Vegetarianism Does NOT Avoid Food Contaminants Some vegetarians seem to believe that a vegetarian diet reduces the risk of food contaminants According to Down to Earth , “ Flesh foods can harbor contaminants such as hormones, herbicides and pesticides, and antibiotics. As these toxins are all fat-soluble, they concentrate in the fatty flesh of the animals . Not to mention the viruses, bacteria and parasites such as salmonella, trichinella and other worms, and toxoplasmosis parasites .” ( Down to Earth, 2021 ) Fruit and vegetables are also susceptible to contamination Yes, there are horrible diseases potentially lurking in our food supply , including meat (Helmby, 2014), fruit (CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2021; Reddy & Foos, 2021; United States Department of Agriculture, 2020; Machado-Moreira et al, 2019; Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 2008), vegetables (CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2021; Reddy & Foos, 2021; United States Department of Agriculture, 2020; Machado-Moreira et al, 2019; Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 2008), organic produce (Schwarcz, 2017), and even water . (Helmby, 2014; Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 2008) According to the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, “ Opportunities for contamination of fresh produce occur from the field to the processing facility. Loading, transporting, and 1 / 7 unloading produce may introduce contaminants . Damaged produce, soil, debris, and pests may all arrive with the produce when it is delivered to the facility.... Water is used extensively in almost all aspects of processing fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, including during cooling, washing, and conveying of produce Although water may be a useful tool for reducing potential contamination, it may also introduce or spread contaminants .” (Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 2008) According to the CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “The most common types of microbiological contaminants in processed fruit and vegetables are salmonella, Escherichia Coli, listeria and viruses such as norovirus and Hepatitis A viruses .” (CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2021) According to journalist, Laurie Dove, “A casual Google search will unlock a treasure trove of cautionary tales about cold rice. According to a number of forums and message boards, ingesting cold rice could cause a variety of problems. Some people relate tales of vague digestive issues, while others warn of death. It’s just rice. Right? Turns out, there’s a grain of truth to the rumors. The trouble starts with the rice itself, long before it’s cooked. Raw rice can contain a bacterium known as Bacillus cereus, which originates in soil and has spores that can survive even when rice is fully cooked. When cooked rice is left at room temperature, Bacillus cereus spores can develop into full-blown bacteria that produce toxic byproducts . One of these toxic byproducts can cause nausea and vomiting for up to six hours, while the other toxic byproduct results in abdominal pain and diarrhea that persist for up to 15 hours. Both types of symptoms are classified as food poisoning; they usually subside within 24 hours [source: Foodsafety.gov]. In many cases, the ailments caused by Bacillus cereus are mild. However, these symptoms can become deadly for the young, old 2 / 7 and immunocompromised (anyone with a weak immune system) .” (Dove, n.d.) Contaminated fruit and vegetables are more common than contaminated meat In 2019 the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide Data Program reported that “nearly 99 percent of almost 10,000 samples of fresh, frozen and processed foods had pesticide residues ...” , adding that “ Most of these samples were of fruits and vegetables .” (Reddy & Foos, 2021) A 2019 review by Machado-Moreira et al concluded that “RTE foodstuffs, and particularly fresh fruits and vegetables, are notably vulnerable to contamination by microbial pathogens, and play a key role in pathogen transmission . The consumption of these foodstuffs is increasing worldwide, as is the number ofproduce- related disease outbreaks, which has a serious socioeconomic impact .... Considering the reviewed scientific literature, the most common foodstuffs associated with outbreaks can be divided into three major groups: leafy green vegetables, sprouted seeds, and fruits (particularly soft fruits and fruit juices). A range of bacteria, viruses, and protozoan pathogens have been implicated in the RTE food–related disease outbreaks. Escherichia coli O157, several serovars of Salmonella, Shigella sonnei, and S. flexneri, C. jejuni, and L. monocytogenes are the pathogenic bacteria flagged as greatest risk of association with disease outbreaks. NoV and HAV are the viruses posing greatest risk of contamination, whereas Cyclospora and Cryptosporidium were identified as the most relevant protozoa in terms of disease risk .” (Machado-Moreira et al, 2019) 3 / 7 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Produce (a combination of six plant food categories [ Fruits-Nuts, Fungi vegetables, Leafy vegetables, Root vegetables, Sprout vegetables, Vine-Stalk vegetables]) accounted for nearly half of illnesses (46%) .” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018), while“ Meat and poultry, a combination of four animal food categories, Beef, Game, Pork, and Poultry, accounted for fewer illnesses “ (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018), and only “29% of deaths ” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018) Food contamination is a serious global problem Contaminated food causes more than 200 diseases. (World Health Organization, 2020) An estimated 600 million – almost 1 in every 10 people in the world – fall ill after eating contaminated food. (World Health Organization, 2020) Roughly 420 000 worldwide die every year . (World Health Organization, 2020) Children under 5 years of age carry 40% of the food-borne disease burden , with 125 000 deaths every year . (World Health Organization, 2020) $110 billion USD is lost each year in productivity and medical expenses resulting from unsafe food in low- and middle-income countries. (World Health Organization, 2020) 4 / 7 We need to focus on improving food safety regulations The issue of food contamination is an issue that affects us all, regardless of our diet. Globalisation has triggered growing consumer demand for a wider variety of foods, resulting in an increasingly complex and longer global food chain, which creates both opportunities and challenges for food safety. (World Health Organization, 2020) To ensure food safety, we need global cooperation between all the stakeholders, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), the S.A. National Department of Health, the S.A. Department of Trade and Industry, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FZANZ), and the Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), to name but a few. In conclusion, IF possible food contamination serves as an argument against a carnivorous or omnivorous diet, it also serves as an argument against Vegetarianism, Veganism, and swimming References CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2021, February 22) What requirements must processed fruit and vegetables comply with to be allowed on the European market? https://www.cbi.eu/market-information/processed-fruit- vegetables-edible-nuts/buyer-requirements ✔️ 5 / 7 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018, November 5) Attribution of Food-borne Illness: Findings https://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/attribution/attribution-1998 -2008.html ✔️ Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (2008, February) Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetables [U.S. Food & Drug Administration] https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance- documents/guidance-industry-guide-minimize-microbial-food- safety-hazards-fresh-cut-fruits-and-vegetables ✔️ Dove, L.L. (n.d.) Can Eating Cold Rice Kill You? [How Stuff Works] https://health.howstuffworks.com/food-nutrition/can-eating-cold- rice-kill.htm ✔️ Down to Earth (2021, May 9) Top 10 Reasons for Going Veggie https://www.downtoearth.org/go-veggie/top-10-reasons ✔️ NOTE : The article above, by Down To Earth, is riddled with scientific errors, misrepresentations and questionable references – all of which I responded to. Helmby, H. (2014, July 16) The top ten parasites that could be lurking in your food [The Conversation] https://theconversation.com/the- top-ten-parasites-that-could-be-lurking-in-your-food-29015 ✔️ Machado-Moreira, B.; Richards, K,; Brennan, F.; Abram, F.; Burgess, C.M. (2019, October 15) Microbial Contamination of Fresh Produce: What, Where, and How? [Wiley Online Library] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1541-4337.12487 ✔️ 6 / 7 Reddy, S.; Foos, B. (2021, July 29) Eat with Confidence [U.S. Department of Agriculture] https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2020/10/28/eat-confidence ✔️ Schwarcz, J. (2017, March 20) Pesticides in Organic Produce. Office for Science and Society [McGill University] https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/health-environment/pesticides- organic-produce ✔️ United States Department of Agriculture (2020 October) Pesticide Data Program, Annual Summary Calendar Year 2019 https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/ 2019PDPAnnualSummary.pdf ✔️ World Health Organization (2020, April 30) Food safety https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/food-safety ✔️ Revisions 31.08.2022 / 24.07.2025 / 17-18.11.2025 7 / 7