NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Wednesday 29 August 2001
CONTACT:
Jeanne Stuart McVey, Communications Liaison
tel: 202-686-2210, ext. 316; jeannem@pcrm.org
Survey Shows Americans Don't Realize Chicken and Beef Are Often Infected with Feces
Doctors Petition USDA to Ensure "Feces-Free" Meat or Issue Biohazard Label
Washington, D.C.—A new study shows that 84 percent of
adults have no idea that the primary source of salmonella, campylobacter, E. coli, and
other foodborne pathogens on poultry and meat is animal feces. The survey of 1,000 men and
women was completed during the period of July 26-29, 2001, by Opinion Research Corporation
International on behalf of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM).
Foodborne illnesses are at epidemic levels in the United States; the Centers for Disease
Control estimate there are at least 76 million cases each year, usually from consumption
of animal products.
"Our findings show the vast majority of Americans do not understand there are
feces on meat and poultry," says PCRM staff attorney Mindy Kursban. "In fact,
there’s a major disconnect in the public consciousness between the foodborne
illnesses that sicken so many of us and their originating cause—animal
excrement."
Survey respondents answered the following question: "When salmonella and other
disease-causing bacteria are found on meat and poultry, which of the following do you
think BEST describes where these bacteria originally came from?"
The answers were as follows:
- They [foodborne pathogens] came from animal blood. 10
percent
- They came from dirty hands.
19 percent
- They are naturally present in the meat.
17 percent
- They are naturally present in the animal’s skin.
9 percent
- They came from animal feces.
16 percent
- They came from dirty air in a slaughter house.
15 percent
- Didn’t think any of these were the right answer or didn’t know.
13 percent
Statistically, respondents with college degrees, a household income equal to or greater
than $50,000, or residence in a metropolitan area were more likely to know that feces are
the originating source of disease-causing bacteria.
The survey’s release coincides with PCRM’s filing of a petition calling on
the U.S. Department of Agriculture to protect consumers against feces-contaminated poultry
and meat.
PCRM’s petition asks the government to declare feces an adulterant—an action
that would greatly strengthen federal meat safety regulations. PCRM also proposes that
until the government can guarantee Americans feces-free food, all poultry and meat
products should carry a biohazard label. Such a procedure is similar to how medical waste
is treated.
Founded in 1985, PCRM is a national health organization dedicated to promoting
preventive medicine and higher standards in medical research, education, and practice.
-30-
Related Materials
Media
Center | Health | Research
| About PCRM | Catalog
| Join Us | Search
| Site Index | Home
The site does
not provide medical or legal advice. This Web site is for information purposes
only.
Full Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
|
