Americans don't know feces

[Guest guest]

Americans Don't Realize Chicken/Beef Poisoned

 

Wednesday 29 August 2001

CONTACT:

Jeanne Stuart McVey, Communications Liaison

tel: 202-686-2210, ext. 316; jeannem

 

http://www.pcrm.org/news/health010829.html

 

Survey Shows Americans Don't Realize Chicken and Beef Are Often

Infected with Feces - Doctors Petition USDA to Ensure " Feces-Free "

Meat or Issue Biohazard Label

 

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, thereís 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:

 

.. 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

.. Didnít think any of these or didnít 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 surveyís 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.