Synopsis
Between 81 and 266 million Americans suffer from food poisoning every year. Revelations about mad cow disease, bird flu, and mercury in farm-raised fish make headlines that influence the foods we choose to put on our tables. Meanwhile, the pesticides needed to grow healthy crops may pose risks to the people who are exposed to them. Government agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and private scientific groups publish different, and sometimes conflicting, information about food safety. What are consumers to do? Food Safety examines the many factors that influence this timely debate, such as scientific research, politics, and economics, while giving equal weight to each argument in a manner both objective and engaging.
About the Author:
Victoria Sherrow is a freelance writer and a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers
About the Author:
Alan Marzilli, M.A., J.D., is a program associate with Advocates for Human Potential, Inc.
School Library Journal
Gr 7-10
This well-organized volume discusses many of the questions teens may have about food production, including the use of chemicals, hormones, genetic engineering, and more. The relevant laws are explained, and the pro and con arguments are presented factually, through text that is fairly easy to read. Although this is not a topic that will engage a multitude of readers for pleasure reading, it is timely, and the book will be of interest to students who may have been following recent news stories. It's also an excellent resource for reports, as it includes extensive notes and resource lists and a time line of important U.S. laws about food safety.-Robin Henry, Griffin Middle School, Frisco, TX