1 Year After The Hepatitis Outbreak, Is Our Food Safer?

[Guest guest]

1 Year After The Hepatitis Outbreak, Is Our Food Safer?

FDA Recently Approved Produce Safety Plan

Becky

POSTED: 5:02 pm EST November 18, 2004

UPDATED: 8:12 am EST November 19, 2004

PITTSBURGH -- One year ago, the hepatitis outbreak at Chi-Chi's had everyone

asking tough questions about the safety of our food supply.

But one year later, has anything really changed?

Federal investigators linked contaminated green onions from Mexico to the

hepatitis outbreak.

But now, it's possible you could still get sick from contaminated green

onions.

The United States stopped trucks at the border, sent inspectors into Mexican

fields and heard a lot of tough talk. There was even a call for a

congressional investigation. That never happened.

State Rep. Hart said, " If it turns out that there was a similar

source and there were no warnings, yes, they made an error. "

Sen. Arlen Specter said, " If the standards are not adequate, that's a

subject for further FDA action. "

Yet in the year since the outbreak, little has been done to tackle the

problem of produce coming from farms with unsanitary conditions. That is,

until now.

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a produce safety plan.

The new plan is really a new way to start addressing microbial food borne

illness associated with fresh produce.

Its objective is to provide guidelines to prevent contamination of fresh

produce, minimize public impact when it occurs, support research and improve

communication between the food industry and consumers as well as between

agencies federal, state, and local that are in charge of food safety.

Critics say it falls short.

Caroline DeWaal from the Center for Science in the Public Interest

said, " The bottom line, whether the produce is coming in from other

countries or even grown domestically, is safe for our consumers to eat. The

FDA can't answer that question. "

DeWaal calls the FDA plan's focus on education and guidance the weakest form

of regulatory response.

Its failing, she said, is that it doesn't call for inspections of conditions

in fresh produce fields not only here, but outside the U.S.

FDA Food Safety Director Brackett said, " We will not be able to

expand our personal surveillance over the border because we don't have

authority over the border. "

Brackett said the U.S. is working with its international partners to

encourage good agricultural practices in the countries that export to the

us.

DeWaal said, " It's not enough to rely on foreign governments. The FDA needs

its own authority to go onto foreign farms. "

That's the same authority the U.S. Department of Agriculture has when it

does annual inspections of meat packing plants in countries that supply meat

to the U.S.

The agriculture secretary of Baja, a state in Mexico where much of the

winter produce is grown for this country, said he would have no problem with

the FDA conducting inspections there. That's as long as they conduct the

same field inspections in the United States.

As of this year, in the wake of the Chi-Chi's outbreak that linked tainted

green onions to the Baja region, the state has mandated that all growers in

the U.S. take part in a federal food safety certification program, a program

that is voluntary in other parts of Mexico.

The Mexican agriculture secretary added that, in the past, many growers in

the Baja region relied on inspections by third party private companies,

often from the U.S., but he said there was no enforcement of safety

violations.

A government certification now ensures enforcement.

http://www.wpxi.com/health/3931098/detail.html

[Guest guest]

1 Year After The Hepatitis Outbreak, Is Our Food Safer?

FDA Recently Approved Produce Safety Plan

Becky

POSTED: 5:02 pm EST November 18, 2004

UPDATED: 8:12 am EST November 19, 2004

PITTSBURGH -- One year ago, the hepatitis outbreak at Chi-Chi's had everyone

asking tough questions about the safety of our food supply.

But one year later, has anything really changed?

Federal investigators linked contaminated green onions from Mexico to the

hepatitis outbreak.

But now, it's possible you could still get sick from contaminated green

onions.

The United States stopped trucks at the border, sent inspectors into Mexican

fields and heard a lot of tough talk. There was even a call for a

congressional investigation. That never happened.

State Rep. Hart said, " If it turns out that there was a similar

source and there were no warnings, yes, they made an error. "

Sen. Arlen Specter said, " If the standards are not adequate, that's a

subject for further FDA action. "

Yet in the year since the outbreak, little has been done to tackle the

problem of produce coming from farms with unsanitary conditions. That is,

until now.

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a produce safety plan.

The new plan is really a new way to start addressing microbial food borne

illness associated with fresh produce.

Its objective is to provide guidelines to prevent contamination of fresh

produce, minimize public impact when it occurs, support research and improve

communication between the food industry and consumers as well as between

agencies federal, state, and local that are in charge of food safety.

Critics say it falls short.

Caroline DeWaal from the Center for Science in the Public Interest

said, " The bottom line, whether the produce is coming in from other

countries or even grown domestically, is safe for our consumers to eat. The

FDA can't answer that question. "

DeWaal calls the FDA plan's focus on education and guidance the weakest form

of regulatory response.

Its failing, she said, is that it doesn't call for inspections of conditions

in fresh produce fields not only here, but outside the U.S.

FDA Food Safety Director Brackett said, " We will not be able to

expand our personal surveillance over the border because we don't have

authority over the border. "

Brackett said the U.S. is working with its international partners to

encourage good agricultural practices in the countries that export to the

us.

DeWaal said, " It's not enough to rely on foreign governments. The FDA needs

its own authority to go onto foreign farms. "

That's the same authority the U.S. Department of Agriculture has when it

does annual inspections of meat packing plants in countries that supply meat

to the U.S.

The agriculture secretary of Baja, a state in Mexico where much of the

winter produce is grown for this country, said he would have no problem with

the FDA conducting inspections there. That's as long as they conduct the

same field inspections in the United States.

As of this year, in the wake of the Chi-Chi's outbreak that linked tainted

green onions to the Baja region, the state has mandated that all growers in

the U.S. take part in a federal food safety certification program, a program

that is voluntary in other parts of Mexico.

The Mexican agriculture secretary added that, in the past, many growers in

the Baja region relied on inspections by third party private companies,

often from the U.S., but he said there was no enforcement of safety

violations.

A government certification now ensures enforcement.

http://www.wpxi.com/health/3931098/detail.html

[Guest guest]

1 Year After The Hepatitis Outbreak, Is Our Food Safer?

FDA Recently Approved Produce Safety Plan

Becky

POSTED: 5:02 pm EST November 18, 2004

UPDATED: 8:12 am EST November 19, 2004

PITTSBURGH -- One year ago, the hepatitis outbreak at Chi-Chi's had everyone

asking tough questions about the safety of our food supply.

But one year later, has anything really changed?

Federal investigators linked contaminated green onions from Mexico to the

hepatitis outbreak.

But now, it's possible you could still get sick from contaminated green

onions.

The United States stopped trucks at the border, sent inspectors into Mexican

fields and heard a lot of tough talk. There was even a call for a

congressional investigation. That never happened.

State Rep. Hart said, " If it turns out that there was a similar

source and there were no warnings, yes, they made an error. "

Sen. Arlen Specter said, " If the standards are not adequate, that's a

subject for further FDA action. "

Yet in the year since the outbreak, little has been done to tackle the

problem of produce coming from farms with unsanitary conditions. That is,

until now.

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a produce safety plan.

The new plan is really a new way to start addressing microbial food borne

illness associated with fresh produce.

Its objective is to provide guidelines to prevent contamination of fresh

produce, minimize public impact when it occurs, support research and improve

communication between the food industry and consumers as well as between

agencies federal, state, and local that are in charge of food safety.

Critics say it falls short.

Caroline DeWaal from the Center for Science in the Public Interest

said, " The bottom line, whether the produce is coming in from other

countries or even grown domestically, is safe for our consumers to eat. The

FDA can't answer that question. "

DeWaal calls the FDA plan's focus on education and guidance the weakest form

of regulatory response.

Its failing, she said, is that it doesn't call for inspections of conditions

in fresh produce fields not only here, but outside the U.S.

FDA Food Safety Director Brackett said, " We will not be able to

expand our personal surveillance over the border because we don't have

authority over the border. "

Brackett said the U.S. is working with its international partners to

encourage good agricultural practices in the countries that export to the

us.

DeWaal said, " It's not enough to rely on foreign governments. The FDA needs

its own authority to go onto foreign farms. "

That's the same authority the U.S. Department of Agriculture has when it

does annual inspections of meat packing plants in countries that supply meat

to the U.S.

The agriculture secretary of Baja, a state in Mexico where much of the

winter produce is grown for this country, said he would have no problem with

the FDA conducting inspections there. That's as long as they conduct the

same field inspections in the United States.

As of this year, in the wake of the Chi-Chi's outbreak that linked tainted

green onions to the Baja region, the state has mandated that all growers in

the U.S. take part in a federal food safety certification program, a program

that is voluntary in other parts of Mexico.

The Mexican agriculture secretary added that, in the past, many growers in

the Baja region relied on inspections by third party private companies,

often from the U.S., but he said there was no enforcement of safety

violations.

A government certification now ensures enforcement.

http://www.wpxi.com/health/3931098/detail.html

[Guest guest]

1 Year After The Hepatitis Outbreak, Is Our Food Safer?

FDA Recently Approved Produce Safety Plan

Becky

POSTED: 5:02 pm EST November 18, 2004

UPDATED: 8:12 am EST November 19, 2004

PITTSBURGH -- One year ago, the hepatitis outbreak at Chi-Chi's had everyone

asking tough questions about the safety of our food supply.

But one year later, has anything really changed?

Federal investigators linked contaminated green onions from Mexico to the

hepatitis outbreak.

But now, it's possible you could still get sick from contaminated green

onions.

The United States stopped trucks at the border, sent inspectors into Mexican

fields and heard a lot of tough talk. There was even a call for a

congressional investigation. That never happened.

State Rep. Hart said, " If it turns out that there was a similar

source and there were no warnings, yes, they made an error. "

Sen. Arlen Specter said, " If the standards are not adequate, that's a

subject for further FDA action. "

Yet in the year since the outbreak, little has been done to tackle the

problem of produce coming from farms with unsanitary conditions. That is,

until now.

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a produce safety plan.

The new plan is really a new way to start addressing microbial food borne

illness associated with fresh produce.

Its objective is to provide guidelines to prevent contamination of fresh

produce, minimize public impact when it occurs, support research and improve

communication between the food industry and consumers as well as between

agencies federal, state, and local that are in charge of food safety.

Critics say it falls short.

Caroline DeWaal from the Center for Science in the Public Interest

said, " The bottom line, whether the produce is coming in from other

countries or even grown domestically, is safe for our consumers to eat. The

FDA can't answer that question. "

DeWaal calls the FDA plan's focus on education and guidance the weakest form

of regulatory response.

Its failing, she said, is that it doesn't call for inspections of conditions

in fresh produce fields not only here, but outside the U.S.

FDA Food Safety Director Brackett said, " We will not be able to

expand our personal surveillance over the border because we don't have

authority over the border. "

Brackett said the U.S. is working with its international partners to

encourage good agricultural practices in the countries that export to the

us.

DeWaal said, " It's not enough to rely on foreign governments. The FDA needs

its own authority to go onto foreign farms. "

That's the same authority the U.S. Department of Agriculture has when it

does annual inspections of meat packing plants in countries that supply meat

to the U.S.

The agriculture secretary of Baja, a state in Mexico where much of the

winter produce is grown for this country, said he would have no problem with

the FDA conducting inspections there. That's as long as they conduct the

same field inspections in the United States.

As of this year, in the wake of the Chi-Chi's outbreak that linked tainted

green onions to the Baja region, the state has mandated that all growers in

the U.S. take part in a federal food safety certification program, a program

that is voluntary in other parts of Mexico.

The Mexican agriculture secretary added that, in the past, many growers in

the Baja region relied on inspections by third party private companies,

often from the U.S., but he said there was no enforcement of safety

violations.

A government certification now ensures enforcement.

http://www.wpxi.com/health/3931098/detail.html