H
Harry Hope
Guest
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/sto...CEE91-A9C9-4F9A-B917-ED7FC0A4B393}&siteid=rss
Jul 17, 2007
FDA a 'sorry mess' on food safety, lawmaker says
By Rex Nutting, MarketWatch
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) --
Government oversight of the U.S. food supply is a "sorry mess," a top
lawmaker charged Tuesday, promising to fight for legislation to pour
more resources into the Food and Drug Administration in the wake of a
flurry of reports of tainted food.
Congressional investigators told the House Energy and Commerce
Committee Tuesday that the FDA lacks the resources and authority to
ensure food safety, and that the FDA's recent decision to reorganize
its food-safety division and to close and consolidate labs would
probably make matters worse.
In the wake of reports of contaminated food not only from China but
also from domestic processors, the FDA's approach of relying on
voluntary compliance "appears inadequate in responding to the changing
food industry," said David Nelson, a senior investigator for the
committee.
"FDA's ill-conceived decision to close seven of its 13 laboratories
likely would expose American consumers to even more danger from unsafe
foods, particularly imports," said Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., chairman
of the oversight subcommittee.
Criticism of the FDA was bipartisan.
"The FDA must enter the 21st century," said Rep. Marsha Blackburn,
R-Tenn.
Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., chairman of the full committee, said that
the recent reports of unsafe food showed "the sorry state of federal
oversight of the domestic food supply" and called the FDA "a sorry
mess."
He promised legislation soon to provide more funding to the FDA for
food safety and to give the agency more authority to monitor, test and
respond.
The head of the FDA, Andrew von Eschenbach, defended his agency's
record, citing the quick response to contamination of fresh spinach
and peanut butter last year.
"The American food supply continues to be among the safest in the
world," he said in his testimony.
"Although we have made progress, much remains to be done."
Von Eschenbach added that the reorganization and consolidation of FDA
labs would save money and improve the testing of suspect foods.
"With rapid-delivery services widely available, these laboratories do
not need to be near every sample collection site."
But staff investigator Nelson commented that the reorganization
appears to be "counterproductive" and needlessly wasteful.
"FDA has failed to provide any analysis justifying this radical
reorganization," he testified, saying that decisions about which
district offices to close appeared to be based upon vacancies or
pending retirements of district directors.
_______________________________________________
Now why would one expect an industry-controlled FDA would be
adequately funded to protect the American consumer?
Harry
Jul 17, 2007
FDA a 'sorry mess' on food safety, lawmaker says
By Rex Nutting, MarketWatch
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) --
Government oversight of the U.S. food supply is a "sorry mess," a top
lawmaker charged Tuesday, promising to fight for legislation to pour
more resources into the Food and Drug Administration in the wake of a
flurry of reports of tainted food.
Congressional investigators told the House Energy and Commerce
Committee Tuesday that the FDA lacks the resources and authority to
ensure food safety, and that the FDA's recent decision to reorganize
its food-safety division and to close and consolidate labs would
probably make matters worse.
In the wake of reports of contaminated food not only from China but
also from domestic processors, the FDA's approach of relying on
voluntary compliance "appears inadequate in responding to the changing
food industry," said David Nelson, a senior investigator for the
committee.
"FDA's ill-conceived decision to close seven of its 13 laboratories
likely would expose American consumers to even more danger from unsafe
foods, particularly imports," said Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., chairman
of the oversight subcommittee.
Criticism of the FDA was bipartisan.
"The FDA must enter the 21st century," said Rep. Marsha Blackburn,
R-Tenn.
Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., chairman of the full committee, said that
the recent reports of unsafe food showed "the sorry state of federal
oversight of the domestic food supply" and called the FDA "a sorry
mess."
He promised legislation soon to provide more funding to the FDA for
food safety and to give the agency more authority to monitor, test and
respond.
The head of the FDA, Andrew von Eschenbach, defended his agency's
record, citing the quick response to contamination of fresh spinach
and peanut butter last year.
"The American food supply continues to be among the safest in the
world," he said in his testimony.
"Although we have made progress, much remains to be done."
Von Eschenbach added that the reorganization and consolidation of FDA
labs would save money and improve the testing of suspect foods.
"With rapid-delivery services widely available, these laboratories do
not need to be near every sample collection site."
But staff investigator Nelson commented that the reorganization
appears to be "counterproductive" and needlessly wasteful.
"FDA has failed to provide any analysis justifying this radical
reorganization," he testified, saying that decisions about which
district offices to close appeared to be based upon vacancies or
pending retirements of district directors.
_______________________________________________
Now why would one expect an industry-controlled FDA would be
adequately funded to protect the American consumer?
Harry