From Upton Sinclair's The Jungle to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), foodborne illness attorney William Marler gives an overview of how food safety has evolved in the US in his 2012 speech at Washington State University.

1. Food Safety 2012
Washington
State University

2. In The Beginning
The Pure Food and
Drug Act of June 30,
1906 was the United
States Federal Law
that provided federal
inspection of meat
products and forbade
the manufacture, sale,
or transportation of
adulterated food
products.

3. The Jungle’s Unintended Consequences
“Pierces the thickest
skull and most
leathery heart.”
Winston Churchill
"I aimed at the
public's heart, and
by accident I hit it
in the stomach.”
Upton Sinclair

4. Impact On Public Policy
“Jack in the Box
today has the
highest quality
ground beef that
I believe is available
in North America. …
But our products,
I will not guarantee,
are free of
pathogens in the
raw state.”
Dave Theno

5. Public Involvement
S.T.O.P.
C.S.P.I.
Make our Food Safe

6. The 1994 Revolution
Politics and Philosophy Matter

7. 2006 – Magic Moment?
• Spinach –
205 sickened
and 5 deaths
• Peanut Butter –
746 sickened
and 3 years
of product
recalled
• House and Senate
party switch

8. Well, Not Quite So Fast
• 2007 E. coli-poisoned
(hamburger)
paralyzed dancer –
Front Page of New
York Times and a
Pulitzer Prize
• 2009 E. coli-poisoned
(cookie dough)
mother of six –
Front Page
Washington Post

9. What About Industry?
• Tomato,
errr, Pepper
Outbreak
• PB 2 - $1
Billion in
Recall and
Economic
Losses

10. 2009 – The Magic Moment
Consumers and Industry Coming Together

11. Well, Not So Fast

12. Working To The End

13. “WE” Won!

14. Well, Not Quite Yet
"I would not identify it as
something that will necessarily
be zeroed out, but it is quite
possible it will be scaled back if
it is significant overreach," said
Rep. Kingston, who is likely to
become chairman of the
subcommittee when
Republicans assume control of
the House in January.
"We still have a food supply
that's 99.99 percent safe," Rep.
Kingston said in an interview.
"No one wants anybody to get
sick, and we should always strive
to make sure food is safe. But
the case for a $1.4 billion
expenditure isn't there."

15. Some Resources for All
• Learn About E. coli
• Learn About Salmonella
• Learn About Listeria
• Learn About Shigella
• Learn About Campylobacter
• Learn About Hepatitis A
• Learn About Botulism
• Learn About Norovirus

16. Questions