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Pathogens and food safety: Farm to fork
Effective efforts should always be made to ensure that the food reaching consumers will not make them ill. Here's how we advocate for safe food.
Pathogens, microscopic organisms such as viruses and bacteria, is sometimes found on food in types and amounts that can make us sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 48 million Americans still get ill from foodborne pathogens each year. CSPI monitors whether both industry and the government are following science-based best practices to protect consumers.
In many cases, the food safety risk to consumers starts on the farm. Animals who are infected with dangerous pathogens can pass them on to consumers through the meat, eggs or dairy that is produced from them. Pathogens from these animals (or humans) can also contaminate growing fields. Whenever possible, it is best to control these pathogens on the farms before they can contaminate food.
Beyond the farm, food safety risks can also arise at many times, including at harvest, slaughter, transport, grocery stores, and consumer kitchens. CSPI advocates for policies that help ensure good food safety practices from farm to fork.
Featured campaign: safer poultry products
CSPI is leading in the fight to modernize poultry safety rules. With a broad coalition including foodborne illness survivors and poultry companies, we're asking the USDA to update its regulations and help minimize illnesses from Salmonella, Campylobacter, and other pathogens.
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Broad coalition calls for modernization of poultry food safety at USDA to reduce illnesses
Poultry producers aligned with four consumer groups on key poultry food safety principles and jointly asked for modernized USDA poultry food safety standards.
Press release![USDA logo](/https/www.cspinet.org/sites/default/files/styles/800x600/public/2021-12/USDA_logo.png?h=61bc1599)
Letter to Secretary Vilsack re: modernizing poultry safety
In this letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, CSPI and other consumer groups ask for a meeting to make the case for a modernized regulatory system to reduce incidence of Salmonella and Campylobacter.
Letter![](/https/www.cspinet.org/sites/default/files/styles/800x600/public/rssImages/Sergey-Ryzhov_AdobeStock_rawChicken131267650_600pxtall.jpg?h=b69e0e0e)
Op ed: Our poultry safety regulation isn’t working. It’s past time to fix it.
Mike Taylor is co-chair of the board of the non-profit consumer advocacy group Stop Foodborne Illness. In this op ed, he makes a case for how the USDA could better protect consumers from contaminated poultry.
Read at FSN![salmonella](/https/www.cspinet.org/sites/default/files/styles/766x510/public/media/images/misc/CDC-collects-40-years-worth-of-Salmonella-data_wrbm_large.png?h=9881e107)
Issue area
Antibiotic resistance
Antibiotics are crucial to effective medicine, helping to fight infections caused by bacteria that the body cannot eliminate. Efforts must be taken to minimize the risks of creating bacteria populations resistant to medically necessary antibiotics.
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Consumer guide
Food safety tips for the holiday season
Keep your festive meals safe and healthy with these food handling tips.
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Consumer guide
Food safety during a power outage
Which foods in your fridge (and freezer) are safe during and after a power outage? Which need to be thrown out?
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Consumer guide
Safe and healthy grilling tips
Nothing says summer like the smoky smell of a grill. Make sure you're handling your food safely using these tools and techniques.