Prospectus

Mohammad Tahir Siddique                                                                Prospectus

The topic that will be discussed in the research paper will be the problem of food borne illnesses in the meat industry and the solution for the problem as irradiation. The problem of food borne illnesses is a concern in America because the centralization of the meat industry makes food borne illnesses within this industry capable of infecting millions. Beef and meat from cows has to be monitored and controlled in a way that ensures that the entire process from farm to table is measured for bacteria and pathogens that can cause harm to humans. Irradiation is a method that is proven to reduce the threat of food borne illnesses such as E coli but irradiation is met with resistance because the public is fearful of radiation of their food supply.

The questions that arise in a study of the meat industry reaction to food borne illness outbreaks and prevention include: what has been done to ensure that food borne illnesses are prevented, how is the government involved in the process of investigating food borne illnesses outbreaks, what role does the government have in terms of prevention and enforcement, and how can food borne illnesses be stopped effectively before it reaches the public. The thesis statement of the project is “The growing threat of food borne illness and the vast potential of many people being affected calls for radical methods to meet this threat. A radical method for addressing food borne illnesses is the method of irradiation” this thesis statement covers the topic and provides the suggested solution to the problem.

The tools and sources that will be used to accomplish this paper include the internet sites such as Google, JStor, Ebscohost, and LexisNexis, the course packets readings, Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation, and journals and scholarly sources. JStor, Ebscohost, and LexisNexis provides journal and news articles that relate to food irradiation, food industry practices, and studies that reveal the impact of methods used against the problem of food borne illnesses. Google will be used to get general information about the meat industry and food borne illness. The course packet provides news articles that relate to the issue being investigated. Fast Food Nation will serve as a major source that provides the foundation of the investigation.