Food Safety: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

[@Zephyr77]

"It's more common than you think, and Congress refuses to act." Damn, I feel like I just watched 100 episodes of John Oliver in under 5 seconds

[@RorikH]

The Entirety of History Tonight, with John Oliver.

[@namantherockstar]

John inspires me.. My parents said if i get 60K followers They'd buy me a professional camera for recording..begging u guys , literally Begging...

[@Mene0]

lmao

[@Hola-ro6yv]

John Oliver and his fans are NAMBLAphiles

[@Noms_Chompsky]

Oh they act alright, the GOP acts against it.

[@aslandus]

Honestly, it's kind of astounding how many government problems boil down to Congress refusing to pay for the things they say they want done...

[@WoefulMinion]

It's kind of nauseating how many government problems are due to Congress being paid by companies and trade groups to refuse to pay for regulations.

[@J.M.-nb4gw]

Welcome to America since at least the Reagan administration of corporate whore criminals

[@nicholasfarrell5981]

I mean, for one half of Congress that's the entire point. They run for office claiming that government doesn't work, and then destroy it to prove their alleged point.

[@remyllebeau77]

We can't afford anything that we are doing. I know it's hard for leftists to understand, but when you are in massive debt, the last thing you should be trying to do is spend even more money.

[@nicholase2868]

​@@remyllebeau77then can we cut military spending, close down a bunch of nuclear missile silos, reduce the number of military bases, raise taxes on the rich, and close tax loopholes? Because we can't just cut social programs. Besides, a unified food regulator could be partially funded through fines.

[@Brandon-rc9vp]

As someone who has worked directly in the regulatory FDA world for over 20 years, the agency has been completely taken over by industry. Salaries of investigators are currently paid largely by the industry that they attempt to regulate. Investigators that try to do the right thing are crushed by the politically appointed leaders of the agency. The FDA needs to be completely and adequately funded by the people and reset their mission to serve the American people.

[@Kaoskadosk]

Is it the same for pharma? Because where I've worked (in Sweden) FDA inspections have always been a big deal because of how strict they are and the scope of their inspections. Now they've stopped doing their own inspections though and take Läkemedelsverkets (Swedens regulatory unit) word for GMP compliance. Läkemedelsverket have always been a big deal too though so I wouldn't interpret that as going "easy" on us, just freeing up resources.

[@toriless]

You are confusing the drug division with food and most of what you say is absolutely wrong for the food division which is paid for by the government unlike drugs which charges the manufacturer's they are allowed to regulate fees. You are 100% in regards to this story! 100% Sellers are required to allow samples only. That is all the do. They do not even pay to ship them. You should shut up since you are 100% ignorant about the truth.

[@FloppyDorito]

No surprise that widespread issues in an industry are caused by none other than the greedy owners of the businesses in those sectors.

[@anothergalaxy799]

Yeah, but wouldn't that upset stockholders? They're vastly more important than consumers /s

[@Brandon-rc9vp]

It is slightly worse for pharma, as they have been in a mode where the company seeking approval pays for the cost of such approval for some time in the US. Aside from the anti-regulation political appointees that often lead the administration, the problem with the FDA growing weaker in the US is that they are moving (via the MDSAP system you mentioned using NB audits directly) and obtaining their funding more along the lines of how the NB system has always worked. Industry capture of regulators happened from the outset in the EU with the notified body/company funded approach, which is why FDA inspections historically seemed more serious (my role has been been front seat management rep for audits, and have covered 100s of NB and FDA inspections both in the US and EU/Asia as well as participation in multiple working groups related to CDMCAS and MDSAP integration intending to further unify the MDR, CMDR with 21 CFR 820). What I was mainly getting at is that whenever the people allow their regulators funding to be determined by the corps they are regulating, the best interest of the people aren't always served.@@Kaoskadosk

[@lizzyb.8009]

"it's more common than you think, and Congress refuses to act" works as a byline for half of this show's stories, honestly

[@gregjuillerat5230]

The man needs to work this exact phrase into as many shows as possible with the faintest of winks and absolutely no indication that it's a running gag 😂

[@MaryLove-y9s]

So what food is Congress and their families eating?

[@spacemanx9595]

As a person who's worked in a grocery store for 8+ years, a lot of the safety is put on us low wage hourly workers. The amount of produce I throw away is astounding, and the lack of care customers take when sneezing and coughing RIGHT ON THE FOOD, kids walking up and touching every apple right after they touched the ground. WASH YOUR FRUITS AND VEGGIES EVERY TIME BEFORE EATING.

[@Stephen...]

The amount of management that works through sickness cause they think it's a sign of toughness... like we can't do without them and totally love catching whatever they brought to work. Hell even when I follow company policy and call out when vomitting, I'm made to feel like it's a moral failing and like I should expose everybody else to my bodily fluids. I'm a cashier who interacts with hundreds of people face to face and touches money 🤢... Why has our society decided the onus is always on us who have the least power or control and are just trying to pay our bills and not get fired.

[@broddr]

When I buy loose apples or other fruit I now inspect its entire surface. Twice I’ve found child sized bites taken out of fruit. The parent either is not watching their kid, or not paying attention & just takes the fruit from the kid & puts it back in the bin. And I only take bagged grapes & cherries from the back of the highest shelf, where grubby hands of children can’t reach.

[@elainealibrandi6364]

@@broddr Ugh! I've never thought about the kids' grubby hands issue. But I'm taking it to heart and to the store. Thanks.

[@katiekane5247]

​@@broddrI choose cherries and grapes from several different bags at the back.

[@devinrivera6410]

😂😢

[@DaRealPhillyJawn]

I worked for a company that processed beef and chicken and I'll say this, we had U.S.D.A. Inspectors at the plant and in between shifts the machinery had to be cleaned thoroughly and inspected if the inspector found anything not up to specifications the cleaning crew had to re-wash everything again, delayed the shift start or shut the plant down and sent us home until they were satisfied. They didn't play around.

[@darlenelarochelle4011]

Thank you for that. I hope I'm getting my meat from such a diligent packer. Thank you.

[@toriless]

Same for the drugs section of the FDA. They food section is quite limited except when it comes to imported food. If it fails it gets rejected. It is more random with domestic food due to the lack of resources as the story points out.

[@ikkou111]

I enjoy your name

[@andreware7638]

But they only inspect us once a week and usually only check 2 or 3 machines out of over 100. If you find something on them 3 then yes we know the rest of the machines dirty too. We rarely get put on hold.

[@serendipidus8482]

That's good.

[@Wraiven22]

I’m an industrial hygienist/health and safety professional and it’s insane how limited we are in power and funding. Things that we warn very easily could lead to disasters are routinely ignored to protect profits, and the sad fact is that they end up spending MORE money fixing their mistakes after the fact! Prevention is almost ALWAYS far cheaper! Stupid short sighted executives.

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite.

[@JeanieD]

Because unregulated capitalism.

[@shadowrobot7708]

@@JeanieDquarterly profits are seen as more important than long term profits.

[@gaoxiaen1]

I disagree, except for almost". Google Ford Pinto.

[@Parazeta]

What I wonder: can the US be progressive?

[@AcidGambit419]

I really appreciate the fact he turned off both valves in the proper order before setting the blow torch down

[@themim6699]

I work in a private Laboratory that is part of a larger group of labs across the united states that does the testing for environmental, food, and water safety on behalf of the USDA and FDA regulators. We receive all manner of food from raw meat, fruit/veggies, Nuts, dairy, Wine, beer, and really anything you can imagine. These labs are so understaffed they have workers doing 16hrs shifts back to back. Everyone is exhausted, turn over is high. With the amount of new people coming and going (including management) mistakes are high, safety controls are lax due to everyone being tired and no one caring. Food safety is a shit show every step of the way.

[@toriless]

It is the same at their internal labs except they can not hire anyone right now.

[@LaQuesaDeMI]

That’s awful! They need to pay more, ensure they’re giving great benefits and vacation time, and recruit at some of the top science colleges.

[@ericbartol]

I'm sure it is, themim6699. I'm sure Republicans and the corporations linked to commercial farming are very proud of their legislators they pay to get elected so they can do the corporations favors by cutting spending through de-regulation of banking, real estate, and tons of others including food, drugs and farming. They can either weaken the rules for the corporations, or, in this case among many others, strip the inspectors budgets until there is no one left to build cases or enforce the rules.

[@XzTS-Roostro]

Y'all remember the Pink Sauce lady? Someone once asked if it was FDA regulated, and her response was that it doesn't need to be, because it's a food and not a drug (assuming she thought FDA is short for Federal Drugs Administration).

[@medealkemy]

The entire segment on the Association of Dressings and Sauces I was thinking of that pink monstrosity 😂

[@vectorwolf]

She's also had a running docket of people getting sick from her product too, so it tracks.

[@jaeboogie2786]

🍇 I member' lol.

[@andrewollmann304]

It looked like Pepto-Bismol….are we sure it wasn’t a drug?

[@supersaiyanzero386]

Murica

[@G-Unit1111]

I could totally watch John do an entire segment on the Association Of Sauces And Dressings.

[@leahbobeaa]

Mini web episode perhaps?

[@helenl3193]

Hell, I can imagine them making a series out of it if they wanted, and I'd 100% be down for ALL of it! I'm seeing the condiments as some kinda Real Housewives in a The Office/Parks N Rec. Style setting, maybe animation so we could get maximum John for our buck, but knowing his love of mascots I think he'd rather they go that route. Whatever, I'd watch all of it and buy the t-shirt, novelty bibs/aprons and a plushie of my favourite character(s)! 🤩

[@jaeboogie2786]

I'd happily watch John do a hour long segment on chalk lol. So yeah G-Unit I feel ya buddy. 😊

[@NickFrustration]

then we find out theyve been funding illegal child labour/neo-nazis/dr doom

[@vishaloberoi6710]

I just wanna hear him say “fucked up mustards” again

[@Bzuhl]

There were some VERY INTENSE and specific instructions to John about that blowtorch. You can feel the moment when his brain switch out from joke delivery to "I absolutely need to find the right valve to twist or I'll burn to death"

[@wulfsbane4426]

"You have kids, John....... Why didn't that add weight to the decision?"

[@titotatianajuarez3248]

The lettuce actually withstood the torch very well.

[@ojagodzinski]

because it is basically water

[@wmeuse2375]

​@@ojagodzinskiand ecoli

[@RealJackHQ]

I was about to say 😂🤣🤣🤣

[@elaineb7065]

Lettuces are tough cookies. They outlasted a PM not long ago...

[@ChrisCornell-j9u]

if it still tastes alright maybe they shld start disinfecting it with a blowtorch? 🤔 @@elaineb7065

[@SilentRuth10]

For my food science minor, we had food safety and food law courses where we had to memorize all those "FDA vs USDA" exceptions. That was a wild test! 😂

[@emmaobrien1376]

With captive wildlife (zoos, aquariums, circuses) regulations are enforced by the USDA, APHIS, and NOAA among others. It is extremely confusing and ineffective. 😵‍💫

[@emerynoel567]

@@emmaobrien1376 NOAA the weather guys? They have a say in animal captivity?

[@MsDinesue]

@@emerynoel567O=Oceanic

[@Panzer_the_Merganser]

@@emerynoel567NOAA - Nosey Oversight of Animal Activity

[@stevengaines5856]

pizza, half pepperoni, half cheese, egg on top: go.

[@stevejarred6484]

I worked for the FDA in a District Office from the mid-80's until the early 2000's and I can painfully identify with everything in this story. A lot of the work regarding food safety was passed down to the state and local levels because us in the FDA District offices has more than enough other work to do. Thank you to John and the staff of Last Week Tonight for shining a glaring spotlight on the FDA. I was proud to work for the government by working for the FDA and US Customs and Border Protection over the course of my career. I know things have changed in the years since I left the agency but I also heard peoples' opinions that the FDA's mandates to oversee for veterinary drugs and food safety (for both humans and animals) could be better served by the Department of Agriculture. I frankly don't have any ideas of how to improve food safety or the FDA. That's for people who are younger and much smarter than me. If all of this makes you upset, all can say is not to clean your produce with a blow torch but learn more about what things the FDA is suppose to do and then raise Hell with your Congressional representatives.

[@cytherians]

John Oliver has become much more investigative journalism focused than comedy focused... which annoyed me at first... but he's doing SUCH GREAT WORK in an area that has been begging for it. Really important. If John Oliver and Jon Stewart could team up for a few of them, that would be phenomenal!

[@TutalingS3]

@@cytherians John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite

[@eponymousIme]

When I attended the protests against inhumane detention and caging of immigrants during the administration of Mango Mussolini, I always wanted to dope-slap the people holding signs demanding the elimination of the Customs and Border Enforcement agency. Letting poisonous food and dangerous consumer products into our country seemed like an obviously stupid idea; but some people don't think things through before opening their mouths or hoisting signs suggesting we throw out the baby with the bath water.

[@eponymousIme]

@@cytherians Investigative journalism and comedy are not mutually exclusive. Al Franken did a terrific job highlighting social problems and injustices by comedically skewering the guilty. I wish he were still in Congress.

[@justinkashtock333]

Did you work on the NLEA by chance? I recall my father spending many late nights and weekends for several months working to get that done because Congress gave the FDA hardly any time to implement it and no extra budget or employees to help with it. When it was done they all printed up some "I survived NLEA" t-shirts with a nutritional label on the back. I think I still have one somewhere.

[@Sealedaway]

15:27 It’s like Panera saw this and went ”alright bring out the killer lemonade”

[@QuiteMerryIAm]

🤣

[@AlexMourning5635]

John Oliver is exactly the type of chaotic good I aspire to be. I adore this show so much.

[@BigWolf-hs6zw]

Chaotic good is what the world needs more of. I've had enough of being run by psychopaths and sociopaths lol

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite.

[@Aelcyx]

Look up Wayne Hsiung for a real example of Chaotic Good

[@georgesos]

I wish you every success then. This world needs more than one "j.oliver" .

[@arcanearts9656]

I do love how John Oliver neatly communicates with his face alone that he does not think he should be trusted with a blow torch and he deeply regrets the decisions of those who disagreed with him on that fact.

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite.

[@sethie_shots]

I’m kinda thinking it was lit and ready _the whole show_ 😮

[@InservioLetum]

NGL I trust Jon Oliver with a lot more than any murican. Man calls a spade a spade, and I respect that.

[@toriless]

I agree with him on that. I bet there was quite a bit of coaching going on before the show.

[@TediTheGodfather]

This show is off the rails, and I love it! "You can't sterilize lettuce with a blow torch." John: "Hold my tea." 🤣😂

[@lonnieloveblackdragon]

😂😂💯Salute Mr. John Oliver

[@xzonia1]

When I say John makes my day brighter, I do mean it literally. 😂

[@TediTheGodfather]

@@xzonia1 I felt lost when new episodes stopped.

[@TediTheGodfather]

@@lonnieloveblackdragon indeed!

[@tamthuong4048]

ok

[@TimeBucks]

This has been a huge issue.

[@-dash]

No

[@rodgersoduor8239]

❤❤❤

[@christinesamo1864]

Thumbs up

[@2cultureentertainment937]

👍

[@azeezololade109]

👍

[@rolfsoldaat]

I think one of the problems is that we only punish companies and not the people running them. Stop just slapping companies with fines and put board members responsible behind bars instead.

[@liamolson6753]

Now that!!! sounds like a great idea!!!

[@emkstr]

Our current standard for piercing the corporate veil is way too low, as are the fines we impose on businesses for wrongdoing. Fix both of those and you’ll see companies changing. But I’m not optimistic given lawmakers’ entanglement with corporations and their CEOs.

[@melvinshine9841]

We've been needing to do that for, like, 200 years.

[@nicolashoumard5982]

Don''t forget shareholder

[@shushup6557]

Also fine them double of what they made selling the product, not 2%.

[@spinningninja2]

I love how the egg pizza explosion lasted just a bit longer than Oliver expected

[@kimberlieweaver2624]

My fav part 🤣

[@LordCarledo]

All these years later and the graphics department is still killing it. Don't suppose they're hiring...?

[@IC3Coffee91]

08:16

[@Syeal7]

Obviously part of the script, but hilarious nonetheless

[@juliebraden6911]

@@LordCarledo not random people from youtube comments, no.

[@meganjones3427]

The restaurant I work in pays a company to come check us randomly multiple times a month, and we consider it a pretty big deal if we miss even a single thing. When we got inspected by the state, the guy was SO complimentary. I'm shocked and disappointed he doesn't see kitchens like ours everywhere.

[@melodye14]

This is a great system but I'm absolutely not shocked kitchens like this aren't more common place. Most restaurants I've worked in do things like change all the dates on outdated food so the health inspector won't take off points.

[@freshcancer713]

I dont care

[@therealaintain]

​@@freshcancer713thanks for sharing

[@elizabethheyenga9277]

you would be amazed how many expensive high end restaurants have terrible practices....

[@susanmolnar9606]

@@therealaintain Hahaha 🤣 great comeback.

[@ashenwuss1651]

Ive been working in the food industry for over 10 years now. I see it all the time. People are a little negligent. Even after covid. It might not seem like much, but avoiding cross contamination and washing hands, and proper dish washing sinks, are all very critical... even if its a small chance mishap. Better safe than sorry. I have an insane immune system. I dont get sick from anything, yet i treat food service as if I'm serving a bunch of immunity-compromised individuals.

[@In.the.darkness_there_is_light]

Thank you for your service. Sincerely.

[@stephaniecarrato349]

All put together it's wild--- some things seem absurd and some under accounted. The problem is that the legislation is subject to experts who may get to testify on the rrecord but it's less work to just scream into the void so yoooooOOOoOOOO

[@steely3506]

I think food service needs to have staffing be treated as a safety issue similar to Healthcare. I worked food service and I saw a lot of corners get cut because of understaffing and overworked people. and a general work culture that emphasized a fast pace over safety and thoroughness. There's only so much that a team that's only 1/4 of ideal staffing can do especially when everyone is exhausted. Also some places don't even train all that much on food safety aside from a few basic points, because they want to put their new employees to work as fast as possible. The restaurant industry has serious issues that can only be resolved by legislation. for the sake of the workers and the people they serve.

[@Aphrovav]

As a person chronically suffering from Crohn's disease, I absolutely agree with John in the dilemma abdominal pains-vomit-diarrhea 😂😂

[@freshcancer713]

Rott in hell

[@occams_lazor]

The IBS sufferers concur and stand with John and our Crohn's Disease brethren.

[@mytube001]

@@occams_lazor @Aphrovav I say, better out than in...

[@frmaha]

Haha I have emetophobia and was absolutely amazed that anyone wouldn’t put vomiting last. Though obviously it all sucks.

[@RuizaHana93]

​@frmaha I'm also an emetophobic and I definitely would leave vomiting for last. It absolutely sucks. Although for us emetophobes, knowing this about the FDA is an absolute nightmare

[@JStorm13]

The FDA also needs to inflict heavy fines for poor food safety practices

[@letschangepoliticsforthebe8366]

yeah claim bankruptcy change name reopen...fine problem solved...

[@inciaradible7144]

Fines? Throw them in jail.

[@declanjones8888]

​@@inciaradible7144That's better.

[@du_san]

​@@inciaradible7144Throw in to jail? EAT EM

[@atafakheri8659]

That would be communism in the eyes of people so not gonna happen

[@cytherians]

Seeing so many people from the food industry chiming in on this Food Safety piece with appreciation just goes to show how great a job John Oliver is doing. I'm so glad he chose to be here rather than the UK. Thanks, John!

[@vectoralphaSec]

Yet it doesn't matter because nothing will get done to fix it.

[@lorenblaine5275]

The way Jack-In-The-Box solved their e-coli problem in the 1990s was not through cleaning up the supply chain or more stringent testing. It was by making each location insure they were getting the patties up to proper internal temps. I'm still a little sad they did not use the slogan I came up with for them: Jack-In-The-Box, we cook the shit out of our burgers !!!

[@karascene13]

For REAL- that's exactly what happened.

[@czechmeoutbabe1997]

you have a blossoming mind

[@karascene13]

No- he's right. They shuttered up the place in Denver, on Evans & Broadway. As I remember, that's where the e coli scandal started. (technically it started in Greeley, CO. - a story for another time) There is another on 6th and Wadsworth if I recall. And a fancy one off of I-70 & Kipling. Anyway - they closed it for YEARS. It just sat there, getting vandalized. Then commercials came on TV. People started going back. It's open way late, so they get all kinds of folks. 🥴😵 I moved from Denver about 3 years ago. I used to love it. However, because of the "devils lettuce," it became a mad place to be. No offence to the lettuce. It's just a mad house now. Glad to be away.

[@ToudaHell]

I would actually eat at somewhere with that slogan. That's literally how you make bear meat safe too 😅.

[@musicauthority674]

I'm curious what you're slogan for Taco Bell would be? that one would be a little bit of a stretch for ya a.

[@Eliphas_Leary]

The episode on Hamster Loneliness is going to be awesome. Half an hour of John talking about what's really inportant.

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite.

[@tracewallace23]

That's why, when my hamster looks lonely, I let it play with my farm cats while I work. Oh how they run, and scream, and sometimes the cats help the hamster to fly. 😁 (I just imagine the fun that they're having while I'm at work)🤪 Oddly enough, I can't always find the hamsters when I get home 😭 (I guess they run away 🤷‍♂️). So, afterwards I have to get another hamster. 😢 Maybe next time, I'll let the lonely hamsters play with Sammy Bal Boa. It's so hard to tell when Boa Constrictors are lonely🤔 And since they both have similar cages, no more running away😏

[@wandanaggles9527]

That's the way I feel about the foods I purchase in the stores

[@9sheri9]

​@@tracewallace23The hamsters must be protected at all costs, you beast - shame on you & go stand in the corner right now 😅

[@tracewallace23]

@@9sheri9 but, but, but, I was only trying to hhheeelllpppp 😭😭😭

[@martavdz4972]

I'm European and this is the first time I'm saying this: "Thank God for the European Union and its crazy strict regulations."

[@LabGecko]

Make sure to vote to keep it that way. Those same US companies are trying hard to break EU regulation standards for their profits. Yet I meet more Americans each month that are moving out of the US because the safety and healthcare just aren't worth the risk any more.

[@wellthi]

Bulls we also have corruption, revolving doors, 50000 lobbyist in Eu and plenty of outbreaks, horse meat in regular meat, babies dying with kinder, buitoni etc.

[@wellthi]

We just don't have a Julien Oliver to burn dem like lettuce

[@Paul-jo5gq]

Haaaa! Tell this to that corner kebab place in Mitte or Alexanderplatz in Berlin OR some eatery in Severozapaden in Bulgaria. Cmooon…

[@shaec3405]

On food SAFETY. **NOT FREEDOM OF SPEACH**

[@Ceelle2]

My Mom was a secretary/typist for FDA in the 60's. I still make decisions based on the reports she read while typing her bosses reports (8 bosses, by the way, cost cutting).

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite

[@Sisteryoda1440]

Sounds like the cost cutting should be in reducing the number of bosses!

[@flufwix]

Okay I think you need to share that information … please!

[@justinkashtock333]

Yeah, my dad worked for the FDA for 30 years and retired a while back. He last worked in the division of plant products and plant product safety. Oh the stories I can tell, LoL. Some of these companies are just insane. One involved a stowaway in the cargo hold of a ship transporting cocoa beans, and that stowaway died along the way and his body exploded all over the beans. The question then was if the beans would be considered safe for consumption if cleaned before processing into confections and what cleaning would be considered sufficient if that was the case. Just one among many stories over the years.

[@delwarmia9393]

As a panera employee.his description of ourr customers is so accurate❤

[@EleroyGreen]

I am not from US and until today I legitimately thought that FDA does stand for federal drug administration. Because all I ever heard of about this organisation is what actions they do for drugs regulations.

[@theresehopkins1581]

There are no real food regulations. Eat organic.

[@cantgetitupanymore3244]

​@@theresehopkins1581you mean eat shit?

[@RyviusRan]

@@theresehopkins1581 Organic is just a loose term that companies use to charge more. It's like "carbon neutral". There are plenty of loopholes so don't just trust a flimsy label that says "organic".

[@vaylard9474]

@@theresehopkins1581 how does not using synthetic pesticides protect you from e coli in perfectly natural cow shit?

[@RainbowYak]

@@theresehopkins1581Eating organic won't protect you from cow shit on your salad or your vegetables.

[@isabellatumbarello8702]

As a new mom i remember thinking about how Abbot would become a John Oliver story and here we are. Thank you for calling them, their gross negligence, and their failure to moms and infants everywhere out.❤

[@harrymyhero]

the failure is not nursing your kids. It's doable, I nursed both my sons for over a year each.

[@theonegoldengryphon]

@@harrymyheroFuck all those babies whose moms can’t breastfeed I guess.

[@gekailin]

@@harrymyhero I've been nursing my son for almost 2 years now, but I have had to supplement with formula because I am an under-supplier. Every mother is different and we can't all feed our children solely on breast milk. Shame on you for saying someone who isn't nursing is failing. I won't even start with how congress has failed us by not allowing us better maternity leave and better enforcement of pumping laws/regulations. I just think your comment sucks.

[@bethechange3807]

This is a classical example of how the media misinterprets and twists facts and spreads misinformation. Everyone is very quick on blaming the government agencies. As a scientist I have followed the Abbott recall very closely and based on the facts there is not a shred of evidence that shows the presence of cronobacter either inside the plant or in the products tested as a part of the investigation. Cronobacter is widely present in nature and no mfg facility can control its presence in the environment outside the plant. It can be present in your kitchen or the water you are feeding your baby. Follow best practices at home. Breast feed the baby. If you must use formula, boil the water, add appropriate scoops of baby formula, shake, let it cool to luke warm/body temperature and then feed the baby.

[@laurafernandesfigueira9266]

I went to the USA only once, to California. Ate out 5 times and got food poisoning at the 5th. I was very shocked to learn from local coworkers that that's normal and that very little could be done. In Brazil, where I live, if you get food poisoning you call the regulatory office and the next day the restaurant is closed. All restaurants are obligated to keep samples of every food served for a period of time and in such cases, they're obligated to present that sample to analyzes and, if the bacteria that infected you is found, the restaurant can be shut down entirely besides all civil responsibility before the infected person. Mc Donald's kitchens in Brazil are the cleanest you'll ever see, because of that approach and we're talking about a 3rd world country here. Anyway, my point is, if there was heavy regulation, the restaurants (especially big chain ones) would adjust.

[@coondog7934]

but but but, Murica, f yeah - the land of the free and sick 😅

[@ManChan-w5p]

In America, we eat at our own risk.

[@laurafernandesfigueira9266]

@@coondog7934 haha... on the other hand you might get shot while sitting in a restaurant in BR, but your salad will be clean 😅

[@wowyaywowyaywow]

@@laurafernandesfigueira9266 haha... so true! i can't imagine ever getting shot in the US.

[@MateusVIII]

It is a very outdated perception to say Brazil is a "3rd world country", beyond that it is spot on.

[@NerdTouchingGrass]

i worked in the food industry for years and and this is why i rarely ever eat out and never ate at the places i worked at. I also get my food from dedicated grocery stores not "super centers" because i work at one and they do not care they are so under staffed and want product out regardless of how long the food is left out of freezers/refrigerators. This is not a "my store" problem its literally at every store i have ever worked at.

[@RocknRollPrincipal]

My 8-year-old daughter was just hospitalized for a type of e coli that produces a dangerous toxin called Shiga that can cause severe damage to your kidneys. We still have no idea where she got it, though the doctor did mention that organic vegetables can get contaminated, which we do eat. Thankfully my daughter is back home and on the mend. One if the scariest weeks of my life. As always, thank you, John, for shining a light on this serious issue.

[@user-zk8ed4kd2b]

Did she eat any lettuce?

[@TheOJDrinker]

Organic vegetables have diseases that non-organic vegetables don't? I'm shocked.

[@PAMELAPORTER-ci7mr]

That's so frightening when they're so small. I'm glad she's at home.

[@juliebraden6911]

@@user-zk8ed4kd2b you didn't pay attention to the video at all

[@playerpage]

"Organic" foods are made with less chemicals and are therefore more susceptible to bacterial outbreaks, creating one of life's great ironies where you have to very literally pick your poison: Short-term or long-term risk of disease.

[@thepolarphantasm2319]

"You want the spice? You roll the dice" - John Oliver, 2023

[@LindaC616]

It's a good one. And I pictured him standing in line at TB on a road trip when he came up with it

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite.

[@Styphon]

This line needs to be used in the next "Dune" installment

[@JimmieHammel]

I love that you never know what horror to expect with John Oliver. I saw the thumbnail and expected to be hearing about safety issues with minors in meat packing plants, and have come away terrified of vegetables. Well played.

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite.

[@MakashiOwns]

He already did that one. Look up his episode on meat packing xD It's a different one he did a while ago.

[@948320z]

@@MakashiOwns I think I'll only drink water from now on... oh wait he did an episode of that too.

[@shaneh9591]

@@948320z Microplastics+PFAS+ possible lead >_< lol

[@kingjamos2422]

@@948320z I personally recommend photosynthesis. After I started that diet, I felt one with the Earth... since I died and was thrown into a hole.

[@AnalogWolf]

I work for a medical device company and the FDA standards are extremely stringent. They won't let you launch products without significant review, you need real time stability data, toxicity, performance data, etc far before you submit the product for launch (the review takes months typically) you have at a minimum yearly inspections that go on for days and if the results are bad enough they can shut you down instantly. They do not screw around. It is sad to see that the F in FDA is not nearly as dilligent.

[@azoor5881]

You’re getting a very biased opinion from your company. The clinical studies that lead to the approval of devices are typically pathetically small.

[@thomaspinto2962]

JO did an episode on just this, saying the exact opposite of what you're saying. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6Wsla2EoaqrqNk

[@alicekingsley7708]

@@azoor5881 Plus, if you read anything about Purdue Pharma and the FDA, you see that terrible regulation also applies to drugs, just in a different way. Can't recommend reading The Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe enough.

[@gizoginjr]

@@azoor5881I also work in the medical device industry, literally in the back room during these audits. They absolutely do not fuck around. They can demand any record and ask any person in the building questions. Did someone forget to sign one maintenance form six months ago? Good news, you get to uproot your entire documentation workflow, and you will be expected to provide evidence of improvement.

[@cruzebentley909]

I work in the manufacturing of stem cell products (allogeneic and autologous, CAR-T included), and I feel you 100%. It's HARDCORE stuff (I'm the quality specialist and it's on me to get us through a dozen or inspections a year. There's a huge variety too, hi internal, external (local, state, federal and international, as well as any company we partner with).

[@SamChaneyProductions]

I love calling it "the honey smacks" like its an illness

[@thepolarphantasm2319]

You don't want the cookie crisps man, that's that double plus ungood 💩

[@actuallynotsteve]

Was hoping for a smack/heroin joke, but can live with what we got. Why DOES that thing's shirt say dig em? Is the first time free?

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite.

[@tekbarrier]

@@actuallynotsteveI think it's the frog's name

[@porkchop4401]

Something you buy in an ally

[@valwenventureco9285]

A truely shocking number of the problems in America seem to come from systems put in place 100-200 years ago and now the people in power refuse to change them to deal with the way the world has changed.

[@bubblegumplastic]

But many countries have to deal with systems that old, or older. I think America is dealing with the issues that come from having just two political parties, and political bribes being legal.

[@randibgood]

I would say that the electoral college is the first thing that needs to go and all districts, state or federal, need to be drawn by nonpartisan method.

[@toriless]

This one is not quite a century old, the USDA was created first which is why the split. It was mainly for meat plants. FDA was given authority of the rest of the food supply chain, including imports which are inspected.

[@Kurgan19XX]

@@bubblegumplastic not really, most countries update laws or even rewrite constitutions once in awhile. But yes having only 2 parties, mind you, a mostly center right one and now a far right one, doesn't help

[@RayasNegroOvejas]

@@Kurgan19XX yes, never do I hear any other country speak so much of the constitution. this is against the constitution! case closed. but the US is also very religious compared to other western countries, so the constitution is like a bible I guess.

[@FerFiger]

The best thing of Mondays in KZbin is John Oliver!

[@baileygregg6567]

Not 4 more years… Of war?! *_Trips on a sandbag_*

[@Stolens87]

I'd say it is my best time of the week.... yes... it was a very sad few months.

[@colleenclements5715]

Absolutely💯

[@aykutt3244]

​@safoutop10104a new way for immortality

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite.

[@solisms13]

The half pepperoni, half cheese pizza with the egg on top got me. I was laughing like a mad man in the silent apartment. Now i have neighbors that think im a complete lunatic lol

[@juliebraden6911]

Well

[@InvisiblerApple]

Don't worry, we already thought you were ;)

[@Onigirli]

​@@juliebraden6911 Well huwhat?

[@deepseametro]

Something not mentioned is how, because of these failures, so much of the onus on identifying and alerting people to outbreaks are local health departments... who are also very often understaffed, underpaid, and stretched thin (especially after the initial Covid outbreak caused a LOT of people to leave public health). Everyone in this field is struggling to keep up, but there's just not enough of us :(

[@darlenelarochelle4011]

Thank you for your efforts! I appreciate you and the others for sticking with the job.

[@toriless]

One reason recalls are delayed is you have to build a case for it to avoid law suits.

[@PAMELAPORTER-ci7mr]

Y'all are the people we depend on to get important info to the media and we do pay close attention to it, perhaps because it's local. Please keep up this important work.

[@juliebraden6911]

Yeah he left out a lot of things because they have to. It's already a 20 minute episode. You have to break this stuff up, you can't just cover every angle when there are so many.

[@floydianslip6108]

I worked in public health inspecting drinking water systems at private businesses for many years. I know it's easy to point a finger at government, and there are always structural and procedural improvements to be made, but there is almost nothing we can do in the face of thousands of private citizens and companies choosing the bottom line over safety. The battle for public health is won on the 364 days of the year we aren't on site. We can expect more and more from the unsung heroes working thankless jobs in our governmental institutions, but until we address our cultural obsession with private enterprise we are unlikely to achieve the health outcomes that should be a given for a modernized country.

[@ingridwheeler3180]

You just won the internet. ALL Thumbs Up !! (edit: But nobody will ever know...)

[@rightsarentpolitical]

I wish I could like this 1000 times.

[@toriless]

Yeah, in the UK inspections are more active and regular, they also have the ability to shut down a place or have a recall without fear of any lawsuits like can happen in the US.

[@Philomathie]

Other countries manage it. Try harder.

[@mysteriousu5528]

You nailed it. American greed. Capitalism. Forget about FDA and USDA. The NSF(National Science Foundation)board members(some) are bought by the diary, egg and meat industries...This has been going on for decades and during the same time, the public has become dumb and dumber. Its not at all surprising why the system is broken at every level and in every field.

[@donaldpetersen2382]

Been in the agriculture and the restaurant business. The amount of contaminated food due to regulations not being followed is at least 10-20%. Unless those liable face serious jail time your food will just get nastier🤢

[@greenderp]

yeah, ive seen places where the dishwasher also had to be the prep cook lol

[@OrganicGreens]

@@greenderp What's wrong with that? You can do dishes and make food just fine....

[@etienne8110]

Fining should be enough. That how it works in first world countries. USA should take note of what is done elsewhere, prison isn t the answer to food safety. An indépendant authority that can shut down a factory has way more weight on great groups than the possibility of one random employee being jailed..

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite.

[@italorossid]

@@etienne8110 punishable by fine = legal to the rich. never forget about that and how deep the pockets of some food conglomerates can be. shutting down production facilities and recalling entire lots is cumbersome but I believe they can be far more effective measures as they hurt revenue sources for wrongdoers and forces them to rethink their processes.

[@kenmogibrainworld4844]

Another great episode. This amalgam of superb comedy and excellent journalism is unstoppable.

[@laurenkonopacz8984]

This story was already in a Netflix doc

[@quinn3334]

@@laurenkonopacz8984 yeah one that they used footage from and credited

[@Albopepper]

Food safety is just one of the reasons I much prefer to grow as much of my own food and possible. There are multiple fruits and veggies that I don't ever even buy from the store now. I just grow it myself... SAFELY!

[@elyserhyne243]

Same. I try to grow our veggies so I know what was around it

[@Anarchist_Angel]

Safely might be a stretch but at least not with spraying infected cow poop over it i guess :D

[@rachelh7926]

Just make sure there's no lead in your soil. This is a big issue around old homes.

[@elyserhyne243]

@@rachelh7926 yep, you can do test kits to know what's up with your soil

[@elenaacosta482]

My sister was a victim of one of those E. coli outbreaks, the first confirmed case in Georgia. She was in the hospital for weeks!

[@AerCloud]

Is she doing well now?

[@ManChan-w5p]

Human bodily waste is the most dangerous weapon of mass destruction.

[@janedoe6704]

Im so sorry. I hope shes better now.

[@elenaacosta482]

Thanks for the concern @aerg9359 and @janedoe6704! It was definitely a scary time but she's doing great now.

[@TrololzillaOG]

Can confirm all of this. Used to be a microbiologist at a 3PL Food Safety Lab and the amount of ready-to-eat food that came back positive for pathogens or other nasty stuff was ludicrous. Even worse were environmental samples. Currently work in QA at a large CDMO making drugs and even with higher regulatory scrutiny than food, there's still a ton of super shady shit that gets overlooked. At least the warning letter section of the FDA's website is good for a nice sad chuckle every so often.

[@saintrayofficial]

What are the biggest “””ready-to-eat””” things we should avoid?

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite

[@friendnotafan]

I work in food labeling and thank you so much for shedding light on how broken this system is

[@colingunn5227]

I work in a restaurant, food safety and cleanliness is actually important to us, yesterday I threw away a whole case of oyster mushrooms because they were moldy, yes mushrooms can get moldy, we're in the business of feeding people, not poisoning them

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite.

[@weasel7491]

I was like "this is all stuff I'm familiar with because of Serv safe"

[@ZimmerSquash]

With an attitude like that, i'd like to check your restaurant out and possibly dine in!

[@timothybrown5999]

Same. The restaurant I work at now is great, but I used to work at a spot that was heinous. Everything on the menu said fresh, but it was frozen and thawed. Once I threw out some moldy apples and the owner fished through the trash to pick out “a couple good ones.” I left that place immediately, shortly after it got shut down.

[@esperteresa102]

Wish everyone in the grocery store I work at had that same attitude.

[@sagesam1951]

"Rich, white celebrities don't go to prison." Amazing one-liner

[@plwadodveeefdv]

How does he come up with this stuff

[@JGLy22086]

Not true, but not far wrong.

[@007Strings007]

people like Miller do :( because F the amish

[@007Strings007]

@sagesam1951 people like Miller do :( because F the amish

[@Marix894]

John being extra feisty about vegetables and sauces is the most on brand thing I have ever seen.

[@sprotte6665]

he is a feisty boy for sure

[@brianmorgan7703]

I oversee a fresh foods department, the company I work for does quarterly self-inspections from a food safety team, they also make sure all of their department heads have food safety certifications, they also pay a third party company to inspect their sites every quarter. I also do a full inspection of the department at least once a week. Never once have I seen an FDA inspector. I have seen USDA come in a handful of times during the years, but never the FDA. I'm glad my company has a culture of safety before anything.

[@lesliewolfe7643]

I'm telling you, nothing that I watch makes me belly laugh like this show. The writing is obviously top notch, but John Oliver's delivery is absolutely epic. To be able to be educated and made to laugh your ass off at the same time is something that, in my opinion, no other show has been able to pull off. I would watch this man talk about literally ANY subject and I could never be disappointed

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite.

[@nobodyimportant7804]

The sad fact is that if corporations had the same legal duty to its employees and customers as it does it shareholders a lot of these problems would take care of themselves.

[@Artemis-jr3pz]

As a Panera employee, his description of our customers is so accurate 🤣

[@thetipoftheweek200]

This is probably the first episode in a long time that’s a return to the old formula. Serious news delivered through great humour. Love it! Always love the show but please more of this🧡

[@brandon9689]

I'm reminded of that one episode of Kitchen Nightmares when the owner would sear a head of lettuce on the grill, plate up, and sell it to customers as a "Grilled Salad". Gordon ridiculed him, but maybe he's onto something 😂

[@LabGecko]

Heh perhaps, except the prof's warning is accurate. There are so many crevices in a head of lettuce you'd have to separate them all AND char them so much to sterilize them that it'd basically be inedible. And that's without adding the "sprayed on crap" scenario. That can get inside the leaves.

[@Evanthebat15]

John Oliver is a national treasure and should be protected at all cost along with Stephen Colbert, they are both just as funny behind the scenes when the cameras are off and also extremely nice! Glad to have this show back. Thanks to all the staff that help put this show together for us and the writers!

[@justinhamilton8647]

That sweet time in 2014 when we had the OG daily show, Colbert report and Last week Tonight… what a glorious few months

[@JohnnyDelco]

Bhaaaaaa. That's the funniest thing I've ever read 😂

[@sharimeline3077]

@@JohnnyDelco Keep an eye on the ratio of likes

[@Marijuanifornia]

These chimps are lying to you about everything, and there's proof on film at an official US government website. Learn about the 1942 USDA film, *Hemp for Victory.* You'd care about it if John Oliver told you about it, but he won't because he's lying to you about everything. The whole worthless system is lying to us about everything.

[@ISYMFS863]

​@JohnnyDelco why tf are u here?

[@theoneandonly3388]

The most impressive thing about this entire episode is the fact that John can say "worcestershire" without even pausing.

[@stevdor6146]

it's not so hard, you can say it too, in 3 easy to say steps: "worst"-"stir"-"sure" just blur those three words together and you are saying Worcestershire

[@isisnoreija]

No! It’s more like rooster with a v instead of the first r and the beginning of the name Shirley

[@HowToChangeName]

Hes still a british after all

[@DeterminedDIYer]

@@isisnoreija Don't call me shirley.

[@tamtri6218]

ok

[@magicknight13]

Thank God for John Oliver shining light of these key issues!!! It's so sad and frustrating that we've been dealing with these same problems for decades

[@user-dg9pu4pe9d]

For anyone who has food allergies or has a family member with them, food safety is a major concern. The harsh reality is that reading labels only helps mitigate risk.

[@johnburke4852]

I worked in food manufacturing for about 30 years. The companies fund their food safety programs like the government funds the FDA, which is generally not enough to be fully compliant, but enough for them to use as protection against the responsibility. I got out of food manufacturing a few years ago and I am very happy that I did.

[@TWDay-sy6nq]

I left medical device manufacturing for the same reasons.

[@MysteryCorgi_VN]

When I learned that products like children's makeup isn't regulated "because it's a toy" I was horrified. But it's not like makeup for adults or OTC vitamins are much better. Thanks for always covering important issues.

[@broddr]

Reminds me of Red Dye #3. It’s banned in the EU as a potential carcinogen and FDA banned use of Red 3 in cosmetics and topical drugs in 1990, but not in food. So your red lipstick can’t have Red 3 because you might swallow some of it. But your candy, jelly, breakfast cereal, etc. can all still have Red 3? 😬

[@toriless]

They are restricted from inspecting ANY vitamins or compounding drug farms. I NEVER buy any vitamin that is not USP tested, for purity (no dangerous contents) and dosage (you can take too much of certain vitamins). Avoid those vitamin store, NONE of their crap is EVER tested. Do not trust those self-tested one either. You need a third party inspecting them. Nature Made was one of the first, they started with Vitamin C but now almost all of them are, same for Costco.

[@MaidMirawyn]

If you have access to this full episode, please watch it. This was just a week after the start of the Israel-Hamas whatever this is. John addressed it before the episode officially started, and it was beautiful-heartwarming and heartbreaking. It made me weep and gave me hope. Thank you, John. I didn’t have HBO then, so this was my first time seeing it. These past few months have been hard for those of us with tender hearts, and even worse for those with family in the region, like some of my friends. Your compassion and passion are inspiring.

[@googiegress]

The audible delight of the audience when he brought out the lettuce reveals this show's fulfilling and known commitment to the bit.

[@teeing9355]

The real problem is that both Republicans and Corporate Democrats have defunded regulatory agencies because they receive billions from these companies.

[@justinscott60]

Sadly, a lot of the "lobbying money" aka bribes, aren't even that much ! Maybe over the decades into the billions. Private PAC's , like Koch and such give WAY more money than Tyson does. Giving chicken the blind eye, versus overturning well established laws are very different in scope.

[@dubdubhate]

Corporate Democrat? You mean a typical Democrat? Same goes for Republicans. Two sides, same coin

[@jochem1986]

That would be corruption

[@MattyJ55046]

This.

[@MRblazedBEANS]

Yup, politics have been bought and sold for decades now.

[@oldasyouromens]

I am disabled, and diseases hit me very hard. For diet, I mostly follow Ayurvedic principles for my particular type, which mandates I cook everything I eat and avoid salads, cold food, day old food, processed foods, and shop bought dairy products - if I make yogurt I am advised to boil and process the milk myself. I don't follow everything, but many of these principles are designed to prevent foodborne illness.

[@coondog7934]

You clearly are living in the wrong country for avoiding a disease like that. Not that you deliberately chose your location but still. All the best though, I hope it is getting easier.

[@toriless]

What is bad about lettuce is the diseases you get from them are often some of the worse as well. I work at a food bank, as a volunteer, I would NEVER get lettuce from one. Vegetables wash unlike lettuce. Any salads that are not taken that day are tossed. You can not freeze and thaw it and by next week if will be dangerous.

[@shanefisher4451]

I used to run a food lab and we had one FDA inspection. He normally inspected feed lots and didn't have much experience with human food.

[@snowmech3430]

As a professional Chef, I agree and hope that a singular food administration comes to pass.

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite

[@charliehess9308]

The Association for Dressings and Sauces is missing a huge market by not selling t shirts

[@KingGargantuas]

Nothing I love more on an early monday morning than John Oliver once again telling us what's wrong with the world in a humorous way!

[@kathrynmceachern9503]

I almost didn't make it through the writers' strike without having LWT to look forward to. I'm so happy he's back!

[@ChrisMorray]

As a European: He covers almost exclusively US-specific issues. This ain't a show about what's wrong in the world, it's about what's wrong in the US. Fun to watch, though.

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite.

[@ainumahtar]

@@ChrisMorray I was going to comment just this haha. There's plenty wrong here too but at least most european governments don't let companies figure out (and report) for themselves how much shit can be in the water they spray on vegetables, and then assume they are going to choose what's best for the customer instead of their on wallet.

[@michaeladkins6]

@@kathrynmceachern9503 You werent listening to the Strike Force 5 podcasts?

[@maximeprometheas]

John, you're not the only one who is now absolutely fascinated by the Association of Dressings and Sauces. Like, how does a meeting go here? Does everyone need to bring their own Dressings and Sauces? What happens when two people bring in near-identical sauces? So many questions!!!

[@axelotl86]

As a European Food Safety consultant who breathes HACCP, it’s always funny to hear about food safety in the USA.

[@kk-fo3zx]

Tbh while it might be more extreme/ on a larger scale in the US, this definitely isn't an exclusively American problem. Having worked at multiple dairies and a large butcher's shop in Germany, Austria and Switzerland I was shocked by the amount of carelessness and even corruption I witnessed. Don't get me wrong, most companies, especially the larger ones, will have rather strict GMP protocols and a high degree of automation, leaving little room for error or manipulation. While I have witnessed problematic and sometimes illegal activities in those places, they would generally have lots of control mechanisms and more well-trained workers. In my experience, it is the smaller companies that are more at risk. Due to a smaller amount of automated processes they often rely heavily on workers with very little training. The current worker shortages often exacerbate any already existing hygienic problems. The existing control mechanisms, e.g. private certification like ifs as well as state authorities, are stretched too thin and work too slowly to counter any existing dangers effectively.

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite

[@ingridakerblom7577]

Do you allow jewelry, long hair not put up & nailpolish on workerd, as they do in the states?

[@ingridakerblom7577]

​@@kk-fo3zxhaha german & Dutch products are the sewage of europé.. I NEVER buy german meat.. ever

[@NoNameForNone]

Yet HACCP's origins are in the US.

[@pisandro2936]

13:51 I love how that audience member says "Oh my god", knowing that he was definitely going to pull out lettuce and a torch 😂

[@lostrebel]

It's not just food producers. I worked in a food microbiology lab that also paid for its own inspections and audits

[@carljohnson9578]

This guy is hilarious. This is the first time I've watched John Oliver. Food safety. I left from beginning to end. I will definitely subscribe and watch as often as I can. The mixture of Food safety and humor. Hes extremely funny but the truth is scary.😂

[@caolet518]

Keep watching him, he is brilliant! He discusses so many issues so pertinent to what is wrong with our society in a way that’s factual, easy to understand, and hilarious all at once.

[@colt9836]

His episode on "SLAPP" is among the best. There's also his piece on the dictatorship in Turkminastain is also top-notch. Most of his stuff is really good.

[@kerryannegarnick1846]

My mom works for the FDA. She does good work, determining what foods have too much gamma radiation to be safe for human consumption, but her office is rare in that it actually focuses on both food and drugs (as well as condoms).

[@toriless]

Just do not ask them about the filth and decomp section, pretty disgusting jobs, to me. They do stuff like smell fish to see if it has rotted yet.

[@fredskull1618]

It's alarming how our system prioritizes certain industries over others, leaving many vulnerable. The distinction between FDA and USDA responsibilities is baffling, especially with instances like lettuce being more dangerous than beef. We've known about these issues for decades but continue to face the same problems. Our health is at stake, and it's time for a reform. 👍

[@PAMELAPORTER-ci7mr]

I think that this is why we can purchase produce cleansers, with very specific instructions. I've been buying organic just for peace of mind.

[@DoctorDex]

The Association of Dressings & Sauces (ADS) was established in 1926. It was founded as the "National Association of Mayonnaise Manufacturers" and later expanded its focus to encompass a broader range of dressings and sauces. The association's origins are closely tied to the mayonnaise industry, reflecting its early members' interests. You're welcome everyone Mayo for life

[@chillcreep4926]

Mayonnaise was on the Titanic. Hellmann's, I think, possibly under its original company name (still used West of the Rocky Mtns) Best Foods. A truly superior dressing and / or sauce

[@elizabethheyenga9277]

I make my own mayo now in small batches :)

[@gabor6259]

Pineapple pizza with mayo gives me life!

[@kl3312]

The facility I work at was inspected by the FDA once she seemed disorganized and a little flustered. The USDA is present every day for 2 shifts but they can be crazy too. Once he delayed his inspection and was furious because someone parked in his "USDA" spot. They have 10,000 directives which are long documents about all manner of different requirements without much organization. It is impossible for them or most facilities to read and implement. The main force I see governing the food industry are GFSI standards. Basically some major companies got together and made some actual standards for facilities to be scored against. If you have a GFSI certification, major grocery stores are more willing to buy from you. Its sad that Olly man didn't touch on these, would make a great follow up episode.

[@katiekane5247]

I was hospitalized for Salmonella for 6 days. The 24 hours prior to admission is one I wouldn't wish on anyone. I finally stayed in the bathtub. Sacrificed some towels for the ambulance ride. I got it from contaminated Almond butter at a pet sitting house I was staying at. Pet owner wasn't reachable so I wouldn't go to the hospital until the day he was due home. Awful illness!!

[@toriless]

By the way, pet food is inspected by the FDA since some children might eat it too. PS - Avoid dog chews.

[@katiekane5247]

@@toriless I always buy the best dog treats. Freeze dried beef liver & bull pizzles are single ingredient goodies I wouldn't eat but probably healthier than the garbage that's marketed for humans! Cheap dog kibble uses feather meal as added protein yuk 🤢

[@CandiceSadako]

I almost died of salmonella in 2020. Due to covid all the hospitals were full and I wasn’t allowed to receive a private nurse at home until results of a test came in. Which means that for the first 4 days, I didn’t receive any kind of treatment. My aunt had to take on herself the decision of starting the antibiotics before the test confirmed it was salmonella. If she wouldn’t have done so, I probably wouldn’t be here now. It took 3 weeks just to get better and 3 years later I still feel the consequences of it. Oh, and I got it from eating raw salmon just bought at the supermarket, nowhere close to expiration date.

[@buckrodgers1162]

Here's an idea... Give all food safety oversight to the USDA, and actually make it the 'Federal Drug Administration'. I mean the FDA already don't know shit about food, and the USDA clearly does; So it's an easy fix. But it's far too complicated to the politicians to think of.

[@magimerlyn9596]

The big thing is still funding

[@buckrodgers1162]

@@magimerlyn9596, Well it would at least get rid of the conflict of interest that the FDA currently has. They neglect food safety, the food makes you sick, and the medical industry sells you the treatment, then bribes the FDA for the 'fast-tracking' of more unsafe treatments. How do you think the 'opioid epidemic' got started? The FDA was bribed to fast-track it's approval, that's how.

[@BelamarEutravos]

@@magimerlyn9596 Oh! You wanted safer food? Sorry, we sent that money to Ukraine and Israel.

[@Jimmy___]

Came here to say this. Let the USDA absorb what meager resources the FDA has for Food, and sort it out from there.

[@Jimmy___]

@@BelamarEutravos The amount we would for safe food need pales in insignificance compared to the military budget, which is itself an order of magnitude more than foreign aid. It is not a matter of not having the money, it is a matter of regulatory capture by the food producers. Defund the regulators and they can't enforce the rules.

[@jessealmaguer7055]

Hearing John make fun of my childhood cereal is something that hurts more than a heartbreak 😂

[@berndb3141]

Man, I loved that stuff as a kid. How dare he? 😆

[@cagneyfan2008]

Funny enough, my mom and dad worked at the FDA and USDA’s FSIS. And I did a stint at the USDA’s FSIS and I realized how random it was that the only fish USDA regulates is catfish while the FSDA regulates the rest of the fish we eat. And confusing and absurd it was that the FDA regulates eggs while the USDA regulates egg products, which haven’t been clearly defined

[@tresman91]

As an FSIS employee, it's a (sad) running joke that we never see FDA inspectors at our dual jurisdiction plants. Quick correction though, we inspect far more than 800 plants; it's closer to 6000-7000 plants, because we inspect both slaughterhouses (the original number you quoted is similar to the number of those we inspect) and processing facilities that make anything from cuts of meat to salami to egg rolls.

[@TheMetalupis]

Also, our inspection is also spread incredibly thin, can't hire folks our keep them because the pay hasn't kept up with private sector

[@lpc9929]

I am infertile from eating scented candles

[@Lynthari]

​@@lpc9929 good

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite

[@overratedname]

⁠@@lpc9929no amount of government oversight would help you, I think.

[@valeriedefarias]

Watched this while eating spinach. I froze for a second then remembered I live in France. I’m sure we aren’t doing much better but until a French John Oliver arises I’ll keep telling myself we’re fine.

[@7SonsofFeanor]

When I lived in a country that didn't have great water safety, we routinely washed our fresh produce that we didn't intend to cook in a mild bleach solution in the kitchen sink. There are multiple times since I've moved back to the US that I've considered doing that here! (We also boiled our drinking water for at least 20 min in a large pot on the stove and then ran it through a water filter.)

[@PAMELAPORTER-ci7mr]

We use distilled white vinegar on our produce more than bleach. If we don't replace the hundreds of miles of lead pipe in this country, I don't know what we'll do. I've been using a water filter that filters out lead for about 5 years or so.

[@vrsalcedo7245]

I can't believe that the safety coordinator on that show would let John use a blowtorch, no matter how gleefully he sterilized that lettuce.

[@tracewallace23]

Could you imagine if our representatives were required to watch and then, enact legislation on at least one of these episodes every month?

[@michaeladkins6]

They cant get their act together on a Speaker of the House.

[@RorikH]

Alas, our glorious former president had to get his ideas from Fox and Friends.

[@Abrin32]

This has been a huge issue. It always stuck me as odd that the the SNAP program and the entire forest service are under the same branch of the government. The USDA.

[@toriless]

Forestry should be under the Interior instead. SNAP should be FDA.

[@SYH653]

​@@toriless Did you watch the show? SNAP should stay under USDA.

[@moxielofton7679]

It's really mad how many people argue THIS is the most efficient system, and you'd have to be dangerously ignorant or disingenuous to think less regulation would do anything but put people at risk (and make powerful people more wealthy)

[@OrganicGreens]

Not if you want real organic food. No real organic farmers or ranchers can afford such regulations. I should be allowed to take the risk as an adult on organic meat and vegetables if im allowed to go skydiving and such. To me the real danger is eating all the fake food at grocery stores getting no micronutrients.

[@kurojima]

Also didnt like their example with the French Dressing - such regulations existed so that known products have to have some level of standard - the only way why you would want that changed, is when you want to replace ingredients with cheaper/artificial ones for more profit. Its the reason why the typical American Cheese has nothing to do with actual cheese, or why so many products in the U.S. can have a hyper-inflated amount of sugar/corn sirup in them.

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite.

[@dome2919]

It seems very likely that lax regulation that comes from underfunded bureaus like the FDA and USDA heavily benefit owners of the businesses that those are supposed to regulate. Restaurants already push to have super fast turnover times on orders, I imagine that they and businesses like them would be miffed to have to break up those precious numbers for something so trivial as "the customer's safety".

[@ainumahtar]

@@dome2919 They'd rather spend money lobbying against regulations than spending the same money on keeping their ffood safe, just like so many companies spending millions on pinkertons and shitheads like it to fight unionization instead of just paying their employees a living wage. Capitalism needs to be reigned in, and fast!

[@imacanoli897]

I've worked Quality and Compliance in pharmaceuticals and medical devices for about a decade now. Know several people that have worked in the food side of things. They are two VERY different worlds compliance wise.

[@AP-hn8wd]

The weekly John Oliver fix. Just in time before bedtime for PST folks!

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite.

[@susannastorytime]

What would we do without this dude 😍 My favorite! Bringing light to important issues that need more attention, all while being sooo funny 😆💗✨

[@Madwonk]

Student of chemical weapons/bioextremism here: blowtorch still won't save you because the e.coli can still stick around in the cells of the plant. You'd literally have to boil it for multiple hours to actually be safe! And that's *before* we talk about prion diseases which could also spread similarly!

[@zacharythomas8617]

I had a feeling maybe we should boil, but what if we used Acids to bombard the lettuce?

[@TutalingS3]

John Oliver see's the Israeli retaliation as a war crime, but mentions nothing about Hamas ripping the heads of Israeli babies. TIL John Oliver is an anti-semite.

[@dome2919]

@@zacharythomas8617 asking the right questions and to the right people. Godspeed.

[@ericlotze7724]

What about Food Irradiation? Short of Prions You’re basically good, right? That and waaaaaay longer shelf life.

[@ecosta]

I was expecting the blow torch thing to not really work. But I thank you for explaining why!

[@mcglubski]

"You want the spice you roll the dice" just had me rolling