Bronxites Don’t Put Much Trust in Food

By ELIRA BRUCAJ & ROSA MANCIA

BRONX, July 24 - Many Bronx locals are becoming concerned about their health due to the increasing outbreaks of food poisoning, which has led to the loss of trust in the products they buy.

Recently, an outbreak of botulism was discovered in hot dog chili sauce in food brands such as Castleberry’s, Kroger’s, and Austex.Botulism usually results from bacteria, developing in canned goods, such as canned vegetables and meats. Earlier, an outbreak of a form of salmonella, which is a bacterium that results from ineffective sanitation and improper food preparation, was found in the popular children’s snack,Veggie Booty.

The Food and Drug Association (FDA) is responsible for protecting the public’s health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, and cosmetics. Andrea P. Boyar, associate professor in the department of health at Lehman College, feels that the FDA is an understaffed, “overburdened agency.”

“This is damaging the trust [in consumer products] because we are finding out all sorts of problems that are cropping up,” she said.Andre Perez, a 15-year-old student in the pre-med program at Lehman College, has no faith in the FDA. “The FDA tries to hide everything and they approve some stuff that’s, like, hazardous and [they] want to give you a heart attack and diabetes,” he said.

Many locals are refusing to eat at fast-food restaurants. Worried about their health, they choose alternatives to the popular fast-food chains. “Basically, I don’t eat at fast-food chains at all,” said a 17-year-old student who chose to remain anonymous.

Consumers do not put much trust in the products that they buy, locals say. They are aware of the labels but are more concerned about quality and taste. “I don’t think they put much trust in it [consumer products] at all, because usually, if it looks good, they’ll eat it,”the student said. “That’s all that matters to them.”

Fay Koufalis, manager and co-owner of the Bedford Café and Restaurant, does not believe the outbreaks are affecting her customers or her business. Serving everything from hamburgers to fish to soups,Koufalis trusts her staff and the way their food is prepared and handled. “I know what I’m doing,” she says.

Fast food or not, people are still aware of the fact that eating out is still risky. A police officer at Walton High School trusts in what he buys, but is still skeptical about eating out. “I ate boneless ribs,” he said, “the next day I was sick as a dog.”

The FDA is taking steps to protect public health by notifying the public about what they should and shouldn’t eat. “All you can do is hope that they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” the police officer said. “You just have to trust it, you know?”