WASHINGTON The National Restaurant Association praised the introduction Tuesday of a measure in the U.S. Senate that would strengthen the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's ability to protect the nation's food supply.
Called The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009, the bipartisan measure would give the agency new authorities, tools and resources to help address ongoing food safety issues.
Among other things, the bill would enable the FDA to increase the frequency of inspections at food facilities; give the agency expanded access to records and testing results; and allow it for the first time to recall dangerous food products if a company fails to recall a product at the FDA's request.
The bill was sponsored by Sens. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Judd Gregg, R-N.H., Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and Richard Burr, R-N.C. The measure also is co-sponsored by Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.
Thanking the senators for introducing the measure, Beth Johnson, the NRA's executive vice president for public affairs, said: "The National Restaurant Association strongly supports reforms to create a stronger and more effective food safety system. We will continue to call for critical assessment and reform of the system, as this bipartisan legislation aims to do."
The introduction of the bill closely follows a major recall of peanut butter contaminated with salmonella that has been linked to nine deaths and 650 known illnesses.
"Over the last year we've seen major recalls of peanut butter spiked with salmonella, spinach laced with E. coli and chili loaded with botulism," Durbin said. "These are not isolated incidents and are the result of an outdated, underfunded and overwhelmed food safety system."
The bill seeks to improve the FDA's performance in four critical areas: foodborne illness prevention, foodborne illness detection and response, food defense capabilities, and overall resources.
The measure also seeks to boost funding for the agency's food safety activities by increasing appropriations and imposing targeted fees for domestic and foreign facilities.
Several members of the House are reportedly proposing a companion bill.
Contact Paul Frumkin at [email protected].
