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Last Week Tonight’s John Oliver Eye-Opening Look at the FDA

November 12, 2023 Blog, Featured, Food Safety, Handwashing, Non-featured

In a recent segment on his show, John Oliver took a humorous yet eye-opening look at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and its role in ensuring food safety in the United States. With his trademark wit and incisive commentary, Oliver shed light on the challenges and shortcomings of the FDA, particularly regarding overseeing food safety. In this blog, we’ll delve deeper into the issues raised by John Oliver and explore the state of food safety regulation in the country: how each year, over 46 million are sickened by foodborne illness, and of those, 128,000 are hospitalized, and sadly 3,000 die.

A Diarrhea Dilemma

The segment kicks off by highlighting a gross experience of foodborne illnesses, especially the dreaded symptom—diarrhea. While Oliver uses humor to describe the discomfort, he underscores the seriousness of food safety issues that can lead to widespread illnesses.

Recalls and Public Interest

Oliver draws attention to frequent food recalls, emphasizing that such recalls are essential for public safety. These recalls often make headlines and remind us of the importance of monitoring the safety of our food supply. Oliver humorously remarks on the obviousness of some recalls, like Taco Bell products causing botulism concerns.

FDA’s Shortcomings

One of the key takeaways from this segment is the FDA’s significant shortcomings in ensuring food safety–highlighting the FDA’s sluggish response time in recalling dangerous food items, citing examples where it took an average of 57 days to remove contaminated products from the market.

Abbott’s Baby Formula Scandal

Oliver delves into the shocking case of Abbott, a significant baby formula manufacturer, that shut down its factory over serious safety violations. In this case, the FDA’s delayed response and insufficient oversight are highlighted, revealing glaring flaws in the regulatory system.

Decades of FDA Issues

John Oliver’s research shows that the FDA’s problems have been ongoing. It’s all fun and games, but the historical evidence he presents (including reports dating back to the 1960s) is not funny. Instead, it highlights the consistent issues with the FDA’s food safety regulation. The segment even includes a vintage clip featuring Walter Cronkite discussing the FDA’s problems.

FDA’s Misplaced Priorities

Oliver points out a critical issue—the FDA’s skewed priorities. While the agency oversees food and drugs, the attention and resources allocated to each category are far from equal. This misalignment can have severe consequences for food safety.

Complex Oversight and Division of Responsibilities

Oliver highlights the complexity of food oversight in the United States. He reveals that not all food is under the FDA’s purview, with the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service responsible for a significant portion. The division of responsibilities can be confusing, leading to potential gaps in food safety.

Underfunding and Staffing Issues

The FDA faces a significant challenge due to its limited funding and staffing, especially compared to the USDA’s resources. The segment underscores the disparity and the strain it places on the FDA, which is responsible for a broader range of food products and safety inspections.

Bureaucratic Hurdles

Oliver’s segment also critiques the FDA’s slow bureaucracy, exemplified by a seemingly trivial announcement about French dressing. The process highlights the agency’s inefficiency in making essential decisions promptly.

Leafy Greens and Contamination

Oliver discusses a critical issue—the contamination of leafy greens. Large industrial farms often have livestock and crops nearby, which can lead to pathogen distribution. The FDA’s limited resources and oversight are evident in this scenario, with the potential for widespread contamination.

Lack of Inspection for Produce

While meat can be made safer through cooking, produce like lettuce poses a different challenge. Oliver explains that the FDA’s underfunding and limited staff result in inadequate inspection of produce, making it a potential source of foodborne illnesses

The Need for Overhaul

John Oliver concludes that a massive overhaul of the FDA’s food safety regulation is necessary. Drawing comparisons to the USDA’s reforms following the Jack in the Box incident, he highlights the urgency of addressing the FDA’s shortcomings. However, he acknowledges that achieving such reform will be challenging and may require breaking up the FDA to create a dedicated food safety agency.

Conclusion

Last Week Tonight’s segment on the FDA and food safety shines a humorous yet critical light on the state of food regulation in the United States. While he laces his commentary with humor, the issues are undeniably severe. Food safety is a fundamental concern for public health, and addressing the FDA’s shortcomings is crucial to ensuring the safety of the nation’s food supply. Whether through better funding, improved oversight, or a complete overhaul, there’s no denying that reform is needed to protect consumers from the risk of foodborne illnesses.

To learn more about how PathSpot can revolutionize food safety practices for your business, book a demo today! (https://pathspot.com/request-demo/)

Five Ways to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19

August 17, 2020 COVID-19, Handwashing, Non-featured, Restaurant Resources

As restaurants and bars resume operations across the United States, it’s essential that their operators implement strategies to mitigate risk and keep their employees and customers safe. Though this can evolve into a layered approach, start by encouraging behavior that reduces the spread of COVID-19 in addition to complying with any state or local regulations.

Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 by following the below steps:

Stay Home When Feeling SickTrain your team on when they should stay home and when they can return to work. This includes encouraging those who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in close contact with another person who has the virus to stay home and monitor their health.
Hand Hygiene: Our favorite of the list! Require your team to wash their hands for a full 20 seconds with soap and water. This is also a good time to make sure your handwashing sinks are accessible and fully functional. Proper hand hygiene is going to be crucial in gaining the trust of your customers. Make sure you’re meeting their demands by tracking and measuring your team’s handwashing habits.
Supplies: Support healthy hygiene behaviors by ensuring you have all necessary supplies such as soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, tissues, disinfectant wipes, and no touch trash cans.
Face Coverings & Social Distancing: Require your staff to wear necessary face coverings and consider using physical markers, such as tape or partitions, to encourage a 6-foot distance between people at all times. Face coverings are most important when physical distancing is difficult.
Signage: Post signs in visible locations to remind your team and customers of protective measures that stop the spread of germs. Download this sign to remind your customers and team of handwashing instructions, commonly missed hotspots while also signaling a safe and inclusive workplace.

For more suggestions on how to handle this uncharted territory, check out these CDC guidelines and this FDA checklist. By implementing practices that minimize risk, you’re not only protecting your customers, but also your employees. If you’re interested in learning about how you can increase the frequency and effectiveness of your team’s handwashing, just click the button below.

LET'S TALK

COVID-19 Changes to Handwashing

May 6, 2020 COVID-19, Handwashing, Non-featured

The Spread of COVID-19 Has Changed the Way the World Thinks About Handwashing.

The rapid spread of coronavirus and the quick sellout of hand sanitizer at many retailers has put hand hygiene front and center on the global stage. From viral social media posts to regular announcements from public health officials, the focus on handwashing proves that the oldest hygiene solution in the world is still the most effective.

Sanitizer is not a substitute for soap.

Hand sanitizer was first to fly off the shelves, but hand soap is now one of the most sold out items in stores. Hygiene education surrounding COVID-19 is teaching people everywhere that sanitizer is a convenient secondary option when on-the-go, but handwashing is still the gold standard. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out this teacher’s “bread experiment” that shows the difference between washing with soap and sanitizer and the effects of cross-contamination.

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If it wasn’t 20 seconds, you didn’t wash your hands.

From Kristin Bell’s viral black light image to Dr. Oz’s tutorials or Kristin Chenoweth’s musical TikTok videos, pop culture icons are joining in the effort to educate the public on proper hand hygiene. Thanks to regular reminders from the CDC, the WHO, and a few key visuals, the public is gaining a much deeper understanding of the importance of a full 20-second handwash.

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Action Items to Meet the New Standard

With a heightened focus and education on hand hygiene, consumers will have a higher expectation for handwashing in the food industry. PathSpot has compiled aggregate data from scanning millions of hands. We recently released a graphic showing the most frequent contamination “hot spots” that are missed during handwashing.

With this knowledge comes power! Here are some actionable steps you can take at home or with your food handling team to level up your hand hygiene practices.

handwashing+commonly+missed+hot+spots+and +tips+tools

Clean & clip nails

According to PathSpot data, fingertips were the most common source of contamination. Regular nail grooming to avoid accumulating bacteria under long fingernails and using a nail brush like this one with every handwash are great ways to tackle this problem.

Avoid nail polish and fake nails

Food handling teams may prohibit the use of nail polish or fake nails as bacteria and contamination love to cling to the ridges of nail polish or in the microscopic cracks in the paint. For consumers that love their acrylic nails, it’s important to adopt a regular cleaning habit to remove contamination the collects under the nails.

Remove jewelry or sanitize daily

Jewelry is another great place for bacteria to accumulate and even with regular handwashing, bacteria is more difficult to remove when wearing rings. For food handlers, removal of all hand jewelry is important. For the consumer, it will help to take off and sanitize jewelry with an anti-bacterial wipe every day.

Don’t forget your wrists

The most commonly overlooked area in handwashing isn’t even on your hands – it’s your wrists! While they may seem safe, most experts recommend that handwashing should go up to 2 inches past the edge of your palms.

Download a free copy of the handwashing “Hot Spots” sign for your team

If you are interested in learning more about how the PathSpot hand scanner can detect contamination and ensure handwashing frequency & effectiveness on your team, let us know how we can help!

Coronavirus Updates from NRN to QSR Magazine

March 20, 2020 COVID-19, Handwashing, Non-featured

*Please note the numbers in this post were updated March 13th, 2020. The state of COVID-19 in the US has and will continue to dramatically evolve each day. We hope you find this snapshot in time helpful, and for the latest details, please check out more resources at pathspottech.com/resources/coronavirus.

Taking Action During a Pandemic

Operators throughout the food industry are looking for ways to protect their customers and team from COVID-19 and demonstrate their ongoing commitment to food safety and handwashing best practices. This week, PathSpot had the opportunity to help educate the industry on how to prepare for an outbreak— read more below.

Maintain Handwashing as Priority #1

QSR Magazine: Here’s How Your Brand Should Prepare for COVID-19

“‘We’ve analyzed millions of hand washes at restaurants across the country, and from that data, we’ve gone a little deeper.’ Contamination, Schindler says, can get stuck underneath jewelry, under fingernails, in the crevices of hands, and around nail polish.”

Use Tools to Monitor Critical Safety Practices

Nation’s Restaurant News: These 4 Tools Can Help Restaurants Combat Coronavirus

“New smart technologies and apps could bring your sanitation protocols to the next level during this epidemic.”

Align Motivation for Sick Workers to Stay Home

CNBC: Restaurants rethink paid sick-leave policies as coronavirus outbreak spreads

“As the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States rises, companies are reevaluating their sick-leave policies for hourly workers or implementing paid leave for quarantined employees.”

Communicate Efforts to Customers

Restaurant Business: What Should Restaurants Do During the Coronavirus Pandemic?

“Many operators are communicating calming messages to their customers, ensuring they understand that the restaurant is undertaking proper cleaning and hygiene procedures.” Many PathSpot partners, for example, are wearing “My Hands Are Clean” pins to show guests that they’re going above and beyond to prioritize handwashing.

Ensure Handwashing Compliance

We know handwashing is the most impactful way to prevent the spread of illness, but it’s hard to know for sure if it’s happening well (if at all). PathSpot verifies and monitors handwashing so you can assure your team and customers that you’re taking measures to verify food is handled with clean, contaminant-free hands.

Screen Shot 2020-03-19 at 2.53.17 PM.png — The PathSpot hand scanner detects fecal contamination that transmits illness. Employees scan hands to check for contamination with a result in 2 seconds. Real-time alerts and a live data dashboard give managers the visibility they need to ensure frequent, effective handwashing and prevent the spread of illness.

MORE INFORMATION

Coronavirus / COVID-19 Facts for Food Service

March 8, 2020 COVID-19, Handwashing, Non-featured, Vetting PathSpot for Your Company

*Please note the numbers in this post were updated March 4th, 2020. The state of COVID-19 in the US has and will continue to dramatically evolve each day. We hope you find this snapshot in time helpful, and for the latest details, please check out more resources at pathspottech.com/resources/coronavirus/

Nearly 100,000 cases of Coronavirus have been confirmed since December 2019 across 97 countries and six continents resulting in over 3,000 deaths . This informational sheet summarizes facts and best practices for the food service industry in preparation for the spreading virus. As a leader in hand hygiene verification, PathSpot strongly encourages thorough handwashing for disease prevention.

How Does Coronavirus Spread?

Coronavirus is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes, as well as from contact with contaminated surfaces.

According to the Center for Disease Control, the virus can also be transmitted through the fecal-oral route. This means that stool may contaminate hands, food, or water.

What Can the Food Industry Do?

Infected food workers could introduce the virus to food by coughing and sneezing, or through hand contact, unless they strictly follow the recommended personal hygiene practices.

“To protect yourself against the new coronavirus, you should frequently clean your hands. Once your hands are cleaned, you should dry them thoroughly by using paper towels.”

— World Health Organization

Government agencies recommend food businesses:

Ensure staff and contractors report any physical signs or symptoms, before starting work
Provide the correct facilities to enable staff to practice good hygiene
Ensure effective supervision of staff to reinforce hygienic practices

“Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.”

— Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

How PathSpot Can Help

Ineffective handwashing is a major contributor to the spread of illness.

In an FDA study on handwashing in restaurants, it was found that 73% of handwashes fail to meet the quality standards required to be effective— when using gloves, compliance falls to just 16%.

PathSpot detects contamination and verifies effective handwashing.

After washing and drying their hands, team members place their hands under the PathSpot hand scanner to check for fecal contamination that transmits Norovirus, E.coli, Salmonella, other foodborne illnesses, and Coronavirus.

Instant Feedback

The 2-second scan gives an instant result. When contamination is detected, team members are directed to rewash and rescan before returning to work.

Data-Driven Insights

On the PathSpot Dashboard, managers can see the frequency and efficacy of handwashing at the team and individual level. Operators will have real-time visibility into handwashing and safety so they can ensure staff are following good personal hygiene practices that reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Learning From Data

PathSpot has generated individualized handwashing data for hundreds of restaurants across the US and beyond. This data provides specific, actionable improvements for managers and team leaders to improve sanitation and reduce the spread of illness.

In an aggregated and anonymous form, this data helps any food provider learn from common trends and food safety mistakes. In this summary, PathSpot shares lessons learned from data on millions of handwashes.

When is Contamination Most Likely?

PathSpot most frequently detects contamination in the early morning and during shift changes— it’s important to ensure team members wash their hands at the start of each shift!

Contamination is regularly detected at a higher rate during the initial period after PathSpot has been installed. Providing real-time feedback on handwashing quality empowers team members with the knowledge to reduce contamination rates in the future.

Another major factor in handwashing effectiveness is manager turnover. When team leaders change, handwashing rates change dramatically (sometimes for the better!).

How Can Handwashing Be Improved?

Remove Rings & Jewelry

PathSpot commonly detects contamination on or near rings. Recent studies involving healthcare workers also found that ring wearing is associated with an increased risk of hand contamination.

Scrub Between Fingers & Under Fingernails

The CDC recommends scrubbing the underside of fingernails with soap and water (or a nail brush) during every handwash. PathSpot also detects contamination on the webs between fingers, which merit additional focus during handwashing.

Avoid Recontamination

After completing a full, 20-second handwash with warm water and a generous amount of soap, it is important to prevent recontamination before returning to work. Dry hands with single-use paper towels, and turn off the faucet with paper towels to prevent recontamination.

See here for a PDF fact sheet of this post.

Find more resources on COVID-19 at pathspottech.com/resources/coronavirus/.