Alison A. Evans, ScD, a professor at the Drexel University School of Public Health, recently commented on the challenges and opportunities presented by the recall of certain peanut butter and peanut-containing products that are associated with the recent Salmonella Typhimurium outbreaks. Prof. Evans, an epidemiologist and specialist in infectious diseases, is able to put the recall in public health context in terms of food supply safety and the needed infrastructure to identify and prevent the spread of food-born diseases.
According to Professor Evans, "The outbreak highlights vulnerabilities in our food distribution system, where a seemingly localized problem can have a devastating impact down the line. Many people don't realize the widespread impact that problems at a single plant or farm can have because our food distribution networks are so broad and are becoming broader."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has posted information concerning the outbreak and related product recalls on the "Social Media" section of its website, which can be checked frequently for updates. The salmonella outbreak highlights the benefits we gain from having a robust public health infrastructure that is able to detect and react to outbreaks.
"In this case, it was the existence of reporting and surveillance systems that allowed officials to recognize that there was a common source outbreak occurring. Because the cases were spread over such a wide geographic area, no one local public health department is likely to have detected it or appreciated its breadth, but state and local public health departments play a vital role in that they are the ones responsible for reporting cases rapidly and reliably. Our nationally-linked surveillance systems now allow us to detect such outbreaks sooner and respond faster," said Professor Evans.
However, the outbreak also shows that the system is not perfect and that more can be done to create an even stronger public health infrastructure.
"In outbreak situations such as the current one, we have the opportunity to discover where our food safety and disease reporting systems are failing us and to plan remedial activities," said Professor Evans. "The present Salmonella outbreak will end eventually, but we still need a better, more responsive, more integrated food safety system to prevent these widespread outbreaks."
Professor Evans earned her B.A. in Biological Sciences at the University of Chicago, and her Sc.D in Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. Her research focuses on Hepatitis B and cancer. Prior to joining the School of Public Health, Professor Evans was an Associate Member of the Fox Chase Cancer Center. She is also currently an Adjunct Associate Member of the Fox Chase Cancer Center and Director of Public Health Research at the Hepatitis B Foundation.