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About Health Dialogues

Health Dialogues is a special series from KQED's "The California Report" that facilitates an ongoing discussion of California health care issues that are important to the underserved: children, low-income residents, minorities, and people with disabilities to name just a few.

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Underwritten by a grant from
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Food Safety

Recent scares over tainted peanut butter and spinach exposed holes in our system of protecting the food supply. Sometimes it seems like we lurch from outbreak to outbreak with changing recommendations. Join Health Dialogues as we explore how our food is inspected to keep it safe from disease.

Reforming the Food Safety System

Host Scott Shafer speaks with two experts who are familiar with food safety at the federal level. Guest: Dr. David Acheson, former associate commissioner for foods at the FDA. Guest: Mike Taylor, senior advisor to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg.

Audio slideshow: Take a trip to the Port of Los Angeles, where FDA investigators decide which imports to let into the country, and which to turn away.

Music Bridge 1: "More of You" by Guy Monk, from the CD "Solid" (I Records)

Photo: Sarah Varney

The Safety of California's Leafy Greens

Health Dialogues examines what upcoming federal legislation might mean for California's producers of leafy greens. Reporter: Sarah Varney

The Health Inspector

Tag along with an inspector from the San Francisco Department of Public Health, as he visits markets in San Francisco's Outer Mission district. Guest: Sheldon Lew, senior health inspector for the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Slideshow: Is your local market up to health department standards? San Francisco health inspector Sheldon Lew can tell you.

Music Bridge 2: "Tezeta" by Gojogo, from the CD "All Is Fair" (Galaxia)

Photo: Polly Stryker

Consumer Safety in the Kitchen

Join Scott Shafer as he drops by the kitchen of a food safety expert. Guest: Christine Bruhn, food safety expert at UC Davis.

More: Youth Radio Eats : a hands-on food journal produced by Youth Radio teen interns

Music Bridge 3: "That's All It Is" by Mike Stern, from the CD Big Neighborhood (Heads Up)

Seafood Safety

Health Dialogues explores the safety of sport and subsistence fishing in our state. Reporter: Mina Kim

Soil Safety

Growing your own food might seem to be the healthiest option, but do you know what's in your soil? Health Dialogues takes a look at the safety of soil in urban gardens. Reporter: Julieta Kusnir

More: City Slicker Farms : Learn more about this program that creates organic urban farms and gardens in West Oakland.
More: Get The Lead Out : Resources for local lead poisoning prevention programs in the Bay Area.
More: USDA Facilities List : California facilities authorized by USDA to receive soil samples for testing.

End Music: "Fat Mama" by Herbie Hancock, from the CD "Mwandishi" (Warner Bros.)

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Health Dialogues