PCRM
supports healthy vegetarian diets. |
"The USDA needs to strengthen regulations and
warn consumers that poultry and meat often have traces of feces on them," states
Mindy Kursban, PCRM's staff attorney. "Under current regulations, people can become
ill and even die from eating poultry and meat that passed USDA's inspection because the
current inspection system is too weak to protect consumers."
A reproducible electronic image of PCRM's proposed label for poultry and meat
(high-resolution JPEG file) is available upon request.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that each year there are at least 76 million
illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths caused by foodborne pathogens. The
consumption of poultry and meat contaminated with feces is the primary vehicle for
transmitting foodborne diseases to humans. PCRM is also releasing the results of a new
survey of 1,000 adults conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation at the request of
PCRM. The survey shows that 84 percent of Americans do not know that feces are the
originating source of foodborne pathogens.
To receive an advance copy of the petition to be submitted 29 August, please contact
Jeanne Stuart McVey at 202-686-2210, ext. 316.
Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit
organization that promotes preventive medicine and higher standards in research. PCRM is
comprised of 5,000 physicians and more than 100,000 supporting members.A
copy of the petition is posted here.
Survey Information:
Washington, D.C.-A new study shows that 84 percent of adults have no idea that the primary
source of salmonella, campylobacter, E. coli, and other foodborne pathogens on poultry and
meat is animal feces. The survey of 1,000 men and women was completed during the period of
July 26-29, 2001, by Opinion Research Corporation International on behalf of the
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). Foodborne illnesses are at epidemic
levels in the United States; the Centers for Disease Control estimate there are at least
76 million cases each year, usually from consumption of animal products.
"Our findings show the vast majority of Americans do not understand there are feces
on meat and poultry," says PCRM staff attorney Mindy Kursban. "In
fact, there's a major disconnect in the public consciousness between the foodborne
illnesses that sicken so many of us and their originating cause-animal excrement."
Survey respondents answered the following question: "When salmonella and other
disease-causing bacteria are found on meat and poultry, which of the following do you
think BEST describes where these bacteria originally came from?"
The answers were as follows:
"They [foodborne pathogens] came from animal blood." 10 percent
"They came from dirty hands." 19 percent
"They are naturally present in the meat." 17 percent
"They are naturally present in the animal's skin." 9 percent
"They came from animal feces." 16 percent
"They came from dirty air in a slaughter house." 15 percent
Didn't think any of these were the right answer or didn't know. 13 percent
Statistically, respondents with college degrees, a household income equal to or greater
than $50,000, or residence in a metropolitan area were more likely to know that feces are
the originating source of disease-causing bacteria.
The survey's release coincides with PCRM's filing of a petition calling on the U.S.
Department of Agriculture to protect consumers against feces-contaminated poultry and
meat.
PCRM's petition asks the government to declare feces an adulterant-an action that would
greatly strengthen federal meat safety regulations. PCRM also proposes that until the
government can guarantee Americans feces-free food, all poultry and meat products should
carry a biohazard label. Such a procedure is similar to how medical waste is treated. |
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