Mother Talkers

Mad on a Monday Morning

by Expat Chef

Mon Apr 23, 2007 at 07:41:07 AM PDT

If you have seen the front page of most newspapers, then you know that the FDA was aware of the problems that led to the spinach and peanut butter for some time before the outbreaks.

In the case of the Salmonella in the peanut butter, the FDA knew of the issues as early as 2005. When FDA inspectors requested documents from the ConAgra plant, they were refused. The FDA inspector left and the issue was not followed up on.

While the spotlight is being thrown onto the FDA, with reason, there are others who need to be called into question.

"This administration does not like regulation, this administration does not like spending money, and it has a hostility toward government. The poisonous result is that a program like the FDA is going to suffer at every turn of the road," said Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.), chairman of the full House committee, as quoted in the Washington Post.

The FDA was given a budget increase of just $10 million, a mere bandaid when you consider they are responsible for nearly 80% of the inspections of our food supply. The USDA was given a budget increase nearly 10 times that amount.

Let's also not forget that ConAgra knew of its problems and sent inspectors away. And did nothing. And the spinach producers knew of the issues, and the outbreaks continued. In fact, 18 outbreaks of foodborne illness since 1995 caused by E. coli involved fresh or fresh-cut lettuce and one concerning fresh-cut spinach. The 19 outbreaks account for over 400 reported cases of illness and two deaths.

So, when you line everyone up to take the blame, don't forget the food producers (ConAgra, others) who allow life-threatening problems to continue and deny them, the FDA that cannot and will not do its job, and the current pro-business administration who will not support the FDA in doing its job. That's a lot of blame. That's a lot of anger for a Monday morning.

Beyond blaming, what can we do? Because blaming does not solve the issue of getting dinner on the table tonight. As consumers we need to decrease our reliance on processed foods and mass-scale agriculture. We need to Eat Local, to buy food from people we know and trust, who feed their own families the same produce and meats that they sell to us. And, we need to tell our government that we are mad, that we do not support them. And tell companies who sell us tainted product, knowingly, that we don't care to buy their products. Any of them. And there are many.

On a more self-serving (sorry!) and unrelated note, my personal blog is entered in the Bloggers Choice awards. If you have a moment, and like that blog, please vote for me. Thanks.

Tags: FDA, food safety, spinach, e, coli, salmonella, peanut butter, ConAgra, food (all tags)

Permalink | 5 comments

  • Reminds me of "Erin Brockovich" (0 / 0)

    The scene where they offer the reps from the polluting company some local water.  ConAgra VPs should be required to eat their own food.

    Sounds like some folks need to read "The Jungle" again.  I believe it led to the formation of the FDA.  And yes, it may turn your stomach, but it's important to realize we may be going backwards in this area after 100 years.

    Gus (7/06), Susanna (due 11/08)

    by cynmill on Mon Apr 23, 2007 at 08:30:44 AM PDT

    • You are correct (0 / 0)

      Upton Sinclair's book did lead to the establishment of the FDA. Things have gotten terribly out of hand again, and no one at the top seems to care about anything except making sure a few people make a lot of money. It's distressing. Very distressing indeed. Thanks for the great comment!

      Thanks for reading! Expat Chef http://expatriateskitchen.blogspot.com

      by Expat Chef on Mon Apr 23, 2007 at 08:52:50 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  • Another problem (0 / 0)

    Even with proper "policing" by regulatory agencies, food recalls are voluntary. ConAgra doesn't need to do shit. The only incentive to comply with food safety regs is that if there's an outbreak and it's traced back to a company, then the company's name and product are tarred. When and if they post a recall is totally up to the company! They may just decide to do nothing and hope that none of the food implicated in an outbreak gets traced back to them. It's a risk they take.

    Me? I believe in food safety regulations and enforced, prompt recalls.

    by Amy on Mon Apr 23, 2007 at 04:31:05 PM PDT

  • strong regulation, strong enforcement (0 / 0)

    absolutely. Leaving it up to the industry to "self-regulate" is a fraud perpetuated upon the public. I find it absolutely disgusting that the Bush administration would so abdicate its responsibilities to the American people on this level. Maintaining a safe food supply should be so automatically bedrock to a government that it's actually shocking (and I have a high shock threshold when it comes to this administration now) to hear how callous they are. I think a citizens' lawsuit against ConAgra and the FDA is imperative.

    I agree with Expat Chef that finding reliable, locally sourced food is a smart thing, but on one level it disturbs me that we are required as individuals to go out and inquire as to the safety and provenance of our food. It seems one more link in the chain of community breakdown that we have to do this.

    by Rachel on Mon Apr 23, 2007 at 04:42:25 PM PDT

    • Definitely (0 / 0)

      The problem has to be solved from all sides. I think our agriculture system here in the states has gone horribly awry, serving the needs of processed and fast food manufacturers over the best interest for farmers, our food supply, our communities, our health and welfare. Until we can fix the system, it will take years, we have to seek out sources that can provide good, safe foods and seek to support our small farms since our government won't. Sad, but true!

      Thanks for reading! Expat Chef http://expatriateskitchen.blogspot.com

      by Expat Chef on Tue Apr 24, 2007 at 10:27:19 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

Permalink | 5 comments