Egg Recalls Reveal Scrambled Food Safety System
New Study: More Than 85 Food Recalls As Americans Wait for Congress to Bring Food Safety into 21st Century
COLUMBUS, September 8– Last month’s nationwide recall of half a billion eggs was just one of more than 85 recalls involving 153 food companies since July 2009. During this time, the U.S. Senate has failed to pass needed protections, according to “Recipe for Disaster,” a study released today by OhioPIRG, Consumer Federation of America and the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
According to this study, 53 recalls have occurred in Ohio due to contamination by Salmonella and other bacteria related to food borne illness in the last 14 months. For example, in March, Ohioans learned that black pepper was recalled and then in May, they learned about romaine lettuce. The food was already on store shelves or in Ohioans’ kitchens when these recalls were announced.
“Too many of us heard about the egg recall as we sat down to breakfast and had to wonder where the omelet on our plate came from,” said OhioPIRG Program Associate Jeff Griffin. “The problem is more than just eggs. It’s our failed food safety net and the 14 months we’ve had to wait for the Senate to finish the job of fixing it.”
In July 2009, the House of Representatives passed the Food Safety Enhancement Act (H.R. 2749) to update our food safety net. In November 2009, the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee passed its version of the bill, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510); but no floor action has yet been scheduled in the Senate and Americans continue to be at risk.
Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farm’s voluntary recall happened two and a half months after the first Salmonella illness was detected because the FDA does not have the authority or resources to properly safeguard our food. The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act would update the 70 year old law governing the FDA: requiring mandatory inspection frequency, stronger trace-back provisions, and mandatory recall authority.
“Each year millions of Americans fall victim to foodborne illness and it is our responsibility to provide the FDA with the regulatory tools and resources needed to prevent these recurring outbreaks,” said Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy. “Inaction in the Senate is irresponsibly risking the safety of millions of consumers. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to act quickly to put an end to this silent and often deadly threat.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that tens of millions of Americans get sick every year from food borne illnesses like Salmonella and E. coli, with hundreds of thousands hospitalized and 5,000 deaths each year. The Food and Drug Administration, which is responsible for the safety of much of the food sold in the U.S., has not had its authority updated in seventy years.
“Ohio dietitians are concerned about the safety of America’s food supply — especially the impact on our vulnerable populations — infants, children, older adults and those with chronic illness. We must do a better job of ensuring food safety,” said Ohio Dietetic Association State Policy Chair Pat McKnight.
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OhioPIRG is a state-wide, non-partisan, citizen-based consumer advocacy group that stands up to special interest on behalf of the people. Our mission is to deliver persistent, result-oriented activism that protects consumers; encourages a fair, sustainable economy; and fosters responsive, democratic government.
