John Dingell, a U.S. representative for Michigan, was one of the big proponents of the recently passed HR 2749 food safety bill.  When the bill failed to get the votes required to fast track it through the House, Rep. Dingell made a powerful speech to help to inform and organize the other members of congress about this important and necessary legislation. Holding nothing back in his speech Dingell... [more]

Has our focus on addressing foodborne illness been thrown under the bus? Tragically, the House of Representatives failed to fast track the comprehensive food safety bill, House Resolution 2749, into passage on Wednesday. The vote fell just short of the required super majority needed to force the bill into passage under the suspension of House rules, which would limit the debate of the bill and not... [more]

The General Accountability Office (GAO) recently released findings regarding the funding requirements for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The government watchdog noted that while the funds for the FDA have increased, the responsibilities of the government oversight agency have increased more than the available funding. Congress funds part of the FDA while the rest of the agency’s funding... [more]

I blogged this week on the recommendations of the Obama administration’s Food Safety Working Group (click here if you missed it: Can Bureaucracy Stop Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7?). It’s been a busy week on the food safety front lines, not only in Washington, but on international turf as well. Here are a few highlights: • The Wall Street Journal reports House approval of the largest budget... [more]

Following the rash of foodborne illness outbreaks in recent years, Senator Dick Durbin has sponsored the FDA Food Modernization Act in an attempt to reform the nation’s food protocols. According to Durbin, if the measure passes, it would be the first major food safety reform in more than 50 years. The measure would increase the FDAs inspections of food facilities, enable the FDA the gain better access... [more]

It’s not too late to catch the remainder of the live webcast of the food safety hearing of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. There’s a link to the live stream on the Committee’s website, which you can access here:  Commit Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 Discussion. For more information on the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 Discussion Draft,... [more]

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has released a discussion draft of their proposed Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. A few highlights: required FDA registry of all U.S. food facilities and importers, increased inspections and traceability requirements, and strengthened FDA authority to mandate recalls and detain contaminated food. The full draft can be accessed from the Publications page... [more]

A glance around the produce section of a local grocery store is all it takes to show that many of the foods we consume every day-grapes from Chile, avocadoes from Mexico-were grown outside our nation’s borders.  With so many domestic outbreaks of Salmonella, E. coli, and other foodborne pathogens, food safety can seem elusive even here at home:  so how can we be sure of the safety of food products... [more]