Will our food -- and our pets ' -- be safer soon?

I am not holding my breath, but some cautious and skeptical semi-quasi-optimism about the safety of our food supply is not entirely irrational at this moment, pending the further analysis and developments that will undoubtedly make this all entirely meaningless -- and of course, no mention of the pet food recall or pet food at all:

A Senate committee passed legislation on Wednesday that would increase government oversight of the U.S. food supply, which has been battered by a series of high-profile recalls that have soured consumer confidence in the food safety system.



The bill would expand U.S. Food and Drug Administration oversight of the food supply by giving it the power to order recalls, increase inspection rates and require all facilities to have a food safety plan in place.



[....]It has been almost 50 years since oversight of the food supply was significantly overhauled, but momentum to reform the system has grown following high-profile outbreaks involving lettuce, peppers, peanuts and spinach since 2006.



An estimated 76 million people in the United States get sick every year with foodborne illness and 5,000 die, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.



The Senate legislation would require FDA to inspect all food facilities at least once every four years and high-risk plants no less than once a year. Currently, many facilities can go several years without being inspected.



It also would implement traceability for fruits and vegetables, and require the FDA to conduct a pilot study for processed foods.

Read the whole thing here. Tell us whatcha think.

Comments

[Carol V]

I think a good start...but traceability is important to more than fruits and vegs...for example the recent ecoli beef recall in the northeast that all could not be accounted for--most probably thought the "vendors" were mentioned but the reprocessing of the beef went to other unamed sources...and this still does not address the trouble with the USDA that I read about at Dr Nestle's blog.. http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/11/want-safe-meat-make-usda-do-its-job/

Unless the USDA or the FDA has authority to tell companies what they have to test for..I see no forward progress in that..



I so want to see some steps to a safer food supply...so I'll stop here and can't wait to read some other's comments that I have learned to respect here...

[Gina Spadafori]

I like the mandatory recall provision. The rest seems a lot of industry-negotiated BS.

[Carol V]

and in case you don't know the latest.. (no inspection forced this recall)

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_062_2009_Release/index.asp

snipett.

WASHINGTON, November 17, 2009 - Thrive Foods, a Lindon, Utah, establishment, is recalling approximately 3,790 pounds of assorted meat and poultry products because they were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

[Eucritta]

Well, it sounds nice. Problem is, we know that current regulations aren't being enforced, and industry is given every opportunity to circumvent scrutiny and avoid consequences. However, I *am* glad that the bill includes provisions to raise money for regulation from the industry. Seems to me it's a baby step - a baby hamster sized step - but it's in the right direction anyway.

[Rebecca]

It's a good start. For what we pay for food, you'd think that someone would be monitoring it. Then again, they can't monitor our financial establishments :)

[Sandi K]

I also like the part about FDA possibly getting recall authority. I havent read the legislation but my concern is does it specify that animal and pet food manufacturers are included? Because if it doesnt, we all know they will be jumping thru that loophole faster than you can say melamine....