What's with all the food illnesses lately? A normal thing, or government failure?

[Target_For_Exterm]

Here's another one from today:

"INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (CNN) -- -- About 300 people have reported becoming sick after eating at an Olive Garden restaurant in northeast Indianapolis, a spokesman for the Marion County Health Department told CNN on Friday.

The customers became ill after eating at the restaurant between Saturday and Wednesday, said John Althardt. They have reported nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and, in some cases, fever, and three have been hospitalized, he said.

Althardt said the health department hopes to start testing -- as early as Friday afternoon -- stool samples of the sick and leftovers that restaurant patrons took home. Results may be available in about 48 hours.

Steve Coe, director of media relations for Olive Garden, said in a written statement that the company is "working closely with the local health department ... and will temporarily close the restaurant to give the health department a better opportunity to investigate this matter that may be tied to employees that recently had flu-like symptoms.""

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/12/15/olive.garden/index.html

Maybe food illnesses didn't used to get so much publicity, but lately it seems there are a LOT of food borne illnesses. I don't trust the FDA under Bush, so I wonder if it's just a naturally occuring thing that we normally don't hear about, or if the FDA isn't doing their job.

Seems there've been a lot more food illnesses ever since the government moved to corporate self-inspections. Are they REALLY self-inspecting like they need to be?