Panel to offer information on food-borne illness

Skidmore's Student Nutrition Action Council will sponsor a panel discussion about food-borne illness titled "What's in Our Food?" at 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, in Davis Auditorium of Palamountain Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

Alyssa Chrobuck '09, vice president of SGA and herself the victim of a food-borne illness, will introduce the following panelists and topics:

-What is food poisoning and how does it happen? Sylvia Franke, assistant professor of microbiology at Skidmore

-Story of an E-coli survivor: Chrobuck, who became ill with E-coli in 1991 after eating tainted food at a Jack in the Box restaurant

-How does food-borne illness affect the greater population? Margaret Quinn, development coordinator for S.T.O.P. ( Safe Tables Our Priority)

-Food Safety in Skidmore's Dining Facilities: Mark Miller, production manager, Skidmore's Dining Services

-How to Shop Safely: Megan Weagley and Erin Merrell, co-presidents of Skidmore Nutrition Action Council, and Andrew Plotsky, campus food activist

Said Chrobuck, "I chose to do this because I was an E-coli survivor at the age of 5 and with all the recent recalls, I thought it was timely to present information to the community. I want people to take away a general understanding of what food-borne illness is, how to eat safely, and also to understand the gravity of the situation."

There will be time allowed for a Q&A session following the presentations.