{"id":9008,"date":"2019-04-24T13:29:08","date_gmt":"2019-04-24T17:29:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.foodmedcenter.org\/?p=9008"},"modified":"2021-09-29T14:00:43","modified_gmt":"2021-09-29T18:00:43","slug":"interview-with-bill-marler-esq-food-safety-advocate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foodmedcenter.org\/es_do\/interview-with-bill-marler-esq-food-safety-advocate\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Bill Marler, Esq. Food Safety Advocate"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bill Marler is a foodborne-illness attorney, who has become a major food policy advocate in the U.S. and around the world. His firm, Marler Clark, has a very descriptive tagline: The Food Safety Law Firm. \u00a0His firm has represented thousands of claims against food companies whose contaminated products have caused life-altering injury and even death. For the last 25 years Mr. Marler has represented victims of almost every large foodborne-illness outbreak in the U.S. His advocacy for a safer food supply includes petitioning the United States Department of Agriculture to better regulate pathogenic E. coli, working with nonprofit food safety and foodborne-illness victims\u2019 organizations, and helping to spur the passage of the 2010-2011 FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. According to the firm\u2019s website, their attorneys have won more than 600 million dollars in settlements for their clients. He also runs several impressive food safety blogs that can be found at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/marlerclark.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/marlerclark.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and include foodpoisonjournal.com. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What inspired you to become involved in food-policy and food-safety law? Did you go to law school with the desire to defend individuals against food companies, or was there another impetus for your involvement in this line of work?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bill Marler: Frankly, I just was in the right place \u2013 the 1993 Jack-in-the-Box case exploded in the Seattle area when I was just 4 years out of law school. \u00a0Then, when that was winding down, the Odwalla E. coli case happened. After that I started getting cases from all over the country, and I started Marler Clark in 1998. \u00a0Bruce Clark had been chief counsel for Jack-in-the-Box.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>It seems that anyone connected to food should be concerned about food safety (e.g. producers, distributors, consumers, and the government). However, it feels as if food safety is getting short shrift. \u00a0Can you comment? Who should ultimately be responsible for food safety? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bill Marler: I know it\u2019s a bit of a clich\u00e9, but it really is a \u201cfarm to fork\u201d responsibility. \u00a0However, it clearly is the responsibility of the manufacturer of food to make sure that there is not a defect \u2013 a pathogen in the product that could sicken or kill you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that each year 48 million people in the U.S. get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases. Where along the food supply chain do most of these foods become contaminated &#8211; Factories? Restaurants? At home? \u00a0Are these numbers underestimates? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bill Marler: These are the best estimates through the CDC FoodNet. \u00a0Remember that about 30 million are norovirus. There is not great data, in my humble opinion , as to clear attribution of where people get sick and whether it is mishandling \u2013 at a restaurant or at home \u2013 or if it is a mistake in manufacturing or a ready-to-eat product, e.g. romaine lettuce.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>You have been fighting for food safety for more than two decades. Have we created a safer food system over the years or are things getting worse? How would you describe the evolution of the cases that have come across your desk since you started litigating in 1993?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bill Marler: I am hopeful things are better, but we have to stay vigilant. \u00a0From 1993 to 2003 90 percent of my law firm revenue was E. coli cases linked to hamburger, and today that is nearly zero. \u00a0That is a success. However, that took deeming E. coli an adulterant in hamburger, increasing cook temperatures, and other interventions. \u00a0We can make that happen in other parts of the food industry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>On your website you provide your readers with 25 cases that you are most proud of. What\u2019s a common theme among this selection? What makes you proud of a case?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bill Marler: I suppose it is simply that I had the honor of representing just fine people and their families and I have remained close to them to this day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Okay, let\u2019s shift gears from court cases to food safety policy. You played a major role in spurring the passage of the 2010-2011 FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, which was signed into law by President Obama in 2011 and puts a focus on preventing contamination as opposed to responding to it. Has the law been successful in preventing outbreaks?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bill Marler: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you \u00a0had asked me that in any year before 2018, I would have said yes. \u00a0The volume of outbreaks and recalls were trending down. But something has happened that I am still unclear about. \u00a0I do not know if success has bred compliancy or if some other factor is at play.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>In 2015 you are quoted in a Forbes article saying, \u201cThe FDA is on record as referring to themselves as overburdened, underfunded, understaffed, and in possession of no real power to make a difference during recalls. If you are a food manufacturer, packer, or distributor, you are more likely to be hit by lightning than be inspected by the FDA.\u201d Has that changed? Is the FDA better equipped nowadays? What do we need to do to improve regulations by government? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bill Marler: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No, and with the shutdown it has been even worse. \u00a0I would argue that Food Safety and Inspection Service has perhaps too many inspectors \u2013 in my humble opinion we do not need an inspector in every plant. \u00a0However, FDA inspectors are too few and too far between. In a perfect world there would be a reallocation of resources that might not save money but would put resources in the right places.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>An estimated 15 percent of the U.S food supply is imported, including 60 percent of fresh fruits and vegetables and 80 percent of seafood. How do we ensure food safety standards across borders?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bill Marler: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a growing challenge that FDA is trying to deal with, but again, they do not have the resources to keep up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>We are aware of the usual culprits for foodborne illnesses &#8212; unwashed lettuce, uncooked meat, buffets. But is it true that we are also seeing the recall of more unexpected sources, such as flour and nut butters? If so, why is this the case? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bill Marler: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bugs are out to get us. WE \u2013 consumers, industry, government and academics&#8211; need to continue to pay attention to changing threats. \u00a0WE need to create food safety cultures that change along with \u2013 and, hopefully ahead of&#8211; the changing threats.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Are there any other \u201cunexpected\u201d foods that should be on our radar? What is the scariest thing we are eating that we don\u2019t know is unsafe for us? \u00a0What keeps you up at night, and what do you avoid eating? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bill Marler: See: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marlerblog.com\/case-news\/10-things-food-safety-expert-bill-marler-does-not-eat\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.marlerblog.com\/case-news\/10-things-food-safety-expert-bill-marler-does-not-eat\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>What about pesticides? Should we be eating only organic foods? Are GMOs safe? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bill Marler: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Honestly, I tend to pay attention to the things that can kill us today as opposed to long-term risks. \u00a0I try to stay away from this debate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Both the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have created simple food safety rules to abide by. What are your three top rules for food safety?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bill Marler: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wash, Chill and Cook.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>As we move into 2019, what is one headline we can expect to see regarding food safety and foodborne illnesses?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bill Marler: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Romaine Lettuce Sickens and Kills more People.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s the ONE thing consumers should be doing to ensure food safety that we\u2019re not? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bill Marler: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read my 10 things not to eat and Wash, Chill and Cook.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>FACT SHEET<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>Grew up in:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Washington State<\/span><br \/>\n<b>City or town you call home: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bainbridge Island (across from Seattle)<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Job title<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Managing Partner at Marler Clark and Publisher of Food Safety News<\/span><br \/>\n<b>As a child you wanted to be:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a lawyer<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Your proudest moment? <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Every day that my wife of 30 years puts up with me and our three daughters.<\/span><br \/>\n<b>What&#8217;s your motto?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0There is no difference between work life and home life<\/span><br \/>\n<b>What is the best advice you have been given?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You are not that smart \u2013 you have to work harder than everyone else.<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Background and education:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0BAs in political science, English and economics and a JD in Law<\/span><br \/>\n<b>One word you would use to describe our food system:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0Three wheels in search of a fourth.<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Food Safety hero:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Dave Theno<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Your breakfast this morning<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: \u00a0Oatmeal and a cup of coffee<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Favorite food<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: All food cooked by my wife<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Last meal on Earth:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Scotch and cigar<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Your healthiest habit<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Fly fishing<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Least healthy habit<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Fly Fishing with cigar<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Food safety social media must follow<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: @bmarler and @foodsafetynews<\/span><br \/>\n<b>Food Safety newsletter, website or book you can\u2019t stop reading<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.foodsafetynews.com\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">www.foodsafetynews.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bill Marler is a foodborne-illness attorney, who has become a major food policy advocate in the U.S. and around the world. His firm, Marler Clark, has a very descriptive tagline:&hellip;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":9012,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,287],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interviews","category-public-health-policy"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.9 (Yoast SEO v27.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Interview with Bill Marler, Esq. 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The Center conducts extensive research on longevity and healthspan, exploring how nutrition and lifestyle interventions can extend both lifespan and the number of years lived in good health. Core to its work is the dissemination of reliable, peer-reviewed information on nutrition, longevity science, and healthy aging, as well as ensuring universal access to healthy, affordable food, and creating a more equitable, smart food system that will improve health outcomes. A distinguished scholar and influential figure in the fields of public health, nutrition, and food policy, Dr. Platkin is a Distinguished Lecturer (Emeritus) at City University of New York at Hunter College. He has both a Masters Degree and a Ph.D. in Public Health, specializing in nutrition. He also has a law degree, and throughout his career has been dedicated to a multidisciplinary approach to academic research, community health interventions and complex health and policy issues, encompassing law, public health, and nutrition. Dr. Platkin has occupied influential roles in public health, notably serving as the Executive Director of the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center from 2012 to 2023. During this time, he played a pivotal role in shaping food-related policies in New York City. His entrepreneurial leadership extends across multiple sectors: he is the co-founder and strategic advisor to Diversion Books (DiversionBooks.com), a book publishing company; Chief Strategy Officer at PopCom Health (PopComHealth.com); founder and managing director of Magoo Properties (MagooProperties.com); and co-founder and director of MedicalBx (MedicalBx.com), which develops boutique hospitals and mobile medical clinics to enhance healthcare access in underserved areas. His leadership also extended to co-founding and operating organizations like Integrated Wellness Solutions, where he leveraged innovative approaches and technology to enhance health and wellness. He is a powerful advocate for healthier communities and for shaping the field of nutrition and food policy in lasting ways. Dr. Platkin has made significant contributions to the field of public health and nutrition issues through his research. He has published in several peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals, including the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, the Journal of Obesity and Weight Loss, the International Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, BioMed Central (BMC) Obesity; and the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. He is the author of eight books. His forthcoming book, Eat to Cheat Death: Using Food as Medicine to Live Better, Live Stronger, Live Healthier, and Live Longer (Simon &amp; Schuster, 2027), synthesizes cutting-edge research on nutrition and longevity. His first book, Breaking the Pattern (Red Mill Press 2002, Plume 2004), was a bestseller in hardcover; it has been used by addiction clinics to assist patients with resolving drug and alcohol-related issues, and more than 20 universities around the country use it as a text to teach behavioral change techniques to nutrition and dietetic counseling interns. His other titles include The Diet Detective's Count Down (Simon and Schuster, 2007), The Diet Detective's Calorie Bargain Bible (Simon and Schuster, 2008), The Diet Detective's Diet Starter Kit (Diversion, 2011), and The Diet Detective's All-American Diet (Rodale, 2012). Charles Platkin's contributions to the fields of health, nutrition, and public policy have earned him recognition and numerous accolades. He was cited by the New York State Governor for his contributions to the development of nutrition materials for NYS Mentoring in March 2019, showcasing his dedication to public health and education. He was also honored as a Politics of Food honoree by City &amp; State in November 2018 for his commitment to promoting healthy eating and food policy reform. Additionally, Dr. Platkin's success as a principal investigator and grant recipient reflects his impact in the field, as he has secured multiple grants to support research and initiatives related to food policy and nutrition. Beyond his academic and research pursuits, Charles Platkin has engaged with the public through various media outlets. He was the host and executive producer of WE TV's series I Want To Save Your Life, where he helped individuals transform their health through nutrition and lifestyle interventions. His syndicated health, nutrition, and fitness column, the Diet Detective, appeared in more than 150 daily newspapers and media outlets for nearly 20 years. His appearances on thousands of radio shows, in newspapers, magazines, and online platforms have reached a broad audience. His commitment to educating the public underscores his dedication to public health. 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The Center conducts extensive research on longevity and healthspan, exploring how nutrition and lifestyle interventions can extend both lifespan and the number of years lived in good health. Core to its work is the dissemination of reliable, peer-reviewed information on nutrition, longevity science, and healthy aging, as well as ensuring universal access to healthy, affordable food, and creating a more equitable, smart food system that will improve health outcomes. A distinguished scholar and influential figure in the fields of public health, nutrition, and food policy, Dr. Platkin is a Distinguished Lecturer (Emeritus) at City University of New York at Hunter College. He has both a Masters Degree and a Ph.D. in Public Health, specializing in nutrition. He also has a law degree, and throughout his career has been dedicated to a multidisciplinary approach to academic research, community health interventions and complex health and policy issues, encompassing law, public health, and nutrition. Dr. Platkin has occupied influential roles in public health, notably serving as the Executive Director of the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center from 2012 to 2023. During this time, he played a pivotal role in shaping food-related policies in New York City. His entrepreneurial leadership extends across multiple sectors: he is the co-founder and strategic advisor to Diversion Books (DiversionBooks.com), a book publishing company; Chief Strategy Officer at PopCom Health (PopComHealth.com); founder and managing director of Magoo Properties (MagooProperties.com); and co-founder and director of MedicalBx (MedicalBx.com), which develops boutique hospitals and mobile medical clinics to enhance healthcare access in underserved areas. His leadership also extended to co-founding and operating organizations like Integrated Wellness Solutions, where he leveraged innovative approaches and technology to enhance health and wellness. He is a powerful advocate for healthier communities and for shaping the field of nutrition and food policy in lasting ways. Dr. Platkin has made significant contributions to the field of public health and nutrition issues through his research. He has published in several peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals, including the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, the Journal of Obesity and Weight Loss, the International Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, BioMed Central (BMC) Obesity; and the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. He is the author of eight books. His forthcoming book, Eat to Cheat Death: Using Food as Medicine to Live Better, Live Stronger, Live Healthier, and Live Longer (Simon &amp; Schuster, 2027), synthesizes cutting-edge research on nutrition and longevity. His first book, Breaking the Pattern (Red Mill Press 2002, Plume 2004), was a bestseller in hardcover; it has been used by addiction clinics to assist patients with resolving drug and alcohol-related issues, and more than 20 universities around the country use it as a text to teach behavioral change techniques to nutrition and dietetic counseling interns. His other titles include The Diet Detective's Count Down (Simon and Schuster, 2007), The Diet Detective's Calorie Bargain Bible (Simon and Schuster, 2008), The Diet Detective's Diet Starter Kit (Diversion, 2011), and The Diet Detective's All-American Diet (Rodale, 2012). Charles Platkin's contributions to the fields of health, nutrition, and public policy have earned him recognition and numerous accolades. He was cited by the New York State Governor for his contributions to the development of nutrition materials for NYS Mentoring in March 2019, showcasing his dedication to public health and education. He was also honored as a Politics of Food honoree by City &amp; State in November 2018 for his commitment to promoting healthy eating and food policy reform. Additionally, Dr. Platkin's success as a principal investigator and grant recipient reflects his impact in the field, as he has secured multiple grants to support research and initiatives related to food policy and nutrition. Beyond his academic and research pursuits, Charles Platkin has engaged with the public through various media outlets. He was the host and executive producer of WE TV's series I Want To Save Your Life, where he helped individuals transform their health through nutrition and lifestyle interventions. His syndicated health, nutrition, and fitness column, the Diet Detective, appeared in more than 150 daily newspapers and media outlets for nearly 20 years. His appearances on thousands of radio shows, in newspapers, magazines, and online platforms have reached a broad audience. His commitment to educating the public underscores his dedication to public health. He received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University, a law degree from Fordham University, a Master of Public Health and a Ph.D. in Public Health from Florida International University in Miami Florida.","sameAs":["https:\/\/foodmedcenter.org","foodmedcenter","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/platkin","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@foodmedcenter","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Charles_Stuart_Platkin"],"honorificPrefix":"Dr.","honorificSuffix":"PhD, JD, MPH","url":"https:\/\/foodmedcenter.org\/es_do\/author\/charles-platkin\/"}]}},"modified_by":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foodmedcenter.org\/es_do\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9008","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foodmedcenter.org\/es_do\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foodmedcenter.org\/es_do\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foodmedcenter.org\/es_do\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foodmedcenter.org\/es_do\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9008"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/foodmedcenter.org\/es_do\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9008\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16290,"href":"https:\/\/foodmedcenter.org\/es_do\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9008\/revisions\/16290"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foodmedcenter.org\/es_do\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9012"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foodmedcenter.org\/es_do\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9008"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foodmedcenter.org\/es_do\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9008"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foodmedcenter.org\/es_do\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}