CDC Swipes Cards to Find Salmonella Source
In successfully uncovering the source of a recent salmonella outbreak, investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) used a new tool — the shopper cards that millions of Americans swipe for discounts when they buy groceries. (look at the nasty little culprit in the photo).
“It was really exciting. It was a break in the investigation for sure,” according to CDC epidemiologist Casey Barton Behravesh.
Victims, by and large, did not seem to have a problem handing over their shopper cards. Raymond Cirimele, a 55-year-old Chicago man, said that though no one asked for his card, he would have handed it over happily. “I don’t have any secrets, so I’m not worried about it,” he said. “It’s kind of like the whole airport security and all that. I’d rather fly on a safe plane.” Supermarkets generally supply information to health authorities with customers consent, according to an official from the Food Marketing Institute.
