5,000 Deaths occur every year from food poisoning. 76 Million Hospitalizations occur every year. 38,000 hospitalizations occur everyday. That is just here in the US. That is just what is reported by the hospital. It does not include people that became ill and did not go to the hospital.
I wanted to post this because several people believe that the government is involved to much with our cake decorating business. With these numbers I can understand why the government has stepped in and said that a license (in most states) is required. So, for those of you that complain that you need to be licensed, just think how many lives you could be saving.
Just for a perspective on how many deaths that is;
September 11th had 2,973 fatalities.
Since the war in Iraq started in March 2003, 2,845 members of the U.S. military have died.
Please remember to thank the governement for protecting you and the people that you serve. Without them there would probably be even more deaths related to food borne illness.
I know I am probably not liked very much, but I received this information and I thought it was important to share. I understand not being able to afford a license, or reasons on not being licensed. I just posted it so when you think the government is involved to much with this business, you can understand why.
Thank you for posting that information. It was interesting. I agree that food safety is very important but I would love to know how many of those reported food illnesses were due to restaurants that were checked by the government. I ask this because a restaurant in South Carolina made over 200 people sick and one man died. This was/is a legitimate business. When this incident happened, the restaurant was closed for a couple of weeks for cleaning and such but re-opened and has a very good business even now.
My point is that even though this restaurant was inspected it still wasn't safe. I do think food industries need to be licensed and inspected but that still doesn't always make them safe.
AnythingSugar I agree that just because they are inspected that does not make them safe. It just makes sure that we are more safe. Imagine if that restaurant was never inspected and the government never made them clean.
There are so many things that make people sick with food borne illness. Humans, Food at incorrect temperature. Who knows what it was. Someone may have been working that had the virus HEP. A. Instead of not working they decided to go to work. I am not saying that every place is safe, I am just saying that because the government is involved and has regulations, the death toll is probably less than it could be.
Food being at the wrong temperature is the number one cause of illness. Unfortunatley not everyone in the restaurant industry is educated or cares enough about doing things properly. After that is the human error of poor handwashing. (Think about how many times you are in the bathroom and see people not wash their hands).
In the "ideal" world everyone would have to have the food safety class if they were working with food so they could hear about what their horrible habits could cause, but that is not the case.
I do agree with you though, not all establishments are safe, whether they are licensed or not.
I took a Food Sanitation class in Culinary school and it was quite eye opening. Yes there is incident even in those that are licensed but imagine if there was no licensing what so ever.
It makes me think of a mom that was in line at the store today--I know this is a segway but .....Anyway her little boy about three or four was crawling at her feet. He proceeded to untie her shoes and start chewing on the Laces......GROSS...And she let him do it for five minutes at least...GAG!!
Then it started to cross my mind that my daughter was going in that same Smalland to play while I shopped.
Anyway I am sorta a germ a phobe and Very careful when I do cakes for friends and family. I would not do it if I were sick. I would cancel the order.
With cakes we have risk but the risk is lower do to the fact that we only handle egss and not raw meats and such.
In South Carolina, you can not have a home baking business unless you have a totally seperate kitchen with no entry from your house (if my understanding is correct). I realize that this is for food safety. I do think the inspections help.
I am somewhat of a compulsive person about my food and my kitchen LOL. I do not allow anyone to wash their hands in my kitchen sink except ME when I am cooking. My DH thinks I am insane but that is okay. I do not want him working in the yard and then bringing whatever germs he might have on his hands into my kitchen. The bathroom is where you wash your hands. Let me stop before I tell all of my kitchen phobias LOL
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