Administrative Law
Bioterrorism Rule Ineffective in Salmonella Outbreak
Posted Jul 10, 2008, 08:59 am CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss
A Food and Drug Administration rule adopted under a bioterrorism law was supposed to help officials trace threats to the food supply.
The rule requires importers, processors and distributors to keep track of where they buy produce and where it goes—keeping records for one step forward and one step back in the supply chain, the New York Times reports. The problem, though, is that many food handlers repack produce, mixing together items from several sources. The repacking makes it difficult to trace contamination to the source.
Some consumer groups and lawmakers are calling for changes to allow tracking of food from the point of origin to sale. David Acheson, the FDA’s associate commissioner for foods, told the Times the agency doesn't have the authority to implement such a regulation. But former FDA commissioner David Kessler said the agency has the authority but doesn’t have the “impetus” to do it.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now says hot peppers and cilantro are possible sources of the salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 1,000 people, the Washington Post reports. Tomatoes are still considered potential culprits as well.
Related Stories
- Banner Year for Labor Law Expected in 2009
Sep 4, 2008, 03:06 pm CDT - SOX Protections for Whistle-Blowers Don’t Go as Far as Drafter Intended
Sep 4, 2008, 11:02 am CDT - Asa Hutchinson to Leave Venable, Form Ark. Practice With Son
Sep 3, 2008, 03:39 pm CDT - Indictment Claims Scientist’s Notes Hinted of U.S. Attack
Sep 3, 2008, 10:23 am CDT
Related Topics
Commenting has expired on this post.
Comments
Posted by Robert Racks - 1 month, 3 weeks, 4 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes ago
It should be noted that the heiraarchy of the FDA gave themselves $35 million dollars in bonuses (over and above their $200k annual pay) of taxpayer’s money for the fiscal year 2007. (WSJ) The latest outbreak makes one wonder what the bonuses were for. Since when do we give civil servants bonuses for doing their job---which obviously they are NOT. Therefore the logical and legal conclusion should be sanctions in the amount they payed themselves.
Posted by Lloyd Parker, MD - 1 month, 3 weeks, 1 day, 23 hours, 48 minutes ago
If you can’t trace produce, or detect bacteria that are inside of produce; how can any process other than low dose irradiation protect Americans from intentional or unintentional produce tainting. Irradiation is low cost, safe, effective, and the only process capable of eliminating risk from bacteria inside of plants. All claims by the opposition are inaccurate, unscientific, and not supported by the evidence. Irradiation is the most studied food process in history and safer than most methods used, such as chlorine or fumigation, which are banned in most of the world since they are known carcinogens. Australia uses a kill-step to make their produce safe. There they say, “If you nuke it it is safe.” Her we say, “We are ignorant and wish to stay that way, so we can live in fear as to who may wish to poison us. When we have enough Americans dying, the FDA hopes Americans will demand safe food so they can re-consider approval of irradiation.”