Coming FDA Attractions: Greater Oversight?

The FDA role in ensuring food safety in the Obama administration will likely expand, according to a recent AP story. A senior campaign advisor is quoted as saying “He (President-elect Barack Obama) thinks this is a fundamental role of government to ensure that people's food is safe, and he has been concerned that we are not in a position to ensure that.”

Among the possibilities: a tracing system for fresh produce to address problems like this year’s tomato/hot pepper/salmonella outbreak, and increased oversight of imported foods, prompted by ongoing problems, particularly with melamine.

This has set off warning bells around the food industry—not only does business find the idea of government regulation distasteful, there’s a strong possibility that part of the new mandate might include industry fees to pay for more FDA inspectors. In this economic environment, the last thing any business wants to do is increase their costs. However, the economy goes both ways, meaning there’s also probably more economic incentive to knowingly or unknowingly cut corners in ways that could affect food safety.

And make no mistake; it’s not an agenda only espoused by those scary “left-wing socialists.” It’s something the American people want according to a new national food safety and labeling poll conducted by ConsumerReportsNationalResearchCenter. The poll finds that a large number of consumers are concerned about food safety, want more frequent government inspections of the food supply more frequently and want the government to publicly disclose where food safety problems arise. Among the findings:

• 73 % currently regard the overall food supply as safe
• 48% said their confidence in the safety of the nation's food supply has decreased
• 54% feel the government is doing all it can to ensure food safety
• 83% are concerned with harmful bacteria or chemicals in food
• 81% are concerned with the safety of imported food
• 81% think the FDA should conduct its inspections of domestic food-processing facilities at least twice a year (vs. the current rate of every 5 to 10 years)
• 82% strongly agree that when food safety problems arise, the FDA should disclose to the public the location of retailers who sold the potentially harmful food,
• 83% want the government to be able to require a recall, quickly and accurately trace food from production to sale

No matter what party holds power, it certainly sounds like a mandate to me.

   –Lynn A. Kuntz