President Signs Historic Food Safety Bill

MASSPIRG

FDA’s authority is increased for first time in seventy years

Boston, MA—Statement of MASSPIRG Consumer Associate Micaela Preskill on the signing of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act

“The President’s signature on the Food Safety Modernization Act brings food safety protections for American consumers into the 21st century.

From eggs to spinach to peanuts, consumers often learn too late that the food they purchased is unsafe to eat.  Salmonella and E coli outbreaks can only be effectively contained by preventing them in the first place.  Each year, one in six Americans get sick, tens of thousands are hospitalized, and more than 3000 people die from eating contaminated food.  These numbers represent unacceptable preventable illnesses that the FDA can finally begin to address.

This historic legislation will require inspections and give the FDA the authority to recall potentially contaminated foods.  Outbreaks of food-borne illnesses can be prevented, and the FDA will be able to quickly recall dangerous food. 

The FDA will now have to develop strong regulations to put the law to work for American consumers, and Congress must provide sufficient resources to allow the FDA to fulfill its food safety mandate.”

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act will protect consumers by:

  Requiring more frequent inspections of food facilities to make sure they are following the rules.

  Giving the FDA the authority to order a recall of potentially contaminated food.

  Requiring the food manufacturers to have food-safety plans that will prevent contaminated food from reaching consumers.

 Setting responsible standards for produce safety, so parents can have confidence that fresh fruits and vegetables are nutritious and safe to serve to their children.

 Setting standards for imported food to end the practice by foreign producers of dumping unsafe food on the American market.

#     #     #