lately? Which brings us to the E coli scare? The FDA warned supermarkets to dump spinach products. Agent Penelope Twit sought help from Mexican authorities familiar with Montezuma's revenge, hoping they could put and end to the shituation. Twit contacted Popey for a second opinion?" He responded by singing," I am what I am, I eat mine from the can, I'm Popey the sailorman, Poop! Poop!" It's a shame at the time of the 'Mad Cow' scare, Oprah didn't call on Popey's sidekick Wimpy to solve her ham-bug-her dilemma. The next sticky issue facing the FDA will most likely be ' Crazy Glue' sniffing. After all isn't it a fact, glue is made from the hooves of horses that have gone loco? www.neversayuncle.com paletta4788@aol.com

12-12-2006 @ 3:09AM