PRINTER'S NO. 2461
No. 398 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY MYERS, GRUCELA, VULAKOVICH, RAMALEY, SAINATO,
GIBBONS, GALLOWAY, BISHOP, HENNESSEY, YOUNGBLOOD, ROSS,
DiGIROLAMO, MOYER, D. EVANS, McGEEHAN, GOODMAN, MANTZ,
DePASQUALE, CALTAGIRONE, MUSTIO, GEIST, SANTONI, FLECK,
PHILLIPS, HESS, MILLARD, SWANGER, PALLONE, HELM, DONATUCCI,
GEORGE, VEREB, WOJNAROSKI, MOUL, MURT, SIPTROTH, KORTZ,
MAJOR, JAMES AND THOMAS, SEPTEMBER 24, 2007
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
SEPTEMBER 24, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Expressing support for "National Food Safety Education Month" in
2 September 2007.
3 WHEREAS, In 1994, the National Restaurant Association
4 Educational Foundation's (NRAEF) International Food Safety
5 Council created "National Food Safety Education Month" as an
6 annual campaign; and
7 WHEREAS, The purpose of "National Food Safety Education
8 Month" is to strengthen food safety education and training among
9 persons in the restaurant and food service business and to
10 educate the public on the safe handling and preparation of food;
11 and
12 WHEREAS, There are more than 200 known foodborne diseases
13 caused by viruses, toxins and metals and usually stemming from
14 the improper handling, preparation or storage of food; and
15 WHEREAS, Bacteria are the common cause of the foodborne
1 illness; and
2 WHEREAS, Foodborne illness costs the United States economy
3 billions of dollars each year in lost productivity,
4 hospitalization, long-term disability and even death; and
5 WHEREAS, The United States Department of Agriculture
6 estimated that in 2000 medical costs and losses in productivity
7 resulting from five bacterial foodborne pathogens was $6.9
8 billion; and
9 WHEREAS, It is estimated that in 2001 the annual cost of
10 salmonellosis caused by the Salmonella bacteria was $2.14
11 billion, including medical costs, the cost of time lost from
12 work and the cost or value of premature death; and
13 WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
14 estimates that in the United States, there are 76 million
15 illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths per year
16 due to consumption of food contaminated with pathogenic
17 microorganisms; and
18 WHEREAS, Numerous cases have occurred in the United States
19 and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: 2007 - Salmonella from
20 peanut butter in 44 states, 425 cases; 2006 - E. coli in eight
21 states from fresh spinach, 205 cases, including 3 deaths; and
22 2003 - hepatitis A from Chi-Chi's sourced green onions in the
23 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
24 WHEREAS, Up to 2,000 cases of salmonellosis occur each year
25 in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
26 WHEREAS, Following four simple steps, consumers can keep food
27 safe from bacteria: clean--wash hands and surfaces often;
28 separate--do not cross-contaminate; cook--cook to proper
29 temperature; and chill--refrigerate promptly; therefore be it
30 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
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1 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania express full and enthusiastic
2 support for "National Food Safety Education Month" in September
3 2007; and be it further
4 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
5 the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
6 member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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