Posted: August 1st, 2009 - 9:13am by Ben Chapman

The buzz created around microbial food safety leads to multiple hucksters trying to get in on the action. While we've covered new (and not really effective) ideas like home Salmonella testing kits, produce and consumer produce washes, this one is unique: Prevent Foodborne Infection With Seattle Hypnosis.

From the blog:

You can prevent foodborne infections with self-hypnosis that is is taught at the Seattle hypnosis offices of Roger Moore’s Counseling & Hypnotherapy LLC. Learn how to hypnotize yourself and change your eating habits...

The Seattle-base hypnotists miss the mark (but full marks for trying) -- avoiding meat is not the answer. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a significant, if not the most significant, source of foodborne illness today in North America. The very characteristic that affords dietary benefit -- fresh -- also creates microbiological risk: Because they are not cooked, anything that comes into contact with fresh fruits and vegetables is a possible source of contamination.

Is the water used for irrigation or rinsing clean or is it loaded with pathogens? Do the workers who collect the produce follow strict hygienic practices such as thorough handwashing? Are the vehicles used to transport fresh produce also used to transport live animals that could be sources of microbial contamination?

Herbivores, omnivores, carnivores and locavores are all at risk for foodborne illness.