Food Safety is a Critical Concern

With President Obama set to sign a bill authorizing greater oversight powers for the FDA today, one should remember it is only the first step in protecting Americans from contaminated food.

The issue of food safety is of paramount importance to Americans, whow are being deluged with recall after recall. Just late last week, Nestlé recalled its Toll House refrigerated cookie dough after 66 people have become sick from E. coli. This particular strain has been linked with contaminated meat (as of now) – food that should not be anywhere close to the cookie dough process. This, along with numerous other contaminations and outbreaks or salmonella and other health hazards across the country, show the urgent need for reform.

An editorial in the Los Angeles Times is calling for Congress to enact legislation that gives the FDA the power to follow the origins of the ingredients in the foods manufacturers make. This would allow the FDA to trace back the ingredients to the source in the case of a contamination and would help stop these problems more quickly. The NYT also recommends putting all food surveillance under one government agency – combining the oversight powers of the FDA and the USDA so that a greater focus on health and safety can be developed.