that would allow demonstrably safe practices
Well, that's the problem, isn't it. The same government that would require us to cook poultry to 180 degrees is in charge here.
Funny related story: a very dear friend here in my neighborhood who is really, really anal retentive recently decided to get a public food license in advance of helping cook hotdogs for a giant neighborhood garage sale. Studying the pamphlet for the license changed Vic, who loves rules, forever. I was told there were these huge long lines at the hot dog stand, not only because this amenity was far more popular than anyone imagined, but because Vic wouldn't release a hot dog until he had poked a thermometer up it's butt and determined that it was the proper temperature.