bacteriaWith so many food-borne disease outbreaks in recent years, America can rest assured that Minnesota is on the case. The New York Times gives the state a thumbs up for catching a number of food-borne illness outbreaks:

“[O]ther states fail to investigate many complaints of food-related sickness while those in Minnesota do so diligently, safeguarding not only Minnesotans but much of the rest of the country, as well.”

The Times looks at several cases where Minnesota’s epidemiologists tracked down the food sources of disease outbreaks.

The importance of a few epidemiologists in Minnesota demonstrates the problem. If not for the Minnesota Department of Health, the Peanut Corporation of America might still be selling salmonella-laced peanuts, Dole might still be selling contaminated lettuce, and ConAgra might still be selling dangerous Banquet brand pot pies — sickening hundreds or thousands more people.