week 9: food safety and waste management
Camplyobacter: source, health effect and protective measures
- Campylobacter jejuni is a bacteria that causes campylobacteriosis, an infection that is caused by consuming contaminated food or water. The bacteria is usually found in the intestinal tracts of healthy animals (esp. chickens) and in untreated surface water (contaminated from runoff) • Sources: Raw and inadequately cooked foods of animal origin, and non-chlorinated water are the most common sources of human infection ( e.g. non-pasteurized raw milk, undercooked chicken, raw seafood, raw beef etc.) • Health Effects: - abdominal pain, diarrhea (usually bloody), fever, nausea, and vomiting. More severe illness can occur including dehydration, bloodstream infection, and symptoms mimicking acute appendicitis or ulcerative colitis. Lastly can cause death. -Usually appear 1 to 10 days after becoming infected. Symptoms can last for up to 10 days but most people will usually get better within 10 days. • Protective Measures: - As campylobacter grows best in a reduced-oxygen environment, it is easily killed by heat (120℉). It is also inhibited by acid, salt, and drying. Additionally, the bacterium will not multiply at temps below 85℉. More preventative measures include pasteurizing milk, avoiding post-pasteurization contamination, cooking raw meat, poultry, and fish, and lastly preventing cross contamination between raw and ready to eat foods.
Define: Hazardous Waste
- Listed or characteristic solid waste. Listed can come in two forms: either non specific sources (ex. Toluene, MEK, etc. ) or specific (sludge from steel making plant). -Characteristic tests include: toxicity, reactive, ignitable, corrosive. Cannot be hazardous if it does not "pass" any one of these tests. Wastes that are excluded from the definition of solid waste are not subject to RCRA subtitle C hazardous waste regulation. One drop is all it takes for something to be considered hazardous. • Exclusions: Domestic waste, fossil fuels, mining wastes, oil and gas refining waste, coal ash, hydrofracking waste. Other laws cover these.
Describe the historical events leading to the CERCLA waste management law:
- The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 aka Superfund was created to deal with poorly managed or abandoned waste sites. Inspired by Love Canal: - 1930s-1950s: hooker Chemical dumps 21,000 tons of toxic waste - 1953: land is sold to the city for 1$ (deed restricted) - 1960s: deed restriction reversed, hundreds of homes built near site - 1978: waste found oozing from the site - panic ensues President Carter declares a federal health emergency - Many other toxic dumps discovered "Valley of the drums" near Louisville, KY - The publicized love canal was a suburban neighborhood; the lesser known valley of the drums was the visual - 17,000 openly dumped drums are removed from 13 acres - 1966: several barrels burned for weeks - still ignored - 1979: EPA issues emergency cleanup - 1980: CERCLA
Describe the historical events leading to the SARA waste management law:
- The Superfund Amendment Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 was created after the disaster in Bhopal, India. December 3, 1984: Bhopal, India - Union Carbide pesticide plant (now Dow Chemical) - "Worst industrial accident" in history - At midnight, 42 tons of methyl isocyanate (MIC) reacts with water and overpressurizes tank - released into Bhopal - Many woke from burning sensation in lungs, hundreds trampled in a panic - Death toll in dispute - varies from 4,000 - 25,000 - Tens of thousands with long-term health effects • Outrage/fear in the United States over Bhopal lead to SARA
What are the main ways food is contaminated?
- Water - Soil - Rodents and insects - Animals and birds - Processing/packaging - Humans (Restaurants, at home food prep)
What is the Pollution Prevention Act?
1990 Pollution Prevention Act: reduce waste at the source. - Shift in thinking from "end of pipe" to "up the pipe" (aka reducing at the source) - managing the chemical processes more upfront so they didn't make a mess
CDC's role in food safety:
CDC's Food Safety Office: Conducts food surveillance efforts and coordinates food net surveillance and data analysis of foodborne illnesses
health impacts for the globalization of waste management: China's Recycling Ban
China's Recycling Ban: - 72% of world's recycling materials went to China - In 2017, china cut back dramatically by demanding cleaner materials - Requires 0.5% contamination, normally 30% contamination - Globally, plastics and paper do not have many choices - Some go to landfills, stockpiled, or burned - Some go to Malaysia and Thailand but they lack infrastructure and are poorly managed, so materials are often burned - Or ends up in oceans - Markets for paper/plastic have collapsed
Explain the regulatory scope written into CERCLA
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) Nicknamed superfund. It is a retroactive law that holds all past and current landowners liable (polluters pay), strict (liable, regardless of following the law), joint & several (one small waste generator responsible for all). -Government says that the responsible party(s) have to clean up these sites, even if they are no longer in business, no longer located there, followed all the current laws at the time. -when a company no longer exists, EPA foots the bill with tax dollars. • National Priorities List (NPL) - this locates hazardous waste sites. It is based on health hazard ranking system. There are around 1300 NPL sites in the country (as of 2018).
health impacts for the globalization of waste management: E-Waste
E-waste: any device attached to a plug (electric toothbrushes, computers, printers, smartphones, washing machines, and radios) - Electronics made for cheap production - not repair or recycling - In 2018, 50M tons/year globally, fastest growing sector of MSW - Less than 20% recycled and only for rare metals/plastic - Majority of US e-waste goes to Asia - often to poorly regulated locations - 2% of waste stream but 70% of hazardous waste stream
EPA's role in food safety:
EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (OPPTS): monitors drinking water and regulates toxic chemicals (ex. pesticides) through the Food Quality Protection Act
FDA's role in food safety:
FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) regulates everything else that the USDA does not, such as products (imported and domestic) including produce, seafood, eggs, and milk. Note: FDA regulates "shell eggs" but USDA regulates egg products that are removed from shell
What are the 4 components of food safety advice? (at home)
Food Safety Advice • Clean: Wash hands and surfaces often • Separate: Separate raw meats from other foods • Cook: Cook to the right temperature • Chill: Refrigerate food promptly
Role of food industry sector in food safety:
Growers Processors Preparers - All often have internal quality control procedures. - The actual activities that are important for keeping food safe are carried out in the food industry
Define: municipal solid waste (MSW)
Household trash; the waste materials produced in homes, businesses, schools, and other places in a community. EPA does not manage at household level but does regulate landfills, etc
infection vs intoxication:
Infection: Infection caused by bacteria (Salmonella, campylobacter, e.coli, etc) in food. Live bacteria enter the body, multiply, and cause the adverse effect Intoxication: Caused by staphylococcus and clostridium botulinum bacteria. The bacteria produce toxin (poison) as by-product of growth/multiplication in food; toxin causes the adverse effect. Bacteria can be dead but the toxin still present
UN's role in food safety:
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): to eradicate hunger and achieve food security
Other regulatory agencies involved in food safety:
National Marine Fisheries Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; Customs Service; Federal Trade Commission; Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Explain the regulatory scope written into SARA
Outrage and fear in US over the events in Bhopal led to SARA : • Created Emergency Planning and Community "Right to Know" Act (EPCRA) • Citizens have a right to know about chemicals in their community • Requires emergency planning for spills and releases • Established the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) • The TRI says companies must report all chemical releases, storage, usage, disposal (above certain reportable thresholds) • Made publicly viewable to incentivize lowered emissions.
Explain the regulatory scope written into RCRA
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) - Law written into congress that regulates industrial waste today. Generator owns waste forever • Solid Waste - any discarded material from industrial, commercial, government, mining, and agriculture (including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material). • Hazardous Waste - has to have a definition: determined by listing or characteristic. If one drop of hazardous waste contaminates, it's all hazardous. You have 90 days of on-site storage at approved storage sit (from when the last drop is added). Handling waste requires training, spill kit, secondary containment etc. You cannot "treat" waste. • Listed: From non-specific sources (e.g. toluene, MEK, etc.) • Characteristic: Toxicity, Reactive, Ignitable, Corrosive • Exclusions to RCRA include domestic waste, fossil fuels, mining wastes, oil and gas refining waste, hydrofracking and coal ash (4000 tons/day/coal plant)
Describe the historical events leading to the RCRA waste management law:
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) • Times Beach - once 2000 people, now a ghost town • 1972-1976 - Russell Bliss hired to sprayed waste oil onto dusty roads • The waste oil was laden with dioxin from a pharm company • In 4 years, Bliss sprays 160,000 gallons of oil on 23 miles of roads • EPA declares health emergency • RCRA law is passed in 1976 • 1982 huge flood hits Times Beach • CDC recommends not to re-inhabit • Incinerator built in 1995 • 265,000 tons of soil are burned • Times Beach is de-incorporated -generator owns waste forever.
State and local government role in food safety:
Role: On-the-ground inspections of food producing establishments by local health departments, especially restaurants and food preparation sites. In addition, they also conduct outreach to food service establishments and consumers during foodborne illness outbreaks. Have the power to shut down food establishments that violate food safety laws. Use grade systems
What are the most common sources of human foodborne disease? (as defined by CDC FoodNet)
Salmonella and Campylobacter
Salmonella: source, health effect and protective measures
Salmonella is a bacteria that is spread through indirect or direct contact w/ the intestinal contents or excrement of animals including humans. • Sources: Food can be contaminated where the food is handled or processed from the time of slaughter or harvest until it is eaten. (farm to fork) -often associated w/ eggs, salads (such as tuna, chicken, or potato), poultry, beef, pork, processed meats, dairy-based products, fish etc. - In some cases, there are chickens who have salmonella in their oviducts; they were laying eggs that had Salmonella on the inside. • Health Effects: Salmonella can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever, chills, headache, blood in stool, and even death. (Basically causes gastroenteritis). -Usually appear 6 to 72 hours after becoming infected. The symptoms usually last between 1 and 7 days but in more severe cases they can last up to 10 days. • Protective Measures: As salmonella grows in temperatures between 41 °F and 113 °F , it is recommended to cook food until internal temperature reaches 160℉. Additionally, refrigerating food quickly is important as salmonella does not grow (but still survives) at fridge/freezer temps.
Define: Solid Waste
Solid waste: any discarded material from industrial, commercial, government, mining, and agriculture, including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material (does not have to be solid lol)
USDA's role in food safety:
US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS): - Regulates meat; poultry; frozen, dried & liquid eggs - regulates food that crosses state boundaries or involves more than one state
What are food borne illness risk factors?
defined by CDC and includes foods from non-approved sources, inadequate cooking temps, improper holding temps, cross-contamination, and poor personal hygiene
How are good retail practices for food safety defined?
should include systems to control basic operational and sanitation conditions within a food establishment; some examples are pest control, equipment management, plumbing, water, and physical facilities
What are imminent health hazards?
violations that are a significant threat or danger to health; these violations require immediate correction or closure of the establishment. Can range from operating without hot water, severe temperature abuse, vermin infestation, or failure of a certified food manager to be on duty.
simplified environmental law roadmap
• CAA says: Do not put anything up the stack. • CWA says: Do not put it in the water. • RCRA says: Do not put it anywhere else. • CERCLA says: If you put it in the ground in the past, dig it up now. • EPCRA says: If you have it, you must tell us about it. • PPA says: If it is such bad news, do not even make it in the first place. • OSHA says: Tell us how you are going to use it.
