Netflix’s new documentary, Poisoned The Dirty Truth About Your Food comes across as an eye-opener of sorts. The impact of food-borne illnesses seems to be downplayed often but the documentary cleverly sheds light on this topic. Much like the title suggests, the shock value that it presents while revealing the harm posed by poor food safety standards feels like the need of the hour. Director Stephanie Soechtig deftly takes us through some of the worst food poisoning cases in US in the film.
Poisoned The Dirty Truth About Your Food mainly discusses two key food-borne illnesses, E.coli O157 and Salmonella. The depth of the harm that these two bacteria can cause is explored in detail over the course of the documentary. From interviewing survivors to food experts and healthcare authorities, Soechtig gives us a detailed picture of how foods that look harmless could actually wreak havoc in your system if they contain these pathogens. There are five major cases that are explored in the film and it’s important what we can learn from these instances.
4 Major Food Poisoning Cases in Poisoned The Dirty Truth About Your Food
Brianne Kiner Case
The 1993 Jack in the Box outbreak saw nearly 623 people in the western US falling due to the bacteria called E. coli O157:H7. U found in hamburgers. The bacteria was traced to undercooked hamburgers served at Jack in the Box restaurant causing an outbreak of the food-borne illness. Nine-year-old Brianne was also one of the victims of the virus and was admitted for nearly five months due to the same.
Due to E. coli, she also developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a complication of E. coli infection that results in kidney failure. In the documentary, Bill Marler, famed foodborne illness attorney reveals how it was after meeting Kiner in the hospital, he couldn’t control his emotions and it became a motivation for him to take up cases related to food-borne illness patients. While Kiner survived, her family went through an ordeal during that time.
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Riley Detwiler’s E Coli Case
The documentary also looks at the heartbreaking case of 16-month-old, Riley Detwiler who passed away from E. coli poisoning in February 1993. The film showcases archival footage of Riley’s parents Vicki and Darin Detwiler speaking to then-US President Bill Clinton about the outbreak. Darin states in the documentary that he was informed about his son contracting the bacteria from his daycare facility.
Stephanie Ingburg’s Lettuce Infection
Stephanie Ingburg is an E. coli survivor who herself appears in the documentary and speaks about the time she was in the hospital during her teenage years. She also speaks about how E.coli ravaged her system which led to other health concerns including kidney infections for which she may need a transplant. The teen was diagnosed with the bacteria after consuming Romaine lettuce. The documentary reveals that Romaine lettuce is among the high-risk veggies when it comes to contracting the virus. Food safety experts also reveal that leafy greens, including romaine lettuce, have been implicated in outbreaks of foodborne illness.
Peanut Butter Scandal
Another shocking revelation made in the documentary is also that of late 2008 and early 2009, when nine people died and at least 714 people in 46 states including children, fell ill due to food poisoning from eating products containing contaminated peanuts. It was revealed that the consumption of Peanut Butter made from contaminated peanuts had caused the outbreak.
The movie reveals footage of the shockingly low standards of hygiene maintained by the Peanut Corporation of America. It also reveals how a former employee of the corporation helped bring the problem to attention. Despite salmonella tests being requested, the documentary reveals how top-level executives ignored warnings and sent out shipments that ended up causing the outbreak.
Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food is streaming on Netflix.
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