Was reading up about Salmonellosis today when I came across this interesting bit of information: The Four-Inch Law refers to a regulation passed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1975 outlawing the sale of turtles with a carapace length of less than four inches. Exceptions are present for scientific and educational use, export, and private sale. The law was enacted, according to the FDA, “because of the public health impact of turtle-associated Salmonellosis”. There had been reported cases of young children placing small turtles in their mouths, which led to the size-based restriction. Strange world, strange world…

Posted by Michael Paul Young on June 18th, 2008