Commentary
Eschewing contaminants
in 2019…
As we go to press, the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) announced
nine new cases of infection with E. coli from eating Romaine lettuce,
bringing the total number of people sickened in the U.S. to 52. There are happily
no deaths reported, but 19 people have been hospitalized.
Romaine lettuce sold in stores now sport labels listing the region where the produce
was grown, along with its harvest date, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
By checking these labels, consumers can quickly determine that the produce is safe
to eat.
I have to admit, that’s too difficult for me. I don’t know offhand
which regions and time frames are safe. I guess I could look
it up on my phone while in the grocery store, but I find myself
just avoiding lettuce—all lettuce—altogether. And that’s a shame,
because I love most kinds of lettuce. I just don’t trust myself to
make sure I get my agricultural districts straight or to distinguish
Romaine from something that may just look like Romaine.
As I patiently wait for the “all clear,” I am constantly reminded
of how easy it sometimes can be for products to get contaminated,
even with best practices in place. That’s what makes aerosol
products so beneficial.
Since they are hermetically sealed, the contents of an aerosol
can can’t spill or leak out, which is especially helpful when traveling.
And unlike the strawberries in Australia, recently sabotaged
with needles by a disgruntled and vengeful farm supervisor,
aerosols are tamper-resistant and tamper-evident.
However, it’s not just the products that are safe, clean and not
spilling all over the place. Consider the user, who is also virtually
free from contaminants just by using aerosols. Imagine a pack of
Cub Scouts on a camping trip. They all get poison ivy and must
share a bottle of calamine lotion and a bag of cotton balls. Yuk—
think of the mess and potential waste. Now imagine those same
Cub Scouts sharing a can of calamine spray. There is minimal waste, no rubbing of itchy
rashes and no sharing of used cotton balls.
Consider similar situations in burn units and senior facilities or at sporting events—
beneficial aerosol products are hygienically applied to burns, sores or lacerations without
contact. They help stem cross-contamination of germs and minimize pain. There is no
mixing of components or worrying about dosage. When finished, they can be easily
stored for next time.
The sharing concept is perhaps one of my favorite aspects of aerosol products. Raised
in a family with many children, I was territorial and found sharing to be very undesirable.
Yet, I now like the idea of sharing an aerosol. When I go to concerts in the park
in the summer, I approach the people on every side of me and offer them use of my
bug repellent or sunscreen (depending on time of day). If you have a cup of coffee at
my house, I always offer a squirt of whipped cream on top. Is that appropriate? I don’t
know. And I don’t care, I just want you to have some.
However, as usual, I digress. My hope for this New Year is to continue to see even
more helpful and diverse products launch in an aerosol format (and to start eating lettuce
6 Spray January 2019
Spray Technology & Marketing
Cynthia Hundley
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Volume 29, No. 1, January, 2019
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again soon).
Happy New Year,