How safe is the US food supply?

Health

Food in the US has a bad rap thanks to outbreaks caused by bacteria, plus processing, additives and food dyes, but the food supply is actually much less risky than people think

By Grace Wade


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Produce has been the source of many foodborne illness outbreaks in the US this year

The Image Party/Shutterstock

Apple sauce containing lead. Onions carrying E. coli. Deli meat spreading listeria. The past year has seen alert after alert from US public health officials warning of contamination in the food supply, both in packaged and prepared foods. Going to the grocery store – or even out to eat – has seemingly become a real gamble.

But lately, much of the public worry over food safety has been hijacked by Robert…

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