Consumers need facts on food safety

I AM very concerned that Maree Gallagher’s analysis of the E coli crisis (June 4) calling for the establishment of the “facts” ignores her own advice and refers to “people presenting with a virus”.

For a food safety consultant not to know the difference between a bacterium such as E coli and a virus is both worrisome and disappointing reflecting a serious lack of basic science knowledge.

However, this lack of basic scientific knowledge about food safety is common place. It has been played upon by the EU food sector for many years.

One example is the efforts by Bord Bia (and others) to market organic foods as “good for you”; which was subsequently considered misleading by Advertising Standards Authority.

We urgently need a more scientific and transparent approach to educating consumers about food safety.

One idea would be to post restaurant inspection grades at location and online.

For example since last year, New York City requires restaurants to post letter grades that correspond to scores that it receives from its inspection.

Shane H Morris

Department of Botany and Plant Science

National University of Ireland

Galway