1997 Viewpoint Schools for Scandal by Daniel P. Puzo , Editor in Chief One of the more legitimate criticisms of today's medical profession is that not enough attention is placed on preventive care or wellness programs. The focus, historically, has been on treating illnesses rather than trying to prevent them. Medical schools, in particular, shoulder much of the blame because little curriculum is devoted to proper nutrition.
Less time is spent instructing future physicians on how to counsel patients on eating habits.
The omission is all the more troubling because of the substantial volumes of scientific literature that demonstrate how a balanced diet is instrumental in helping reduce the risk of the stroke, heart disease and cancer. The foodservice profession may be following a similar course. Knowledge of these topics are vital to running a successful foodservice operation, and their importance will only increase over time. Cases of food-related illness gone undetected today will be more accurately identified in the near future. At that time, being associated with one of these outbreaks could seriously harm, or destroy, businesses that fail to master prevention.