Risks of tainted food rise as inspections drop
A few scary quotes:
"The federal agency that’s been front and center in warning the public about tainted spinach and contaminated peanut butter is conducting just half the food safety inspections it did three years ago."
"Between 2003 and 2006, FDA food safety inspections dropped 47 percent, according to a database analysis of federal records by The Associated Press.
FDA ‘just can't manage the job’
That’s not all that’s dropping at the FDA in terms of food safety. The analysis also shows:
* There are 12 percent fewer FDA employees in field offices who concentrate on food issues.
* Safety tests for U.S.-produced food have dropped nearly 75 percent, from 9,748 in 2003 to 2,455 last year, according to the agency’s own statistics."
Read the complete article here.
As consumers increasingly demand more transparency and accountability from food producers, I find it disturbing that inspections of food imports and enforcement of existing regulations are dropping. All the more reason to buy locally grown/produced products, and to do a little background research into the brands and companies you support.
Posts
3 comments:
Amen brother...buy local, organic! Are you familiar with a little food dtore in the Tustin Market Place down the way from Target? I saw it last night but didn't have the chance to go check it out.
yikes! that's quite scary... guess i'll search out the local and organics..
Deb,
You know it, girlfriend! =b
I try to stay away from the quagmire that is the Tustin Marketplace. Let me know what you find out about the store. I'm interested.
Henry,
I like Wild Oats. You buy the nuts and they grind the nut butter for you. =)
- Chubbypanda
Post a Comment