Iowa’s Law Keeps Consumers in the Dark

In Iowa the law makes it illegal for the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) to tell the public the name of a business that caused a public health threat if the is over.

In Iowa’s recent Cyclospora outbreak the public didn't know that the salad at Red Lobster and Olive Garden were infected until the FDA finally announced the results. The IDPH said nothing, The problem with this is that it doesn't give the public the knowledge to ask Red Lobster and Olive Garden if they wash their salad greens before they serve it to their customers.

The IDHP said its investigation found 50 possible sites that were distributing the bad salad mix, including 15 restaurants, 30 grocery stores and some isolated others. But all the public hears about is Red Lobster and Olive Garden.

The FDA doesn't always come to the rescue.  The Law kept the names of public  swimming pools that have been spreading the Cryptosporidium out of the press. This blocked disclosure of the names of at least 30 public and privately owned swimming pools that have failed to manage the parasite infections. This is a yearly problem and the public doesn't know which pools are doing a good job.