Food, Sex and Salmonella: Why Our Food Is Making Us Sick

by David Waltner-Toews

What sex is to interpersonal relationships, eating is to the human-environment a consummation of humans’ connection to the living biosphere. But while sticking one’s tongue into a new and exciting environment may be an act as old as the planet, it can also lead to some nasty surprises. In this lively look at foodborne illnesses, David Waltner-Toews discusses food-related problems caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites, including death by puffer fish, rollicking tales of tapeworms, neurological problems brought on by ciguatera poison, and that old standby, botulism. He also examines the chemicals and antibiotics that have entered the food supply and the havoc they can wreak. And to help readers stop problems before they start, he offers common-sense solutions to confronting the complicated issue of foodborne disease. His witty approach makes a deadly serious subject accessible to all readers, while never minimizing the risk.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

David Waltner-Toews is a veterinary epidemiologist specializing in diseases people get from other animals. A University of Guelph Professor Emeritus and founding president of Veterinarians without Borders-Canada, he was the recipient of the inaugural award for contributions to ecosystem approaches to health from The International Association for Ecology and Health. He is the author of more than twenty award-winning books of poetry, fiction, and science, including, in 2020, “On Pandemics: Deadly Diseases from Bubonic Plague to Coronavirus” and "The Inter-Pandemic Backyard Chicken Book: a retirement memoir, with chickens."

Reviews

[Jay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somehow this book is surface level in its content yet hard to follow at the same time. The examples of food borne disease given, of which there are way too many, tease at meaningful analysis but never take it far enough and take away space for any sort of compelling narrative. If there was any such discussion to be had in the second half of the book, I was already so lost and bored that I found myself skimming and skipping entire chapters (which I never do), so I unfortunately missed out.
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer is a much better book about eating meat and factory farming that addresses virtually all of the points expressed in this book, including discussion about food borne diseases.

[Hridya Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very gripping, and well written.
I really like this Canadian author's personal stories of travels.

[Littlepeach · Rating 3 out of 5]

The content is kind of superficial, however I like the metaphors

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure I can take seriously and finish a book that includes, on its first page, the following statement: "Easy food, like easy sex, leads us down a path to waste and destruction of ourselves and the planet we live on." The author doesn't bother, in that preface to the second edition, to explain just what "easy food" or "easy sex" might mean, or why they (particularly the second) necessarily lead to "destruction," nor does the food=sex construction of the book seem particularly necessary for a discussion of food and disease. I'll give this one a try, as I usually like discussions of this and related topics, but I sincerely hope that the quality improves in the main body of the text.

Note: after reading this a bit more, it's fairly interesting, but the language, author's weird perspectives, and constructions continue to get in the way of it being a really well-done book.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is pretty amazing. I have always been a little wary of food and how it is prepared, where it came from, etc, and this book affirms my fears, but also offers practical advice as to protect yourself. It is written as though you are establishing a long term relationship (i.e. the sex part of the title) with food, which makes you really question how much you actually think about what you are putting in your body. We, as humans, are picky about who we choose to date, but seem to carelessly eat almost anything, completely oblivious to the origins. I recommend!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warning: Do not eat food while reading this book.
This book is not for the light of heart (or should I say stomach).

Review to come when I've finished the one for work.

Briefly: It's a good book. The beginning is kinda icky, and I think the last chapter could stand alone as an article or essay. The whole book has some good ideas and excellent points, and gives you a lot to think about. But I don't think I would have continued reading it if it wasn't for work.

[Elaine Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleverly written with a wry wit, although it makes you want to go find a plastic bubble to hide in. Vast amounts of information about food-borne illnesses and toxins, both historical and recent. Re-emphasizes the point that our global food system is a massive disaster waiting to happen. (Or happening already, depending on how you look at it.) Eat local, keep the hot foods hot & the cold foods cold, and wash your hands! (Not so much sex, honestly, except as metaphor. But that's okay.)

[Jan]

"We can't fornicate with the environment without a cost". A bit long-winded and strident at times but truth on a cracker. More detailed and militant than some of the other books advocating a change in eating habits.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Waltner-Toews is a really fun writer who can make something as serious as food borne diseases amusing. I learned a lot from this book about e-coli, food poisoning etc. Interesting and cringe worthy.

[Ayacalypso · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as I had hoped it to be, but interesting.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

some interesting info,
the author likes to rant about unrelated subjects,
he should stay on topic.