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Like you, I am outraged about the recent food-poisoning outbreak caused by peanut and now pistachio products contaminated with deadly Salmonella bacteria.  As the director of food safety here at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, I have seen a disturbing increase in the incidence of food-borne disease outbreaks. 

This is the largest recall of its kind in our history. More than 2,100 products are now implicated—and because of the long shelf life of many of these products, they may linger in unsuspecting Americans’ cupboards for many months.

More than 600 people have contracted serious infections after eating these tainted food products.  More than 100 have been hospitalized.  And eight families are grieving the senseless loss of a loved family member. 

I need your help with three things to help us contain the current outbreak and to seize a historic opportunity in Washington to prevent these outbreaks in the future.

1.  Review the list of recalled pistachio and peanut products on the FDA’s web site.  Young people, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are among the most vulnerable to Salmonella.  Volunteer to help an elderly relative or neighbor see if they have purchased products subject to this recall.

2.  Ask your representative in Congress to cosponsor the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009, sponsored by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).  For far too long, critical food safety functions have played second fiddle to drugs at the Food and Drug Administration.  This bill creates a strong Food Safety Administration, led by a presidentially-appointed administrator.  It requires frequent, rigorous inspections of food processing facilities here and abroad, provides mandatory recall authority, and tough enforcement penalties when corporate negligence causes food safety hazards.

3.  Consider a gift to support our work.  President Barack Obama supports overhaul of the FDA.  But we need to turn up the heat on members of Congress so we can take advantage of this historic opportunity.

Thank you in advance for whatever you can do.

Sincerely,

David Plunkett
Senior Staff Attorney
Center for Science in the Public Interest