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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| HOUSE RESOLUTION |
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| INTRODUCED BY MYERS, HANNA, BELFANTI, BISHOP, BOBACK, BRADFORD, BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, D. COSTA, CRUZ, DONATUCCI, DRUCKER, D. EVANS, FLECK, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GRUCELA, HELM, HESS, JOHNSON, JOSEPHS, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, McCALL, McGEEHAN, MELIO, MENSCH, MILLARD, MOUL, MURT, M. O'BRIEN, OLIVER, PALLONE, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PAYTON, PRESTON, READSHAW, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, STABACK, SWANGER, THOMAS, VULAKOVICH, WATERS, WHEATLEY, WILLIAMS AND YOUNGBLOOD, AUGUST 31, 2009 |
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| INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, AUGUST 31, 2009 |
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| A RESOLUTION |
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1 | Expressing support for "National Food Safety Education Month" in |
2 | September 2009. |
3 | WHEREAS, In 1994, the National Restaurant Association |
4 | Educational Foundation's (NRAEF) International Food Safety |
5 | Council created "National Food Safety Education Month" as an |
6 | annual campaign; and |
7 | WHEREAS, The purpose of "National Food Safety Education |
8 | Month" is to strengthen food safety education and training among |
9 | persons in the restaurant and food service business and to |
10 | educate the public on the safe handling and preparation of food; |
11 | and |
12 | WHEREAS, There are more than 250 known foodborne diseases |
13 | caused by viruses, toxins and metals and usually stemming from |
14 | the improper handling, preparation or storage of food; and |
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1 | WHEREAS, Bacteria are the common cause of foodborne illness; |
2 | and |
3 | WHEREAS, Foodborne illness costs the United States economy |
4 | five to six billion dollars each year in lost productivity, |
5 | hospitalization, long-term disability and even death; and |
6 | WHEREAS, The United States Department of Agriculture |
7 | estimated that in 2000, medical costs and losses in productivity |
8 | resulting from five bacterial foodborne pathogens was $6.9 |
9 | billion; and |
10 | WHEREAS, It is estimated that in 2001, the annual cost of |
11 | salmonellosis caused by the Salmonella bacteria was $2.14 |
12 | billion, including medical costs, the cost of time lost from |
13 | work and the cost or value of premature death; and |
14 | WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
15 | estimates that in the United States, there are 76 million |
16 | illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths per year |
17 | due to consumption of food contaminated with pathogenic |
18 | microorganisms; and |
19 | WHEREAS, Numerous cases have occurred in the United States |
20 | and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: 2007 - Salmonella from |
21 | peanut butter in 44 states, 425 cases; 2006 - E. coli in eight |
22 | states from fresh spinach, 205 cases, including three deaths; |
23 | and 2003 - hepatitis A from Chi-Chi's sourced green onions in |
24 | the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and |
25 | WHEREAS, Up to 2,000 cases of salmonellosis occur each year |
26 | in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and |
27 | WHEREAS, Following four simple steps, consumers can keep food |
28 | safe from bacteria: clean--wash hands and surfaces often; |
29 | separate--do not cross-contaminate; cook--cook to proper |
30 | temperature; and chill--refrigerate promptly; therefore be it |
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1 | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the |
2 | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania express full and enthusiastic |
3 | support for "National Food Safety Education Month" in September |
4 | 2009; and be it further |
5 | RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to |
6 | the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each |
7 | member of Congress from Pennsylvania. |
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