Justin Kastner

Challenges involved in the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak and lessons learned.

A 2008 multistate food-borne outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul caused more than 1 400 illnesses in the United States. Although initial investigations suggested tomatoes as the potential vehicle, jalapeño and serrano peppers were subsequently found positive for the outbreak strain. The uncertainty associated with this incident caused government, industry, and the public to question the efficacy of the US food safety system. Examination of the response to this incident exposed breakdowns in several areas. Communication at all levels was lacking, leading to an absence of coordinated actions and conflicting risk communication messages. Variations in resources between local and state health departments created delays in gathering accurate information for epidemiological investigations. Although new laws required increased documentation, rapid and thorough traceback of products remained elusive. Three factors contributed to the difficulty in the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak, including (1) delayed response due to discrepancies in available resources and expertise at state and local levels, (2) inadequate communication between stakeholders and agencies, and (3) poor traceability capabilities. Future responses to food-borne illness outbreaks may be improved by addressing these three factors.

Primary care physicians and pandemic influenza: An appraisal of the 1918 experience and an assessment of contemporary planning

This multidisciplinary research project examined the role of primary care physicians in past pandemic flu responses and current planning efforts. Project researchers gathered and synthesized historical research, state and federal planning documents, and interview-based data. The 1918 influenza pandemic presented one model from which to understand the role played by physicians during a large-scale disease outbreak, and the challenges they faced. Contemporary planning documents were assessed for their inclusion of primary care physicians. Literature reviews and interviews comprised the principal sources of information. Findings included the following: (1) primary care physicians do not have the time to engage fully in pandemic planning activities; (2) physicians are willing to serve during a pandemic; however, government support and the availability of resources will affect their level of involvement; (3) communities should develop plans for coordinating local physicians who will allow alternative care sites to be functionally staffed; and (4) full coordination of physicians is not possible under the US healthcare system.

Borders and Governance: An Analysis of Health Regulation and the Agri-food Trade

The contemporary dynamics of states, borders, and markets suggest the need for non-traditional methods of regulation and international cooperation in areas such as border inspections and management. The emerging literature on cross-border regions and multi-level governance suggests a framework to understand this development within the general transformation of states under globalisation. To explore these ideas, in this article we focus on the arena of health regulation and the international agricultural and food trade. Multilateral bodies such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) have endorsed the policy concept of “regionalisation” as a means by which states can preserve trade relations when sanitary (human or animal health) or phytosanitary (plant health) hazards threaten a countrys trading status. In this paper, two cases – one historical and one contemporary – illustrate that regionalisation offers a largely functional application of multi-level governance to enhance regulatory and trade capacity. We conclude that governance changes indicated by regionalisation may provide further evidence for the transformation of borders, regions, and states in an era of globalisation. Drs. Ackleson and Kastner direct the Frontier programme for the historical studies of border security, food security, and trade policy – < http://frontier.k-state.edu>.

'Routinizing' Cooperation and Changing Narratives: The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America

Abstract March 2005 witnessed the heads of state of Canada, Mexico, and the United States signing the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP), a new international framework for cross‐border cooperation in North America. The SPP features two important agendas relevant for the post‐September 11th era: one revolving around national security and the other around economic prosperity. In this paper, we explore how the SPP impacts the dominant narrative of the U.S.‐Canada border. After tracing the historical trajectory of the border, we suggest the emergent narrative eschews the notion that security and trade at the frontier are incompatible and instead maintains that regulatory policies can achieve both through bilateral and trilateral cooperation. The SPP agreement, and related accords such as ‘Smart Borders,’ signals, at least for a time, a new way of perceiving and managing the border. That vision has been recently set back for reasons discussed in this article. This paper analyzes the SPP in several ways based on historical research and interviews conducted with policymakers in Ottawa and Washington, D.C., during 2005. First, we look at the SPP in terms of Milners International Political Economy framework for international cooperation, arguing for the primacy of national domestic interests. Second, we examine the dynamics of cross‐border bilateral cooperation, focusing on ‘routinization’ and bureaucratic policymaking. Finally, we explore how multidisciplinary scholarship may assist us in determining whether the SPP is a model for other border regions.

Handling of hamburgers and cooking practices

Hamburgers are a popular and commonly consumed food product. Hamburger, and ground beef in general, must be handled hygienically to ensure the health and safety of food service workers and consumers. In this chapter, various aspects of hamburger and ground beef are explored to demonstrate the need for proper handling along the supply chain, including insight into the microbiological, chemical, and physical properties of hamburger. Additionally, intervention methods, both those used by beef processors in large-scale production and those used in the restaurant or home for consumption by end-users are elucidated. Current regulations mandated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are discussed. Knowledge of the concepts in this chapter will help ensure public health and maintain the popularity of hamburgers in the United States and around the world.

The Multiplicity of Actors Involved in Securing America's Food Imports

Abstract The paper attempts to accentuate the significance of multiple players’ (both public and private) involvement for safeguarding U.S. food imports, particularly at maritime prots of entry.The task of ensuring food import safety is a responsibility shared by a multitude of actors in the food industry, encompassing everyone from farmers, producers, and retailers to federal and state regulatory agencies. If America’s food supply is to remain secure, it is critical that everyone involved in this process remain vigilant and knowledgeable about the requirements of food safety, particularly within the context of international trade involving multiple players. The manuscript talks about the various multiple actor programs like Container Security Initiative (CSI), the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), Free and Secure Trade (FAST), the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA 2002), Bio-terrorism Act, the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS, adopted in 2002 as an international counterpart for the MTSA), the 24-hour Rule, Automated Targeting System (ATS), Operation Safe Commerce (OSC), and the Smart and Secure Tradelanes (SST) initiative. Port security encompasses numerous issues ranging from the security of actual port facilities to the verification of passenger identities and the investigation of threats posed by cargo container shipments. The paper highlights that greater linkage of resources, expertise, and initiatives are needed at all levels of government and in the private sector in order to achieve the shared objectives of security and emergency preparedness. It is important to note that preventing problems that can arise outside the United States is a more effective approach than merely attempting to identify and catch problems when products arrive at our borders. The paper concludes by reiterating that public-private partnership must become stronger in order to improve the quality and safety networks upon which the U.S. relies to supply the food we eat and the products we use.