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Media turn to Purdue for expertise
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When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers against eating spinach contaminated with E. coli, the media turned to Purdue University's Richard Linton, an expert on food pathogens, for information. Linton is currently researching new methods to rapidly detect and eradicate food-borne pathogens. |
Reporters often turn to Purdue Extension experts to provide technical information or help explain a problem to the public. Richard Linton, professor of food science, received numerous media queries after the September E. coli outbreak in spinach. Three deaths and 196 illnesses nationwide were attributed to contaminated cattle feces used to fertilize the spinach.
"This was the most publicized outbreak since the 1993 Jack in the Box one, which was also E. coli," Linton says. Four people died and hundreds of others became sick after eating undercooked hamburgers from the restaurant chain that were contaminated with the bacteria.
Linton spoke with 84 media outlets after the outbreak, many within the first two days. He was quoted in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and WebMD, among other outlets.
After he was quoted in The New York Times Friday, Sept. 15, many other media followed suit. Linton spent 13 hours that Friday and Saturday responding to media requests. A number of media are familiar with Linton through his work with the produce industry.
Purdue Extension experts have also been in the media this fall discussing pumpkin rot, ethanol production and corn prices.
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