Food safety bill finally passed by U.S. Senate

The U.S. Senate voted to pass a food safety bill Tues, putting aside political games that had been going on for months. A year marked by frequent food recalls has focused debate on the effectiveness of the FDA when it comes to policing the nation’s food supply. The food safety bill provides $1.4 billion dollars to spend on a much more rigorous inspection regimen and government enforced recalls.

Food safety bill surprisingly passes

As Congress has been doing nothing for the end of the year, the food safety bill surprisingly approved by U.S. Senate with a 73-25 vote. All food processing plants and farms with a high risk of contaminants have to become inspected by the Food and Drug Administration each and every three years under the Food Safety Enhancement Act. The Food and Drug Administration up until now would hardly ever do examinations. Every 10 years would be when it happened if it did happen. The Food and Drug Administration can force recalls to happen in businesses with the food safety bill. There could be no much more waiting for companies to do it themselves. There could be much more standards for imported foods as the Food and Drug Administration currently only inspects about 1 percent of it.

Politics alters food safety

The food safety bill is backed up by both big agribusiness and consumer advocate groups. But despite being passed by the House in July 2009, the Senate played politics with the legislation for a year and a half. The food safety bill did not pass last fall because of Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. Tea Party activist’s cried overreaching govt. Glenn Beck made his opinion on the food safety bill very clear. He said it forced consumers to stop eating meat with prices being inflated. The bill passing in U.S. Senate caused 85 recalls by the FDA-regulated foods. This was because of about 1,850 food borne illnesses as a concern.

Food industry helps bill

Agribusiness and small farms is where the conflict was for the food safety bill. All of the small farmers do not want huge standards. Major corporations have to deal with them. Of course agribusiness did not agree. It said nobody ought to be excluded. After Sen. John Tester, D-Mont., added an amendment exempting small farmers, some large agricultural groups withdrew their service. Large corporations, even those with recalls, have said they’re glad to see that there will be clearer regulations with the food safety bill. The food sector needs it.

Data from

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/29/AR2010112906058.html

USA Today

usatoday.com/yourlife/food/safety/2010-11-29-foodsafety29_ST_N.htm

Des Moines Register

desmoinesregister.com/article/20101130/BUSINESS01/11300359/1001/NEWS/Food-safety-bill-snagged-by-money-