Food Safety Bill Almost a Law

• Date: December 27, 2010
• Source: Admin

The surprise of the decade comes with the Food Safety Bill possibly becoming a law as the Senate recently passed the bill.

Consumer groups and businesses are largely supporting this measure, which has come into play with alarming statistical reports claiming that 1 in 6 people are affected by food poisoning, and 3,000 die. In view of the recent contamination of produce, eggs, and peanuts, this sweeping bill aims to make food safer although it also comes under severe flak from various directions questioning control of food rather than safety of food.

The new bill puts the onus on businesses to develop measures and strategies to prevent contamination, and create new tests as opposed to relying on government inspections to determine food contamination at factories. Exempt from this will be some egg and meat products as they fall under the purview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In addition, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will have the authority to trigger recalls of contaminated products under this bill. At present, they rely on food companies to voluntarily recall products off shelves. FDA will also gain access to internal records at farms and food-production facilities.

The $1.4 billion bill requires larger farms and food manufacturers to prepare detailed food safety plans and outline to the FDA their strategies/plans to prevent food contamination at varied production stages.

S. 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act

The Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act (FDAMA), enacted Nov. 21, 1997, amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act relating to the regulation of food, drugs, devices, and biological products. With the passage of FDAMA, Congress enhanced FDA's mission in ways that recognized the Agency would be operating in a 21st century characterized by increasing technological, trade and public health complexities.
 

Source

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/health/2010/12/senate_passes_food_safety_bill.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/19/AR2010121904201.html

http://www.npr.org/2010/12/21/132244053/house-passes-sweeping-food-safety-bill