Foodborne illness (also foodborne disease) is any illness resulting from the consumption of food. Foodborne illness is commonly called food poisoning, even though the physiological effects of foodborne illness are not always caused by poisons (toxins). True food poisoning occurs when a person ingests a contaminating chemical or a natural toxin, while most cases of foodborne illness are caused by a variety of foodborne pathogenic bacteria, viruses, prions or parasites that contaminate food. Such contamination usually arises from improper handling, preparation, or food storage. Good hygiene practices before, during, and after food preparation can reduce the chances of contracting an illness. The action of monitoring food to ensure that it will not cause foodborne illness is known as food safety. Foodborne disease can also be caused by a large variety of toxins that affect the environment. For foodborne illness caused by chemicals, see Food contaminants.Foodborne illness can also be caused by the presence of pesticides or medicines in food, or by unintentionally consuming naturally toxic substances like poisonous mushrooms or reef fish. Some could even come from the skin and nose, like staphylococcus aureus, which could lead to death.

This article lists some foods and beverages that have been banned either because the particular species is endangered or because, if ingested, they can seriously threaten the health, safety, and well-being of the consumer.

It seems that the FDA has approved a Virus-cocktail to Keep Cold-Cuts Clean. Does this seem a little unsettling to anybody else? I realize this article is from last year, but this bit of news appears to have slipped under my radar.

There is a health hazard to our dogs in the form of commercial dog food. According to this article the dog food industry has shown a disregard for the safety of our pets. The article suggest a resource that outlines preventative steps we can take along with recommendations for the safe feeding and care of our dogs.

Zheng Xiaoyu received around $800,000 in cash bribes and approved 6 medicines that turned out to be fake. The article also mentions that China carries out more court-ordered executions than all other nations combined (probably has something to do with also having over one billion residents)

Remember the article from last week talking about the safety (or lack therof) of food coming from China? Well, apparently the Chinese government is dealing with it in a fairly heavy handed manner - DEATH!