A bill that would allow for tighter safety checks on food imported to the U.S. is expected to be signed by President Barack Obama after Congress gave it final approval.
The bill, which would give the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new powers to prevent food-borne illness, was passed by the House of Representatives by a 215-144 margin yesterday.
About 48 million people (1 in 6 Americans) become ill, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die each year from food-borne diseases, according to new estimates released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week.
The reform is the first major update to the food safety rules in 70 years.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimate that 15 percent of the nation’s food supply by value is imported, with that figure increasing to about a third for fruit and nuts and 80 percent for seafood.
Canada and Mexico are the top importers behind China, with certain components for food like cereals coming mostly from the latter.
The supply of food from foreign countries is said to have complicated the challenge of protecting the food chain, although the new bill will give the FDA improve safety standards.
“Disease outbreaks from pathogens in FDA-regulated products such as eggs, produce, peanut products and many processed foods illustrate the need to update government safety oversight of both domestically-produced and imported foods,” said Shelley A. Hearne, managing director of the Pew Health Group.
"Measures in the legislation will strengthen safety standards for food facilities and fresh produce, improve inspection requirements, help limit the dangers in foods that come from outside our borders and provide the FDA with the power to issue a mandatory recall of contaminated food, among other authorities.
“This is crucial, because the FDA is responsible for the safety of 80 percent of the nation's food supply,” she added.
For more top stories, read our articles Maersk headlines the Top 25 Container Carriers of 2010, DHL's GOGREEN initiative hits 1 billion mark and Can shipping industry and pollution controls coexist in Hong Kong?
To have your say, visit our Supply Chain Digital Facebook page.
The bill, which would give the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new powers to prevent food-borne illness, was passed by the House of Representatives by a 215-144 margin yesterday.
About 48 million people (1 in 6 Americans) become ill, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die each year from food-borne diseases, according to new estimates released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week.
The reform is the first major update to the food safety rules in 70 years.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimate that 15 percent of the nation’s food supply by value is imported, with that figure increasing to about a third for fruit and nuts and 80 percent for seafood.
Canada and Mexico are the top importers behind China, with certain components for food like cereals coming mostly from the latter.
The supply of food from foreign countries is said to have complicated the challenge of protecting the food chain, although the new bill will give the FDA improve safety standards.
“Disease outbreaks from pathogens in FDA-regulated products such as eggs, produce, peanut products and many processed foods illustrate the need to update government safety oversight of both domestically-produced and imported foods,” said Shelley A. Hearne, managing director of the Pew Health Group.
"Measures in the legislation will strengthen safety standards for food facilities and fresh produce, improve inspection requirements, help limit the dangers in foods that come from outside our borders and provide the FDA with the power to issue a mandatory recall of contaminated food, among other authorities.
“This is crucial, because the FDA is responsible for the safety of 80 percent of the nation's food supply,” she added.
For more top stories, read our articles Maersk headlines the Top 25 Container Carriers of 2010, DHL's GOGREEN initiative hits 1 billion mark and Can shipping industry and pollution controls coexist in Hong Kong?
To have your say, visit our Supply Chain Digital Facebook page.
