10 Riskiest Foods In America – An Interview with Dr. Sargent

On October 6, 2009 CNN reported new findings from a Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) report which found that the top 10 riskiest foods regulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration accounted for nearly 40% of all food borne outbreaks in the U.S. between 1990 and 2006. These outbreaks spawned nearly 50,000 illnesses with symptoms ranging from stomach cramps and diarrhea to kidney failure and death. Leafy greens — including lettuce and spinach — top the list. Also included, in descending order are: leafy greens, eggs, tuna, oysters, potatoes, cheese, ice cream, tomatoes, sprouts and berries. Chicagohealers.com Practitioner Dr. Kristina Sargent, D.C. specializes in holistic care and nutritional counseling. I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Sargent and you may read it below:

The Fashionable Bambino: What did you think of the recent study The Center for Science in Public
Interest reported?

Dr. Sargent: I think the study was generally flawed. Not to seem unsympathetic to those who contract a food borne illness, but the CDC estimates there are 76 Million people effected by food borne illness each year – attributed to about 1500 outbreaks and resulting in about 50,000 deaths. The leafy greens issue was attributed to shoppers not washing their produce at home. Potatoes are implicated because of potato salad, storage issues – home-made and store bought – hardly the fault of the lowly potato. Eggs consumed raw alone or in home-made ice cream are the problem – not the ice cream or the egg itself. These issues fall flatly on the head of the consumer, not the food. The risk: benefit must be examined and it is irresponsible to scare the American consumer – >60% overweight and obese – into NOT eating healthy fruits and vegetables.

The Fashionable Bambino: Why are healthy foods such as: leafy greens, eggs, tuna, oysters, potatoes, cheese, ice cream, tomatoes, sprouts and berries topping the most risky foods?

Dr. Sargent: The CSPI took data dating back over 20 years to gather these statistics and some of the food only had a single report. Honestly I
think their point was to gather data to lobby for more government intervention in food safety. Honestly, the USDA, who oversees meat products has many more issues than the fruits and vegetables mentioned in this article. As an aside, I wouldn’t exactly put ice cream in the healthy column of foods.

The Fashionable Bambino: Do you think it is necessary to stop consuming these foods?

Dr. Sargent: NO!

The Fashionable Bambino: If not, then how do people avoid salmonella and ecoli contamination? Especially, if the problem is not even originating in their
homes?

Dr. Sargent: a. They can take appropriate precautions, such as washing their fresh vegetables when they come home from the market; don’t eat raw protein – oysters or eggs.

b. If raw leafy green are too scary, try cooking kale, swiss chard and/or mustard greens, these are very healthy choices, even when cooked.

c. If eating raw is important, choose other vegetables which can be eaten raw such as: cucumbers, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots or any number of yummy vegetables.

d. Buy fresh vegetables from a local farmers market. Wash your vegetable well when you get home. Straight from the field has less chance of processing contamination.

e. Keeping the immune system strong is key. The people who die from food borne illnesses, are generally the ones with the weakened immune system. More than 60% of the immune system surrounds the intestinal tract to help prevent illnesses from contamination. Take probiotics on a regular basis

The Fashionable Bambino: Just what is happening to food? Where is the leak in the food chain and what do you think will solve the problem(s)?

Dr. Sargent: There are several factors affecting our food supply. First, the consumer has chosen to put convenience ahead of nutrition. In other words, it is more important to have ready to go, “pre-washed”, “squeaky clean” spinach in a re-sealable plastic bag than to take plain “bunch” of spinach home and clean it. The convenience factor wins every time. So, food must be more exposed to more processing, leaving more room for contamination. Second, there are only about 4-6 primary corporations growing and processing our food. That gives them a lot of political power to lobby for exactly what they need without regard to the consumer. These corporations are much more beholden to their stockholders than the average consumer. Herein lies the rub, the corporations growing the food, also
process and advertise the food. There is little competition, so they can create the standards and by which all of the processes occur – from farming to advertising the philosophy is the profit not the health of the consumer. To solve most problems in this country we have to involve the masses. If the masses are not happy with the way their food is processed we have to speak up to our congressmen and senators, get involved with the issues that are important to you and take a stand. We can
also change policy with our wallets. We do not have to purchase that which has proven to be unhealthy in the past. We can choose to spend our money on local farmers instead of at the mega grocery chains.

The Fashionable Bambino: Would you like to offer any closing nutritional advice or recommendations?

Dr. Sargent: Honestly, to return to something I mentioned in the first answer; 50,000 people die each year from food borne illness, but according to the CDC Heart disease: 631,636; Cancer: 559,888; Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 137,119; and Diabetes: 72,449 add up to over 1 million deaths per year and 90% of these chronic illnesses are linked to poor diet and lack of exercise. I think the risk:benefit is clear. It is healthier to eat fruits and vegetable than to be frightened by the food supply. If you are careful and use common sense most food borne illness can be avoided.

The Fashionable Bambino: Thank you very much for your time, Dr. Sargent.

Dr. Kristina Sargent graduated from the University of Central Florida in 1988 with degrees in Biology and Psychology, and from National University of Health
Sciences in 1992 with a BS in Human Biology and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. She has taken hundreds of hours in Post-Graduate Nutrition, Functional Medicine and Internal Medicine and Diagnosis and is currently pursuing a post-doctoral Master’s in Advanced Clinical Practice.
http://www.chicagohealers.com/integrative-alternative-holistic-medicine/rest or-healing-centre-practitioners/#1

Resources:

http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/06/news/companies/riskiest_foods/index.htm?post

Photos compliments of Theresa Gould. Copyright© 2009 Theresa Gould