More fun? with food.
Peanuts
Since February 18th the USFDA has initiated an estimated additional 118 food recalls. Of these, 109 were peanut/salmonella related reports of possible contamination in bars cheesecakes, snack, pet snacks and nuts. This would appear to bring the total peanut recalls to approximately 423. Go HERE to see the latest.
The FDA list is now so long that it is difficult to visually search. However, by doing a keyword search on the page I was able to find several items. For example, in doing a word search for “dog” I found 7 listings of pet snacks. “Just Desserts” was listed once.
Sprouts
The FDA announced that SunSprout Enterprises, Inc. recalled “Alfalfa Sprouts, Onion Sprouts, and Gourmet Sprouts” because of Salmonella in products distributed in Nebraska and Iowa.
Cheese
In related news, the US FDA has commenced a recall on Peregrina Cheese Corp for it’s Queso Fresco Fresh Cheese.
Tortillas, etc.
In addition, the US FDA has CLOSED Del Rey Tortilleria Inc. of Chicago, Il, for repeated violations and failure to correct their actions. There are however, no associated recalls.
While some continue to marvel over the odd idea that salmonella could survive in a peanutty environment, it’s clear that being hired to do “a” job is not the same as being hired to do “the” job.
The reality is that the people producing the products hire the private inspectors. State inspectors inspect to state standards, which vary depending on the finances of the state, and local antagonism to perceived bureaucracy. Only federal government can maintain uniform minimum standards. Of course, we have seen what “Starving the Beast” can do in the last 30 years. Like everything else, you get what you pay for. People, resources, and money must maintain and support those federal standards.
There is a reason that a federal inspection costs $8000, as reported, while the private inspector cost $1000. It’s not because wages are so much lower in Georgia.
Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009
In the mean time H. R. 875, entitled the “Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009” has been presented to the House of Representatives and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and to the Committee on Agriculture.
If you want to read it, it can be found by going to the LOC Thomas website HERE
Enter the Phrase “H.R. 875: Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009” and it should pop up in the list for you. I’m still digesting it, especially in relation to small farmers, organic farmers, etc. However, my first inclination is that food should have a separate and distinct agency from that of medications and devices. This bill would accomplish that.
I am glad I found this blog. I take a look at FDA from the viewpoint of a former drug inspector at the agency who specialized in “Bioresearch Monitoring.” which includes clinical trials. I support HR 875 which would establish a Food Safety Administration. This would bring together into one organization all food safety groups within the federal government such as USDA and FDA.
Right now a frozen pepperoni pizza is regulated by the USDA and a mushroom pizza (no meat) is regulated by FDA. Beef is regulated by USDA and venison by FDA. Oh, FDA also regulates monoclonal antibodies used to fight cancer.
We would be better off with a single food safety organization and a single organization for health products. Right now an FDA inspector could go to a low acid canned food facility one week and a blood bank the next. The world has progressed since the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938 and food and drug safety need to enter the 21st century of a globalized economy.
I invite readers to stop by “Carl’s Blog on FDA Stuff” if you get the chance.
LikeLike
I’m glad you stopped by, Carl. I agree with you about your example. I’m still reading the bill, but it doesn’t currently look like the responsibilities of the USDA would be folded into a new food agency. I do see language suggesting a lot of “Consultation” and “Coordination” with the Dept of Ag.
I checked out your website and it was pretty great. Anyone else interested should try:
http://carl1anderson.wordpress.com/
LikeLike
I’m all for industry regulation. I think it’s important. But what this bill doesn’t address is the small food businesses in this country. Small importers will be put out of business because they cannot afford to pay $10 thousand dollars per year to register. (That is the proposed annual fee)
Along with that, small food manufacturers (including small businesses you find at your local farmer’s market) will be put at a huge disadvantage by some of the requirements in this bill, making it next to impossible for them to operate. The labeling requirements alone are absolutely ridiculous for the small business owner, not to mention the registration requirements.
For a small business like mine (I sell cookies), I would have to register each recipe with the FDA. (There goes the secret recipe idea! They will all be public record now!) And the registration of my regular recipes isn’t even the worst of it. If I want to do a custom order for a party or baby shower or whatever, I first have to register that custom recipe (even if I only change ONE ingredient like using almond instead of vanilla extract). This means I have to wait for registration to go through and pay any required fees. By the time the paperwork goes through, that special event I’m supposed to bake cookies for will be long gone and over.
Like I said, I’m all for industry regulation. But this bill does not take into account the small business industry. I’m frightened for what this will do to most small businesses.
I realize the bill will affect importers the most. But let’s face it, fee’s trickle down to the end user. Every food business will be required to register and there will be fees attached to that as well. Where is the incentive to register?? They are, in effect, driving small businesses under ground with this bill. They just have not thought this one through very well, and the food industry is taking a “wait-and-see-what-happens” approach. I don’t understand it. This bill needs to be changed BEFORE it becomes law. Not after. Why aren’t more small food businesses standing up and taking notice of this? The FDA will wonder why we didn’t speak up before. It will be much harder to make changes once this is law.
I certainly hope this side of the argument will be heard and noticed. It’s to important to be ignored.
Thank you
Tiffany
LikeLike
Tiffany- You raise some interesting points. My first comment is that because it is the Federal Government we are discussing, we need to agree on what is meant by “Small Business”. Go to the SBA website and download the PDF Table of Size Standards below:
http://www.sba.gov/contractingopportunities/officials/size/GC-SMALL-BUS-SIZE-STANDARDS.html
Do a key word search in the table for “Bake” and you will find that our government says any baking business with up to 500 employees and making $7 million is still a small business. ( although there is a recent inflation adjustment that may have increased the net receipts amount.)
In fact this list is quite enlightening overall, and says something about why BushCo pushed this euphemism, and also why so many companies are not subject to the regulations for workers, standards, etc., we might think. However, that is another rant of mine for another time.
If you are baking or catering out of your home, you might be called a “microbusiness”. It seems to me that a bakery with 500 hundred employees has the potential to poison a greater number or larger region of people than a single baker. So on a safety basis, as long as the baker isn’t selling outside their state or local jurisdiction, I would think there should be special dispensation for the “Mom and Pop” type operation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_business
In August of last year the SBA office of Advocacy announced completed of a report suggesting possible confusion in the use of the the term “ Small Business” for data compilation, because it does not adequately take into account differences among the various possible classes. Some examples of skewed data might be among sole proprietors, independent farmers, whose earning cap is 3/4 of a million, or employees of say, less than 5.
So, when you write your congress person, as I hope you will, identify how you are different and why in particular you will be affected.
The second thing I want to say is that just because a bill has been introduced, doesn’t mean it will look anything like how it started at the end of it’s journey. Since it’s been referred to the various committees, it’s going to get changed and negotiated. So now is the time to write.
Finally, we live in the age of “almost complete”. Just like all those computer applications the companies foist off on us half baked, we, the public, will be expected to improve whatever bill is enacted. Reading and keeping involved can be anticipated as part of our food future.
LikeLike