Some have started selling irradiated products, an idea consumers so far seem reluctant to accept. There are many things we need to do, we have to do, Hy-Vee's chief executive, Ron Pearson, told supermarket executives at their industry trade show.
Irradiation has to be one of the answers.
Pearson is incoming chairman of the industry's Food Marketing Institute. About 76 million cases of food-borne illness are diagnosed nationwide each year, resulting in 5,000 deaths and 325,000 hospitalizations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . To avoid contaminating ground beef, grocers have started buying meat prepackaged by the packer rather than grinding it in the store. That eliminates employee handling that can spread germs. Grocery chains are also inspecting handling practices of produce suppliers.