In July 30th, KAAGNY hosted a meeting with the NYC Health Department. Deputy Chief, Elliot Marcus, was in attendance and meaningful exchanges were made towards our different views on some regulations governing our ethnic foods, such as sushi rolls.
Due to the way rice reacts with air, the bacteria level crosses the regulatory standard even after very short period. However, the rice is prepared with vinegar and does not pose any health issues. This is empirically proven not only by lack of any major medical statistics for food sickness, but we all know it is a common practice right here in our city for decades. No one gets sick from eating California rolls.
People in Japan and Korea do not get sick either. Sushi rolls can not to be sold after if it is refrigerated. The taste of rice is ruined and it no longer is the same thing. How much fines have our food vendors have paid in fine, just to provide for the public demand. If the regulation is archaic, we must change it to meet our current needs. This is not about the micrograms of this and that. This should be about common sense.
The predictable reply that the Department of Health is standing by to protect the public well being. No one denies that they should step away from their mission. But they should not be so proud that any regulation is perfect, and thus not require change. If our Constitution of the United States can be amended to meet the needs of the current times, so should a regulation in a health department. We have now over several decades worth of statistics of people getting food poisoning by eating sushi and Californian rolls, and the amount of fines levied by the Health Department. We should let common sense rule the day.
The government of Japan and Korea also care for the well beings of their citizens. Simply vinegar rice stays good to eat for longer period of time than regular rice. We should all accept that to be the fact. KAAGNY has scheduled another meeting with the Health Department. We have also distributed to the restaurant and deli owners the materials the Health Department wanted us to distribute. If the heart is at the welfare of the citizens of New York, we know we can solve this problem together.
