Madkins007 said:2. "The parent's responsibility..." Exactly WHOSE responsibility is it to teach the parents about this? And if you say it is the government or the press's job, I'll scream because that is what the article is TRYING to do!
It's the parents responsibility to teach themselves about this. I think most would agree that a certain amount of due diligence is necessary before taking on the responsibility of a living creature, especially if their children are going to be involved in the care and raising of the animal. In most publications and web sites about turtles and tortoises there is some word of caution regarding the possibility of salmonella poisoning in turtles and tortoises. It wouldn't take that much research for a parent to understand that there is a threat, which can simply be avoided by careful handling and hand washing.