Catherine Donnelly

Approximately 450 deaths occur each year from the 1.2 million cases of salmonellosis that occur in United States. Individuals that are particularly susceptible to Salmonella infection include the very young, the very old and people with weakened immune systems.

Catherine Donnelly

I worry about those foods that are going to institutions like hospitals, like nursing homes... I worry about our most vulnerable consumers.

Catherine Donnelly

Pregnant women, the elderly and persons with suppressed immune systems due to cancer treatment, diabetes, liver and kidney disease are just a few examples of conditions that increase the risk for foodborne illness, young children are also vulnerable to developing serious illness from foodborne disease.

Catherine Donnelly

Foods travel longer distances to get from farms to consumers, and pathogens can be introduced along the way, there is wider geographic distribution of centrally produced foods, so when something goes wrong during production, the impacts are widespread.

Catherine Donnelly

Without knowledge of production practices, it is difficult to offer guidance to processors to effectively manage risks. This is why education is key, as consumers demand more products that are fresh and locally produced, providing more hands-on education to producers to effectively manage risks can help produce safer foods.

Catherine Donnelly

Many outbreaks linked to poultry, eggs and meat can be traced back to farms where intensive production practices can lead to [ the ] spread of highly virulent pathogens.

Catherine Donnelly