Food, Sex and Salmonella: Why Our Food Is Making Us Sick

by David Waltner-Toews

Overview

What sex is to interpersonal relationships, eating is to the human-environment relationship: a consummation of humans’ connection to the living biosphere. But while sticking one’s tongue into a new and exciting environment may be an act as old as the planet, it can also lead to some nasty surprises. In this lively look at foodborne illnesses, David Waltner-Toews discusses food-related problems caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites, including death by puffer fish, rollicking tales of tapeworms, neurological problems brought on by ciguatera poison, and that old standby, botulism. He also examines the chemicals and antibiotics that have entered the food supply and the havoc they can wreak. And to help readers stop problems before they start, he offers common-sense solutions to confronting the complicated issue of foodborne disease. His witty approach makes a deadly serious subject accessible to all readers, while never minimizing the risk.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781553652717
Publisher:	Greystone Books
Publication date:	02/12/2008
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Preface to the Second Edition     1
Preface to the First Edition     6
French Kissing on the First Date
Food, Sex, and Salmonella: What's the Problem?     11
The Voice of the Unseen Guest: How People Get Sick     23
When She Stays for Breakfast
Salmonella Reading in Turkey: Foodborne Infections, Focusing on Salmonella     41
Cows, Cats, and Pure Country Water: E. coli and Other Waterborne Bacterial Infections     54
The Young and the Retching: Foodborne Bacterial Intoxications (Except Botulism)     69
Grandma's Revenge: Botulism     79
It May Be Worms to You: (But It's My Bread and Butter) Parasites     88
Zombies from the Deep: Seafood Toxins     104
When She Moves in
Are We Safe Yet?: Transforming Danger into Risk     119
One Person's Cure, Another Person's Coffin: Antibacterials, Pesticides, and Preservatives     140
Dancing Cat Meets Cadmium Carrot: Heavy Metals     163
Breadwiches, Peanut livers, and Cancer-Free Airline Snacks: Mycotoxins     172
There is a Crack in Everything: Radioactive Contaminants     179
Spicing up the Long-Term Commitment
Risks, Rights, and Righteous Eating: Revisiting Risk     195
Montezuma Rules the World: Deal with It     216
Further Reading     238
Acknowledgments     241
Index     244