Food and Nutrition – NYU GPH Journal of Public Health Disasters

December 25, 2024

EPA Seeks to Limit on Pesticide Harmful to Health

In an effort to balance public health and agricultural needs, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new regulations limiting the use of chlorpyrifos, a pesticide widely applied in farming. This tentative policy would allow the use of chlorpyrifos on 11 specific crops—alfalfa, apple, asparagus, cherry, citrus, cotton, peach, soybean, strawberry, sugar beets and wheat—while prohibiting its use on other crops. If enacted, these reforms are projected to reduce the annual use of insecticides from 5.3 million pounds to 3.9 million pounds—a 70% reduction from the total historical amount. While valued for its affordability and effectiveness in killing insects and pests, the usage of chlorpyrifos remains a topic amid controversial debate due to its blatant risk to human health.

December 25, 2024December 25, 2024

Saba Girma, Catherine Reyes, and Emily Tannenhauser’s Avian Flu Disaster Response Plan

Introduction: The town of Litchfield, Connecticut, is home to agricultural communities, including the Litchfield Farm Community, where avian influenza (bird flu) poses a significant risk. This highly contagious viral disease affects poultry, with potential zoonotic transmission to humans, leading to severe public health risks. Human cases of avian influenza can lead to severe respiratory illness and carries a high mortality rate if not promptly treated.

December 23, 2024December 23, 2024

Deshara Thomas’ Case Study on 1984 Salmonella Outbreak

Thomas’ precis focuses on a 1984 salmonella outbreak in Dallas, Oregon. Members of a religious cult in the region intentionally caused the spread of salmonella. Thomas evaluates the event’s details, emphasizing the need for collaboration between local and state health departments, public health practitioners, and law enforcement agencies to prevent similar acts in the future.

December 13, 2024December 13, 2024

CDC Warns about E.coli Outbreak Among Large Distributors

The United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) has issued multiple warnings since October regarding an E. coli contamination of multiple food products and produce. The CDC has sent out notices for specific farmers and corporations to stay clear of certain products. In addition, the largest fast food chain in the U.S., McDonalds, has been found to have E. coli contaminants in specific burgers. With the severity of the E. coli outbreak being at record levels in recent years, the CDC urges consumers to stay cautious until further notice.

December 9, 2024December 9, 2024

History and Controversy of Fluoride in Drinking Water

Water fluoridation, the controlled addition of fluoride to public water supplies, has been a cornerstone of public health initiatives aimed at reducing dental decay. Initiated in the United States in 1945, it has since been adopted in numerous countries, though not without controversy. In light of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services ahead of the second administration for incoming-President Donald Trump, both critics and supporters have pointed to Kennedy’s pronounced opposition to the fluoridation of water. Safety and health experts now share concerns about what this will mean for the future of public health.

October 24, 2024October 24, 2024

Ameisha O’Connor’s Case Study on Childhood Cancer in New Jersey

In 1995, the New Jersey Department of Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry began an investigation into the growing concerns about elevated rates of childhood cancer in the New Jersey region. The investigation was a response to resident concerns about water environmental pollution. The research focused on industrial sites in the area that were ultimately found responsible for significant contamination.

October 8, 2024October 8, 2024

Listeria Outbreak in Boar’s Head Products Kills 10

In July 2024, Boar’s Head, a prominent deli meat producer, became the center of a serious Listeria outbreak linked to its liverwurst and other deli products. The contamination was traced back to a facility in Virginia, prompting the recall of millions of pounds of deli meats. Affected products were distributed across 19 states, resulting in at least 34 hospitalizations and 10 deaths. This outbreak is one of the largest food-related Listeria incidents in the U.S. in recent years, with cases particularly concentrated in New York, Illinois, and New Jersey. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) played a pivotal role in identifying Boar’s Head liverwurst as a primary source after laboratory tests confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

July 8, 2024July 10, 2024

Afreen Khimani, Samantha Whitegeese, and Sara Merken’s Emergency Response Plan on Avian Flu in Michigan

Introduction: Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu H5N1 (HPAI) is a disease that is caused by the avian influenza Type A virus, which spreads in wild aquatic birds as well as domestic poultry, with rare, sporadic infections in humans. Avian flu is spread to humans through interaction with saliva, mucous, and feces of infected birds. Those with frequent contact with cows and birds are at higher risk for developing avian flu. In the United States between April 1, 2024 and May 29, 2024, there have been three human cases, all contracting avian flu after contact with dairy cows. In order to monitor H5N1 activity in humans, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is utilizing the flu surveillance system.

July 3, 2024July 3, 2024

Arsenic Contamination of Food and Water Growing Public Health Concern

Exposure to arsenic, a naturally occurring element, is linked to various adverse health effects, including many forms of cancer. People are commonly exposed to arsenic through contaminated food and water, which makes it a grave public health concern.