New TV show talks about food safety
CONCERNED ABOUT what's in your food? Many people have a long list of food fears. The list often is topped by food additives, hormones and pesticides. Next might be environmental contaminants, chemicals produced by cooking, chemicals naturally present in foods, and microorganisms in foods.
But, food scientists and food safety experts say this list is upside-down. Based on health records, the vast majority of food-caused illnesses are due to microorganism contamination of foods.
Question: Why does food contamination with microorganisms rank above all the added chemicals as a major cause of health problems?
Answer: Disease-causing microorganisms can enter foods at many points during production, preparation, and service. Depending on the microorganism, the result can be a serious illness or even death within a matter of hours.
In contrast, approved food additives must either have a long history of safe use in the food supply or undergo extensive testing for safety. The maximum amount of a food additive that can be added to a food is 1 percent of the amount thought to be hazardous. Certainly, nothing is risk-free, but the potential risks of food additives pale when compared to the widely known risks of microorganisms.
Q: What are some good sources of information on food safety?
A: There are many good sources of information. The Web sites of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contain a great deal of practical and scientific information.
A new television show produced in Hawaii promises to be a much more entertaining source of food safety wisdom. The first of a series of shows airs this Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. on Oceanic Cable channel 55.
With the eye-catching name, "Shig Happens! Food Safety with Chef Henry Food Cop," the show promises a humorous format to entertain, educate, and maybe even "gross-out" a few with facts that will protect you from becoming a victim of food-borne illness. The show's name comes from the Shigella group of bacteria that often contaminates foods handled improperly.
The show is hosted by Chef Henry Holthaus (aka "Food Cop") who teaches food safety at the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Kapiolani Community College. The first episode is titled "10 Rules for Surviving Labor Day."
, Ph.D., C.N.S. and Joannie Dobbs
, Ph.D., C.N.S. are
nutritionists in the Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, UH-Manoa. Dr. Dobbs also works with the University Health Services and prepares the nutritional analyses marked with an asterisk in this section. See also: Health Events