Concerns Rise Over U.S. Food Safety

Some have proposed that a centralized food "czar" be put in control of all food-safety issues, rather than the current fragmented system, which is divided unequally -- and many say inequitably -- between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"They had been talking about making this a cabinet-level position," Tierno said.

Obviously, much of the burden for remedy lies with big business and the government, but there are things consumers can do.

"Consumers can cook things to higher temperatures if they're concerned about killing bacteria," Hansen said.

Also, be careful not to cross-contaminate surfaces. If you've chopped a chicken on a cutting board, clean the board and the knife before using it on salad or vegetables.

"People can focus on things more locally and go to farmer's markets or join a CSA [Community Supported Agriculture]," Hansen said.

More information

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on food safety.

SOURCES: Michael Hansen, Ph.D., senior scientist, Consumers Union, Washington, D.C.; Helene Andrews-Polymenis, D.V.M., Ph.D., assistant professor of microbial and molecular pathogenesis, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine; Philip Tierno, M.D., Ph.D., director, clinical microbiology and immunology, New York University Medical Center, New York City