Why aren’t you dead?

John Goodman's Health Policy Blog wonders why more people are being poisoned by restaurants - noting how inept public health inspectors are:

What keeps you alive is the desire of private enterprises to have you return as a loyal customer.

Businesses operating on narrow profit margins in highly competitive markets cannot afford a safety scare. That could bankrupt them. As a result, the private sector often goes way beyond what government requires and often does a better job.