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Tracking the Dangers of Foodborne Illness

By Pritzker | Ruohonen

Contracting foodborne illnesses is often dangerous and life threatening for hundreds of thousands of people every year, but the effects of these illnesses can last a lifetime.  Very little research has been done to show the seriousness of long-term effects of foodborne illness, which has prompted STOP (Safe Tables Our Priority) to open an online registry to help keep track of foodborne illness victims and any complications they have later in life.

WBZ Boston tells the story of Alyssa Chrobuck who became infected with E. coli after eating a contaminated hamburger when she was five years old.  She was hospitalized due to organ failure, but survived. Now a college student, she continues to take eight different medications for problems including gall stones and high cholesterol.  She has also had surgery to remove part of her thyroid.

Nancy Donley, president of STOP, states that “There are people who have had long-term kidney problems, diabetes, pancreatic problems, vision problems.”  STOP encourages people experiencing these long-term problems to register on their Web site (safetables.org) so that the magnitude of the problem can be evaluated.  The registry’s goal is to gain a better understanding of foodborne illness and to learn how to better prevent the long-term effects of foodborne illness.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on May 30, 2008 (boomark / email).