Food Safety In the United States: Shared responsibility Inadequate results David Scoville 11/13/07 ENVR 230

Regulatory Agencies U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationU.S. Food and Drug Administration Department of AgricultureDepartment of Agriculture U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyU.S. Environmental Protection Agency Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCenters for Disease Control and Prevention

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Food Safety Information Center (NAL)Food Safety Information Center (NAL) FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied NutritionCenter for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

CDC Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases – Food Safety Office Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases – Food Safety Office EPA Office of Pesticide Programs Office of Pesticide Programs

“The Bad Bug Book“ 1 PATHOGENIC BACTERIAPATHOGENIC BACTERIA –Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Shigella (EEC Group)(EEC Group) –4 different classes : ETEC, EPEC, EHEC, EIEC PARASITIC PROTOZOA and WORMSPARASITIC PROTOZOA and WORMS –Giardia VIRUSESVIRUSES – hepatitis A and E NATURAL TOXINSNATURAL TOXINS

OUTBREAKS

OUTBREAKS * Data from CDC Food Safety Office, chart created by David Scoville

Reporting Outbreaks Contact county or local health departmentContact county or local health department Enough complaints can lead to investigatory study from CDC or other government agency.Enough complaints can lead to investigatory study from CDC or other government agency. Study results can lead to recalls.Study results can lead to recalls.

Recalls Recalls ordered by the FDA only when food production companies refuse to remove products on their own.Recalls ordered by the FDA only when food production companies refuse to remove products on their own. Three classes of recalls: Three classes of recalls: I : dangerous or defective products, serious health problems or death II: temporary health problem, slight threat of a serious nature III - violate FDA labeling or manufacturing regulations, but are unlikely to cause any adverse health reaction.

Recalls Castleberry’s Food Company – 7/21/07Castleberry’s Food Company – 7/21/07 –Multilple brands, mainly processed meat products –Natural Balance is a brand of dog food that is recalled by same company

Recalls February 14, 2007 – PeterPan and Great Value Peanut butter – SalmonellaFebruary 14, 2007 – PeterPan and Great Value Peanut butter – Salmonella Product codes beginning with 2111-

Inadequacies In March 2007 alone, 850 shipments of grains, fish, vegetables, nuts, spice, oils detained were detained by FDA.In March 2007 alone, 850 shipments of grains, fish, vegetables, nuts, spice, oils detained were detained by FDA. –Only 1.3% of food imports are inspected by FDA. –Means that upwards of shipments of imported food are contaminated but not caught by the FDA.

Reasons… USDA given most of $1.7 billion federal budget for food safety, but only responsible for 20% of imported food.USDA given most of $1.7 billion federal budget for food safety, but only responsible for 20% of imported food. –USDA requires foreign inspection certificates, and are able to inspect everything being imported. FDA gets ~24% of budget, and around 80% of responsibility for imported food.FDA gets ~24% of budget, and around 80% of responsibility for imported food.

Reasons FDA and USDA methods of regulation enforcement:FDA and USDA methods of regulation enforcement: –Return imported contaminated food to source –Destroy imported contaminated food –Issue recall after problem has broken out

References U.S. food imports rarely inspectedU.S. food imports rarely inspected – salmonella.htm?gclid=CNeDxaSi1Y8CFQGzGgodpFlr-ghttp:// salmonella.htm?gclid=CNeDxaSi1Y8CFQGzGgodpFlr-ghttp:// salmonella.htm?gclid=CNeDxaSi1Y8CFQGzGgodpFlr-ghttp:// salmonella.htm?gclid=CNeDxaSi1Y8CFQGzGgodpFlr-g