AAEA: Many Obstacles in Investigating Foodborne Illness

July 24, 2009 - PRLog -- MILWAUKEE – Public health authorities face many challenges in estimating the level of foodborne illness and identifying its sources, according to the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) and the Council on Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics (C-FARE).

Reliance on patient memory, evidence that has been discarded (or eaten) and delays in symptom onset complicate investigations into the causes and reach of foodborne illnesses.

In an AAEA/C-FARE webinar, Tuesday, July 28, economist Sandra Hoffman will discuss national and global responses to food safety and steps to prevent future food safety issues.

“We live in a country that has a globalized food market and high consumer expectations for safety and product innovation,” Hoffman said. “There are compelling substantive reasons—for all parties involved—to want to invest time and effort in developing information on the sources of foodborne illness.”

Hoffmann, a Fellow at Resources for the Future, a nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization based in Washington, DC, notes that mainstream news sources have run a major story on food safety issues almost every month for the past three years. Still, very little is known about which pathogens, and on which foods, have caused past illness outbreaks.

The online session accompanies an article authored by Hoffman in AAEA’s publication Choices, which was released earlier this month. The article is part of a series on emerging food safety issues.

The free supplementary webinar on related topics will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast live from the 2009 AAEA & ACCI Joint Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, Wis. For more information, visit www.aaea.org/outreach/webinars.php.

Choices is an online peer-reviewed magazine published by AAEA for readers interested in the policy and management of agriculture, the food industry, natural resources, rural communities and the environment. Choices is published quarterly and is available free online at www.ChoicesMagazine.org.

The Agricultural & Applied Economics Association is the nation’s largest professional association of agricultural and applied economists. AAEA strives to enhance the skills, knowledge and professional contribution of economists who help society solve problems related to agriculture, food, resources and economic development. Members work in various capacities including universities, private industry and government agencies.

The Council on Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics is a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the presence of the agricultural, natural resources and applied economics profession to matters of federal science policy and budget determination. C-FARE’s governing board includes prominent applied economists representing a wide range of public and private sector interests. C-FARE’s activities strive to encompass the broad interests of the profession.

Note: Read the entire series on food safety at www.ChoicesMagazine.com.

Please contact Kimberly Jahnke at kjahnke@execinc.com or (414) 918-3075 to arrange an interview with Sandra Hoffman or other food safety experts.

# # #

The Agricultural & Applied Economics Association is the nation’s largest professional association of agricultural and applied economists. AAEA strives to enhance the skills, knowledge and professional contribution of economists who help society solve problems related to agriculture, food, resources and economic development. Members work in various capacities including universities, private industry and government agencies.