Lost in the din of legislative weekend activity concerning “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the DREAM Act, Congress actually took a rare ambitious step toward addressing a growing problem in our country.
The Food Safety and Modernization Act, which was raised from the dead after a procedural error seemed to doom its passage and should improve the level of safety in America’s food supply, passed the Senate Sunday. The House OK’d it Tuesday.
The measure marks the first significant change to food safety regulation since 1938. It would allow Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulators to move more quickly to report possible food illnesses, and it gives them broad powers to demand recalls and require that imported food meets regulatory standards.
This is actually big news, even eclipsing the fact that the measure passed the Senate by unanimous consent. (Let’s pause here for a moment to let that revelation sink in.)
The upgrading of food safety regulations is long overdue and badly needed.
Outbreaks of food illnesses have always been with us, but they seem to have grown more notable in recent years. Determining whether this is due to more actual cases turning up or greater, more unblinking media coverage of such outbreaks is problematic. But we do know the toll: Last week, the Centers for Disease Control reported that tainted food is responsible for approximately 3,000 deaths and 48 million cases (300,000 of them serious) of illness each year, running at an annual cost of $152 billion.
This measure is aimed at more than domestic production, which is terribly important to consider here.
In the 72 years since the last food safety measures were enacted, the American food supply has grown into a global buffet. Today, the U.S. imports about 15 percent of its food supply, according to the Department of Agriculture. But this also includes 80 percent of all seafood and about 33 percent of fruits and nuts. One official estimates that the Food and Drug Administration currently inspects only about 1 percent of all food imports. Thus, upgrading safety procedures from the 1930s to meet our 21st century appetites does truly stand as an important step forward.
The bill would also force domestic companies to make their records more quickly available for inspection. The FDA would also be required to inspect production facilities more frequently.
However, the measure is not all encompassing: It does not affect meat and some egg production, which falls under the province of the Department of Agriculture.
Still, the measure would cover about 80 percent of the American food supply.
Another issue of concern is how the new regulations may impact small domestic producers, who in some cases may have to purchase new equipment for tracking production, as well as pay higher insurance prices. This is why the bill will have what is being described as a long, phase-in period to allow these producers to adjust. Also, there are different, less stringent provisions for small producers who sell directly to consumers and restaurants.
Of course, nothing is perfect. Some critics are concerned that the measure introduces new avenues of influence for major corporations. This could give more muscle to large producers and industrial agriculture. Does that sound familiar? Once more, vigilance will be essential.
Overall, the food safety bill is an overdue upgrade and an ambitious move toward safeguarding for our nation’s food supply.
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