Overview

Tainted peanuts, deadly hamburgers, recalled tomatoes. Every year new problems erupt with the safety of the foods we eat and water we drink. Widespread recalls occur when food becomes infected by bacteria and viruses. Water supplies are turned off when parasites are detected. As USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper noted, The increasing reports of illness, many of them caused by food-borne bugs, are in part a result of global food distribution, which allows unusual microbes to ride into the USA on fresh produce, and of better technology, which allows doctors to identify disease-causing organisms. Most people who eat or drink contaminated food or water end up with uncomfortable symptoms, such as diarrhea or vomiting. But sometimes, particularly in young and old people, the microbes can cause lifetime problems and even death. In this book, you'll read case studies involving many of the diseases that can be caused by ingesting unsafe foods. You'll also find out what happens when a problem is detected, how government agencies attempt to inspect and protect our food supplies, and what we can do to carefully prepare and handle foods to keep ourselves safe.

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9780822572909

Table of Contents

Reviews

This book, published by USA Today, is a highly readable and succinct review of foodborne diseases and how they may be prevented. Each chapter starts with a personalized, often heartbreaking, story of what can happen when someone contracts one of the diseases discussed. In addition, there are news stories taken from USA Today throughout the text that add interest. The diseases covered are typhoid and other salmonella infections, cholera, E. coli O157, campylobacteriosis, and the norovirus infections. In discussing the foodborne viruses, the text mentions that these are often called stomach flu, but a great opportunity to dispel the notion that these have anything to do with flu is missed. This is a point that should be made at every opportunity! The organisms causing food poisoning are also discussed, and the differences between a food intoxication and a foodborne infection are very satisfactorily explained. Parasites are discussed as well, with the lead story being the remarkable contamination of the Milwaukee water supply by Cryptosporidia. There is also a credible section on prions. Last, there is a long section on preparing food safely. Where the book comes up a bit short (and this is true of many popular science publications) is in its description of where our knowledge comes from--that is, in how the volume presents the scientific method. An example is the story of John Snow and the Broad Street pump, about which it is said, 'This was more than a guess on Snow's part, as he'd done some valuable research to prove his point.' Again, a great opportunity, this time to show Snow's maps and discuss his years of work, was lost. However, for a description of the many diseases and their causes, the book is highly useful. Its $34.60 price may make it somewhat inaccessible, however. --Science Books & Films --Journal This series mimics USA Today in its readability, though the books' length and breadth render them more suited to fact-finding than to pleasure reading. The language is straightforward and objective. Each well-researched volume is liberally sprinkled with relevant articles and 'snapshots' (graphs showing statistical breakdowns of the topic at hand) from the newspaper, providing a competent introduction to primary-source material. Maps, charts, and color photographs make frequent appearances, adding a strong visual component. --School Library Journal, Series Made Simple --Journal Gone are the days when all we had to worry about was getting the measles or mumps. This series covers some new (and old) health concerns that face us today. Each title includes information about symptoms, transmission, prevention, treatment, and how to protect yourself from getting these diseases. Included in each book are numerous color and b&w photos and USA TODAY sidebars, articles, personal stories and graphics. Hepatitis covers all forms of the condition and how easy it is to contract. In Food Poisoning and Foodborne Diseases, we are warned about contaminated foods and water and how the government works to keep us safe. Influenza covers everything from swine flu to bird flu to last year's H1N1 and how it affected our world. These books are easy to read and for those who enjoy USA TODAY, these books will be a first choice. For a tight budget, these will be a great substitute for larger, costly health books. Bibliography. Glossary. Websites. Index. Recommended. --Library Media Connection --Journal

Gone are the days when all we had to worry about was getting the measles or mumps. This series covers some new (and old) health concerns that face us today. Each title includes information about symptoms, transmission, prevention, treatment, and how to protect yourself from getting these diseases. Included in each book are numerous color and b&w photos and USA TODAY sidebars, articles, personal stories and graphics. Hepatitis covers all forms of the condition and how easy it is to contract. In Food Poisoning and Foodborne Diseases, we are warned about contaminated foods and water and how the government works to keep us safe. Influenza covers everything from swine flu to bird flu to last year's H1N1 and how it affected our world. These books are easy to read and for those who enjoy USA TODAY, these books will be a first choice. For a tight budget, these will be a great substitute for larger, costly health books. Bibliography. Glossary. Websites. Index. Recommended. --Library Media Connection --Journal This book, published by USA Today, is a highly readable and succinct review of foodborne diseases and how they may be prevented. Each chapter starts with a personalized, often heartbreaking, story of what can happen when someone contracts one of the diseases discussed. In addition, there are news stories taken from USA Today throughout the text that add interest. The diseases covered are typhoid and other salmonella infections, cholera, E. coli O157, campylobacteriosis, and the norovirus infections. In discussing the foodborne viruses, the text mentions that these are often called stomach flu, but a great opportunity to dispel the notion that these have anything to do with flu is missed. This is a point that should be made at every opportunity! The organisms causing food poisoning are also discussed, and the differences between a food intoxication and a foodborne infection are very satisfactorily explained. Parasites are discussed as well, with the lead story being the remarkable contamination of the Milwaukee water supply by Cryptosporidia. There is also a credible section on prions. Last, there is a long section on preparing food safely. Where the book comes up a bit short (and this is true of many popular science publications) is in its description of where our knowledge comes from--that is, in how the volume presents the scientific method. An example is the story of John Snow and the Broad Street pump, about which it is said, 'This was more than a guess on Snow's part, as he'd done some valuable research to prove his point.' Again, a great opportunity, this time to show Snow's maps and discuss his years of work, was lost. However, for a description of the many diseases and their causes, the book is highly useful. Its $34.60 price may make it somewhat inaccessible, however. --Science Books & Films --Journal This series mimics USA Today in its readability, though the books' length and breadth render them more suited to fact-finding than to pleasure reading. The language is straightforward and objective. Each well-researched volume is liberally sprinkled with relevant articles and 'snapshots' (graphs showing statistical breakdowns of the topic at hand) from the newspaper, providing a competent introduction to primary-source material. Maps, charts, and color photographs make frequent appearances, adding a strong visual component. --School Library Journal, Series Made Simple --Journal

This series mimics USA Today in its readability, though the books' length and breadth render them more suited to fact-finding than to pleasure reading. The language is straightforward and objective. Each well-researched volume is liberally sprinkled with relevant articles and 'snapshots' (graphs showing statistical breakdowns of the topic at hand) from the newspaper, providing a competent introduction to primary-source material. Maps, charts, and color photographs make frequent appearances, adding a strong visual component. --School Library Journal, Series Made Simple --Journal Gone are the days when all we had to worry about was getting the measles or mumps. This series covers some new (and old) health concerns that face us today. Each title includes information about symptoms, transmission, prevention, treatment, and how to protect yourself from getting these diseases. Included in each book are numerous color and b&w photos and USA TODAY sidebars, articles, personal stories and graphics. Hepatitis covers all forms of the condition and how easy it is to contract. In Food Poisoning and Foodborne Diseases, we are warned about contaminated foods and water and how the government works to keep us safe. Influenza covers everything from swine flu to bird flu to last year's H1N1 and how it affected our world. These books are easy to read and for those who enjoy USA TODAY, these books will be a first choice. For a tight budget, these will be a great substitute for larger, costly health books. Bibliography. Glossary. Websites. Index. Recommended. --Library Media Connection --Journal This book, published by USA Today, is a highly readable and succinct review of foodborne diseases and how they may be prevented. Each chapter starts with a personalized, often heartbreaking, story of what can happen when someone contracts one of the diseases discussed. In addition, there are news stories taken from USA Today throughout the text that add interest. The diseases covered are typhoid and other salmonella infections, cholera, E. coli O157, campylobacteriosis, and the norovirus infections. In discussing the foodborne viruses, the text mentions that these are often called stomach flu, but a great opportunity to dispel the notion that these have anything to do with flu is missed. This is a point that should be made at every opportunity! The organisms causing food poisoning are also discussed, and the differences between a food intoxication and a foodborne infection are very satisfactorily explained. Parasites are discussed as well, with the lead story being the remarkable contamination of the Milwaukee water supply by Cryptosporidia. There is also a credible section on prions. Last, there is a long section on preparing food safely. Where the book comes up a bit short (and this is true of many popular science publications) is in its description of where our knowledge comes from--that is, in how the volume presents the scientific method. An example is the story of John Snow and the Broad Street pump, about which it is said, 'This was more than a guess on Snow's part, as he'd done some valuable research to prove his point.' Again, a great opportunity, this time to show Snow's maps and discuss his years of work, was lost. However, for a description of the many diseases and their causes, the book is highly useful. Its $34.60 price may make it somewhat inaccessible, however. --Science Books & Films --Journal

Author Information

Award-winning nonfiction children's book author Elaine Landau has written over 300 books for young readers. She worked as a newspaper reporter, a children's book editor, and a youth services librarian before becoming a full time author.

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