On Friday the Food and Drug Administration proposed two new rules in response to recent years' food contamination catastrophes. The new rules aim to help prevent contamination in the first place in both produce and processed foods.
According to The New York Times, the first rule requires processed food manufacturers to develop and implement ways to reduce the risk of contamination. For example, this might mean roasting raw peanuts at temperatures high enough to kill salmonella. The second rule aims to combat bacterial contamination from E. coli in fruits and vegetables, and would address the "four Ws" -- water, waste, workers and wildlife. For example, "a farm or plant where vegetables are packaged might, for example, add lavatories to ensure that workers do not urinate in fields and post signs similar to those in restaurants that remind employees to wash their hands."
If these new rules were put in place, the F.D.A says it could prevent 1.75 million illnesses each year.
Read More: F.D.A. Offers Broad New Rules to Fight Food Contamination | The New York Times
Related: How To Prevent, Cure, and Cope with a Foodborne Illness While Traveling
(Image: Karen Sarraga/Shutterstock)
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Wait. . . So workers are spending 8+ hours in the fields, and these employers didn't give them a place to relieve themselves, and we are just now making the connection to e coli? Shouldn't the bare minimum employer provided work environment include toilets?!
I know! Hard to believe, isn't it?
When you employ migrant workers who aren't technically citizens, you can get away with a hell of a lot, unfortunately.