“Ingredients for a Safe Food Supply”
Posted by
Jessica SmagaczFebruary 28, 2009 10:42 AM
This weekend, Atlanta Journal Constitution published an opinion from Pam Bailey, the president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, on how to create a safer food supply.
Pam Bailey mentions that the US continues to have one of the safest food supplies in the world. However, recent stories of food contamination, especially the peanut butter salmonella outbreak, “have troubled many American consumers and, in some cases, affected their confidence in our food supply.”
The opinion mentions a very good point: “without consumer confidence, nothing else we do is possible.”
Grocery Manufacturers Association has introduced a set of key elements they believe are essential to strengthening and modernizing the US food safety system.
FDA must be given the resources it needs to achieve its critical food safety mission. Pam Bailey said that “the situation at FDA can be likened to the experience many of us have with our favorite car once it crosses the 100,000 mile mark. It is a good car and has served us well. But eventually, even good cars need a tune-up or repairs to keep them safe and in good working order. Such is the case at FDA.”
Grocery Manufacturers Association calls on Congress & the Obama administration to increase the FDA food budget to at least $900 million to allow FDA to hire more qualified staff and inspectors, invest in advanced technologies and expand scientific programs.
Pam Bailey believes Congress’ role is absolutely critical. “We strongly believe Congress should: require every food company to have a food safety plan available for FDA confirmation; require that food importers police their foreign suppliers and make a foreign supplier food safety plan available to FDA; focus inspections on facilities and foods that pose the greatest risk of contamination that could result in food-borne illness or injury; give FDA the power to establish federal safety standards for certain fruits and vegetables—when risk and science demonstrate that standards are needed; and give FDA the authority to order a mandatory recall when a company has refused to conduct a voluntary recall and there is s serious risk to public health.”
Now, this is definitely true: “Americans have a right to SAFE FOOD.”
What do you think about Pam Bailey’s position?