Mar 14 2009

Obama on food safety!

President Obama had quite a lot to say about food safety this morning and I’m happy to say that it sounds like he gets it: the present system is outdated (it was developed a century ago), too spread out, under-resourced, and hazardous to health.  He’s going to appoint a committee to make recommendations and promises that all will be fixed “under the leadership of Dr. Margaret Hamburg.”  I hope she knows what she’s gotten herself into.

In the meantime, here’s his radio address and lawyer Bill Marler’s take on it.  And thanks Bill for posting the entire text of the speech.

And while I’m at it, how about the USDA’s new plan to test the meat at hamburger packing plants four times a month?  Is this an improvement or a clear effort to make sure nobody ever finds anything wrong?  Here’s Brian Hartman’s discussion of that question at ABC News.

6 comments
Share |
Tags: , , ,

Comments

  • MikieMike
  • March 14, 2009
  • 2:57 pm

What about labeling GMO foods as required in some countries? I think we should have the right to choose GMO (genetically modified organisms) foods and we can only do that if full labeling and disclosure is required.

  • Sheila
  • March 14, 2009
  • 3:36 pm

I don’t get why a plant grinding more than 250,000 pounds might be allowed to grind a smaller “representative” sample in a separate grinder to submit. Seems to me the larger grinder could be contaminated and the smaller grinder clean, and thus the test does not test the meat sold to most consumers.

Marion – thanks for staying on top of all of this. If anyone – consumers, regulators, politicians, growers, shippers, manufacturers or retailers ever wonder why food safety is important, click here:

http://www.marlerblog.com/2009/03/articles/lawyer-oped/obama-on-food-safety-this-is-why-what-you-do-is-so-important/

Or These:

http://www.marlerblog.com/2009/03/articles/legal-cases/why-i-work-stephanie-smith-remains-in-a-wheelchair-fighting-to-walk-and-dance-once-again-she-ate-an-e-coli-tainted-cargill-hamburger/

http://www.marlerblog.com/2009/03/articles/legal-cases/mediations-to-occur-in-hemolytic-uremic-syndrome-cases-linked-to-2007-e-coli-o157h7-outbreak/

http://www.marlerblog.com/articles/client-videos/

[...] Daily life, Democrats, Food, Government, Health, Obama administration at 10:24 am by LeisureGuy Marion Nestle at Food Politics: President Obama had quite a lot to say about food safety this morning and I’m happy to say that [...]

[...] President Obama has said before that food safety is important to him. His radio address this past Saturday demonstrates that he is willing, rather literally, to put his money where his mouth is. In his speech he outlined the many issues befouling contemporary food safety regulation and defines part of the solution. He is appointing Dr. Margaret Hamburg as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration to make the necessary changes in the system. Marion Nestle, well-versed in the plethora of problems facing the FDA, pointedly comments, “I hope she knows what she’s gotten herself into” (link). [...]

Leave a comment