THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

33

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE PROPER CLEANING OF PRODUCE.

 

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Health is responsible for administering programs designed to protect, preserve, care for, and improve the health of the people of the State, including food safety; and

 

     WHEREAS, food safety encompasses the preparation of uncooked foods, such as fruits and vegetables; and

 

     WHEREAS, in December 2008, three Big Island residents were hospitalized because of a rare ailment, commonly called rat lungworm disease; and

 

     WHEREAS, rat lungworm disease arises from parasitic worms that can be ingested when eating raw produce containing a small snail or slug, that migrates through the body; and

 

     WHEREAS, rat lungworm disease can cause significant pain and trauma, including paralysis, blindness, and death; and

 

     WHEREAS, a study identified twenty-four cases of rat lungworm disease in Hawaii from January 2001 to February 2005; and

 

     WHEREAS, rat lungworm disease is only one of the serious diseases that affect raw produce consumption; and

 

     WHEREAS, proper cleaning of produce may also reduce the incidence of emerging and known pathogens and contaminates that may affect raw produce consumption; and

 

     WHEREAS, a growing number of Hawaii residents are consuming home-grown produce, thereby increasing the importance of educating the public on the proper cleaning of fruits and vegetables; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, that the Department of Health is urged to make it a priority to educate the public on the proper cleaning of produce to reduce the incidence of rat lungworm disease and all emerging and known pathogens and contaminates that may affect raw produce consumption; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health.

Report Title: 

Department of Health; Food Safety