Tainted pet food from China may have caused the deaths of thousands of dogs and cats. Last fall, California spinach contaminated with a deadly strain of E. coli bacteria caused at least three deaths and landed hundreds of people in the hospital. You may have recently thrown out peanut butter due to reported salmonella contamination.
Congress has been cutting back the FDA, the agency responsible for the safety of vegetables and processed food, for over a decade. Now the agency inspects only about 1 percent of food shipments entering the country and visits US food processing facilities only about once every 5 to 10 years.
Our food safety system is fragmented, underfunded and antiquated. We need more inspection, better labeling, and stronger standards. Congress is beginning to consider reforms--lawmakers need to know that you care about ensuring the safety of your food. Send a quick message today!
Food Safety is Starved for Resources
Dear [Decision Maker],
Please support a substantial increase in funding for the US Food and Drug Administration's food safety program (in the FY08 Agriculture Appropriations Bill) and give the agency authority to ensure the safety of my food.
After imported pet food killed dogs and cats and California spinach killed people--I no longer feel confident in the safety of my food.
While food imports from nations with little or no food inspection skyrocketed, you cut the budget of the Food and Drug Administration's food safety and nutrition arm to a little more than $1 per American per year. FDA actually reduced its Foods Program staff by 10% in the last four years.
FDA currently inspects only about 1% of imports, and less and less every year. It only visits food processing facilities about once every five to ten years. In contrast, the USDA, which oversees only meat and poultry, has twice the budget of the FDA and keeps inspectors on site at every meat and poultry processing plant.
FDA cannot assure the safety of the nation's vegetables, seafood, dairy, processed food and food imports without additional resources. We need to increase inspections of U.S. food processors and imported food, give the FDA the authority to recall foods, and give me better labels so I can choose the food for my family's table. Your investment in the FDA is an investment in the safety of my family.
I urge you to insist on a substantial increase, to begin the job of repairing our broken food safety system.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
