ABSTRACT
The importance of safe food is obvious. Although estimates of the incidence of foodborne illness are imprecise, most people are in agreement that it is significant and possibly growing (NAS 1998). However, most foodborne illnesses are transitory, or difficult to trace to their source (Lassiter 1997). As a result, neither markets nor tort claims can be relied on to force suppliers to internalize their costs. Consumers can guard against many hazards through careful handling of food, but other dangers cannot be controlled at the site of preparation.
