Our pal Anna Mathews at the WSJ reports today that “When Andrew von Eschenbach, the acting head of the Food and Drug Administration, paid a courtesy visit to Sen. David Vitter last spring, the Louisiana Republican zeroed in on a key issue: What is the agency doing about little turtles?â€
(Turtles often carry salmonella in their digestive tracts. Infected turtles can convey the bacteria to their eggs. The FDA also restricts the sale of turtle eggs in the U.S. Though bacteria-carrying turtles may not show symptoms of illness, they can spread salmonella to their handlers. Ingesting it -- typically, after failing to wash hands after playing with a turtle -- can lead to vomiting, fever and cramps, even death in vulnerable patients. After the 1975 restriction, turtle-related infections appeared to nearly vanish.)
Maybe Senator Vitter should introduce legislation promoting the sales of turtles to Canada. After all, one good turn deserves another.
(Turtles often carry salmonella in their digestive tracts. Infected turtles can convey the bacteria to their eggs. The FDA also restricts the sale of turtle eggs in the U.S. Though bacteria-carrying turtles may not show symptoms of illness, they can spread salmonella to their handlers. Ingesting it -- typically, after failing to wash hands after playing with a turtle -- can lead to vomiting, fever and cramps, even death in vulnerable patients. After the 1975 restriction, turtle-related infections appeared to nearly vanish.)
Maybe Senator Vitter should introduce legislation promoting the sales of turtles to Canada. After all, one good turn deserves another.
