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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT:
Victoria L. Stanish |
State Rep. Mike Carroll |
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To: Editor, Community Express
From: State Rep. Mike Carroll
RE: Food safety legislation – monthly column
Recent reports of Pennsylvania residents subjected to food poisoning through contamination of foods ranging from spinach to ground beef have many people concerned about the safety of their food. As a result, citizens’ worries over contracting foodborne illnesses have come to the forefront. Especially troubling is the fact that inspections are often tardy and inconsistent. Retail food facilities and customers know that something must be done to protect Pennsylvanians.
Earlier this year, I introduced House Bill 1422, which would help prevent foodborne illnesses in Pennsylvania. This legislation, which passed the House recently, would greatly improve the ability of the state Department of Agriculture and local health officials to enforce food safety regulations in retail food facilities. It would also help standardize inspections and reporting across the state so that all eateries are held to the same benchmarks. Further, the bill would require local inspectors to submit their inspection reports to the Department of Agriculture so those reports can be viewed online.
Most cases of food poisoning can be easily prevented. Food poisoning is usually caused by the improper handling, preparation or storage of food. These stages of food service are well within our control. There is no reason for Pennsylvanians to be served contaminated food and this bill would ensure that you have all the facts about a restaurant before you decide to eat there.
Another, more personal reason why I sponsored House Bill 1422 is my own severe allergy to shellfish. If a knife is not washed after preparing shellfish and the same knife is then used for my food, I could experience a life-threatening allergic reaction, aside from the basic sanitation issues in question. There are thousands of other people who share this type of food allergy.
Some opponents have argued that the increased regulation of restaurants would be a financial burden to business owners. But there is no excuse for owners to put their customers at risk of hospitalization or even death, no matter what the price. In fact, the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association supports my legislation.
Lastly, I believe restaurateurs would see a benefit from the standardized regulations and inspections under the bill. Since inspection results would be posted online for all to see, food employees would have to practice clean handling, storage and preparation habits to make sure that people continue to dine there. As for those that already do meet the safety standards? Online inspection results will merely reaffirm the quality of those restaurants with their customers.
This bill is currently under consideration in the state Senate. It is an important measure to protect the health and safety of the public and I will continue to advocate for its passage.
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