Ordering one Caesar salad; Hold the bacteria!

Hello All,

I originally started this blog with the intention to discuss the condition of food safety in our great nation, thus the title of California Food for Thought. Most recently, I've been selfishly distracted on eradicating Blastocystis from my fourth-grade daughter, Samantha's colon. It's been quite an indulgence, every once in a while I have an "Ah Ha" moment inspiring me to share what I've learned.

I've been in communications with people around the globe, such as Jackie Delaney of www.badbugs.org, Paul Johnson of http://blastocystis-relief.com/, Dave Hompes who had Blastocystis along with H. Pylori. His site at http://www.blastocystis-symptoms.com/ allows you to ask any question about Blastocystis and offers a free eBook download for your troubles. There's also, Ken Boorom at www.bhomcenter.org. Ken moved to Oregon where he and two of his children contracted the infection.

I encourage you to research this parasite and the resulting condition of Blastocystosis since the prevalence has grown from 2.6% in 1987 to 23% in 2000 and "In the United States, a higher incidence of Blastocystis infection has been reported in California and West Coast states." Both of these statistics can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blastocystosis.

Blastocystis is what drew me to the food issue. I've always suspected a two-pound-bag of lettuce grown in Salinas Valley, California, and sold at our local, major grocery store.

Consumer Union has another petition out addressing this issue. Please check this link out to tell our government how important it is to clean up our food supply:
https://secure.consumersunion.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=2231&autologin=true&JServSessionIdr004=4chha9ao6a.app46a

Please also sign up to receive automated emails for Consumer Union. This will make it easy for you to make your voice heard.

The issue of leafy greens is especially dear to my heart because of my daughter's struggles on a daily basis as a result of eating "healthy". Everyone, including Oprah, is touting the benefits of eating "right". Mom's and dad's are providing lettuce to their children, unaware of the infectious diseases to which they are exposing them. The major brand that produces the lettuce that Samantha ate even has televised commercials and is still prominently displayed on our grocery stores' shelves.

Here's a few more articles about lettuce:
http://www.alternet.org/story/145526/is_there_sh*t_in_your_salad_39%25_of_bagged_salads_have_too_much_fecal_bacteria

Here's an October 2009 entitled, "Leafy Greens, Eggs, & Tuna Top List of Riskiest FDA-Regulated FoodsLeafy Greens, Eggs, & Tuna Top List of Riskiest FDA-Regulated Foods"
http://www.cspinet.org/new/200910061.html

Lettuce is offered at our school cafeterias, on sandwiches at Togo's, Subway, Quiznos, and on the Big Mac. My family's motto now, "HOLD THE LETTUCE!"