Back Away From That Spice: the FDA Spice Study Says it Could Kill You

Yesterday's Activist Post article by Heather Callaghan mentioned an FDA Spice Study. Really? the FDA is studying spices? Because "spices are dangerous"?

Why, in fact, yes, they are. Click here to read the FDA Spice Study, a 200 page report on the health dangers presented by spices. Yeah, spices... like cinnamon, nutmeg and cayenne. The FDA Spice Study took 26 paid staff personnel three (3) years to complete. An additional 54 people were thanked for their contributions, the majority of whom are on a US government payroll. Why all the fuss? Here's why:

Foodborne Illness Outbreaks from Microbial Contaminants in Spices: During the period 1973-2010, fourteen reported illness outbreaks were attributed to consumption of pathogen-contaminated spice. Countries reporting outbreaks included Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Serbia, United Kingdom, and the United States. Together, these outbreaks resulted in 1946 reported human illnesses, 128 hospitalizations and two deaths.

To clarify: over a 37-year period in 9 countries with a combined population of 583,000,000, there were 14 "spice outbreaks" resulting in 1,946 illnesses with 128 hospitalizations and 2 deaths. The 1,946 represents .000000333% of the 583 Million. Never mind the infinitesimally small %, the FDA has concluded that spices are dangerous. My math whiz husband just pointed out that the cohort (the 583M) is actually much larger because, in 37 years, people die, new people are born. The infinitesimally small number just got smaller. Honestly, not even Al Gore could make this stuff up. The real danger is revealed in the conclusions drawn by the FDA. For instance, even though only a handful of spices were associated with an outbreak [see below], all spices are implicated. All of them. Because spices, you know, are put on moist food where bacteria can grow. (That is pretty much a direct quote from the study.)

Furthermore, since most spices are imported, the FDA needs to set up shop in all spice-exporting countries and TEACH THESE MORONS HOW TO EXPORT SPICES SAFELY. Never mind that spice merchants have been selling this stuff since before time began. This guy took pictures of a bazaar that's been in operation since 1660. No matter, the FDA knows all. And besides, you know, the FDA has such an impeccable track record for keeping its charges safe and healthy. Forget the fact that, since we've had an FDA, we are fatter and sicker than we've ever been. That was all caused by something else and the FDA is going to do a study on that. Sit tight. Seriously, the FDA Spice Study is ludicrous. It's insane. Outrageously insane. Right out of MAD magazine. And your tax dollars paid for it. Get ready to ante up some more because if the FDA gets to proceed with its plan to save us from our spices, not only will your tax dollars pay for all those trainings, inspections and new regulations, not to mention new offices, employees, travel benefits, vacations, cars and pensions, your spices will become more expensive and less available. Meanwhile, are you safer? Is anyone being protected here? Not in the least. The only thing being protected here is FDA job security and continued expansion. Now that is scary. Populations: Canada 35M, Denmark 5.6M, France 66M, Germany 80M, New Zealand 4.5M, Norway 5M, Serbia 7M, United Kingdom 63M, United States 317M = 583M total