These Four Senators Call For Review....
If Karney can get the attention of these 4 key Senators he
has a chance to make it given that the government mandates some new laws.
I have suggested to Karney that he contact Frank Lautenberg / Robert Menendez / Dick Durbin and Hillary Clinton.
( Reuters Newswire : December 13,2007 )
Senators call for better food regulation
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. food and health regulators should setup a joint task force to study recent outbreaks of food poisoningand decide if better coordination is needed, several Democraticsenators said on Tuesday.
Their letter adds to a growing clamor from Congress and the
industry for reorganization of food safety efforts to deal with
outbreaks that sicken millions of Americans every year.
"We urge your agencies to convene a multi-agency task force and
develop recommendations on how to effectively address the problemof foodborne illness associated with fresh produce," the senatorswrite in their letter, addressed to the heads of the Food andDrug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.
The senators -- Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez of New
Jersey, Dick Durbin of Illinois and Chuck Schumer and Hillary
Clinton of New York -- said they want the task force to report toCongress on what has caused the most recent outbreaks and
recommend changes in laws and regulations.
According to the CDC and USDA, food poisoning sickens 76 millionpeople every year in the United States, sends 325,000 to thehospital, and kills 5,000.
Meat is usually the culprit and many illnesses occur due to homehygiene problems, but recent outbreaks of E. coli 0157:H7
bacteria in fresh vegetables have made headlines -- in October,
three people died and more than 200 became ill from contaminatedbagged spinach. In an ongoing outbreak 67 people have beenofficially reported to the CDC as infected with E. coli aftereating at Taco Bell restaurants in five states.
The senators said they had been told 169 people were sick. The
CDC said eight had life-threatening kidney failure.Taco Bell, a
unit of Yum Brands Inc., pulled green onions from all of its U.S.restaurants last week after preliminary tests showed three
samples tested positive for the E. coli 0157:H7 strain.
"A sample of chopped yellow onions collected on December 4 from
an open bin in a Taco Bell restaurant in Nassau County, New Yorktested positive for E. coli O157:H7. This strain has a 'DNA
fingerprint' pattern that is different from that of the outbreakstrain," the CDC said in a statement.
Consumer advocates have been pressing for Congress to legislate
more clout for federal regulators, who must team up delicately
with state health officials, private companies and one another oninvestigations into foodborne illness.
"If the produce people were smart I think they would go to
Congress and support a bill that would give FDA both the
authority and resources to establish an inspection system. If
they don't do that then their industry is at risk," said Carol
Tucker Foreman of the Consumer Federation of America.
Private industry may support this, said Malcolm Knapp, presidentof restaurant research firm Malcolm M. Knapp Inc.
"This is one of those really unusual situations where business infact wants regulation and a way to reassure the public that
things are in good shape," said Knapp.
"This could be a catalyst for having much much better federal
inspection."
The National Restaurant Association formed a committee after theOctober E. coli outbreaks to outline appropriate field
sanitation, water testing procedures and employee training
measures by the beginning of next year, according to the group's Donna Garren.
"We understand this is a very urgent matter and we need to
expedite results quite quickly so we are giving the appropriate
information to our members," Garren said.
Taco Bell, a unit of Yum Brands Inc., pulled green onions from
all of its U.S. restaurants last week after preliminary tests
showed three samples tested positive for the E. coli 0157:H7 strain.
"A sample of chopped yellow onions collected on December 4 from
an open bin in a Taco Bell restaurant in Nassau County, New Yorktested positive for E. coli O157:H7. This strain has a 'DNA
fingerprint' pattern that is different from that of the outbreak strain," the CDC said in a statement.
Consumer advocates have been pressing for Congress to legislate
more clout for federal regulators, who must team up delicately
with state health officials, private companies and one another on investigations into foodborne illness.
"If the produce people were smart I think they would go to
Congress and support a bill that would give FDA both the
authority and resources to establish an inspection system. If
they don't do that then their industry is at risk," said Carol
Tucker Foreman of the Consumer Federation of America.
Private industry may support this, said Malcolm Knapp, president of restaurant research firm Malcolm M. Knapp Inc.
"This is one of those really unusual situations where business in fact wants regulation and a way to reassure the public that
things are in good shape," said Knapp.
"This could be a catalyst for having much much better federal
inspection."
The National Restaurant Association formed a committee after the October E. coli outbreaks to outline appropriate field
sanitation, water testing procedures and employee training
measures by the beginning of next year, according to the group's Donna Garren.
"We understand this is a very urgent matter and we need to
expedite results quite quickly so we are giving the appropriate
information to our members," Garren said.
© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved
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