Food for Thought

The food industry is responsible for producing safe food.  Government agencies are responsible for setting food safety standards, conducting inspections, ensuring that standards are met, and maintaining a strong enforcement program to deal with those who do not comply with the regulations.  Consumers are concerned and want more information about the foods they are putting in their bodies. In many other countries the food enforcement laws are stronger than in the U.S.

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), was signed into law by President Obama on January 4, 2011 enables the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to better protect public health by strengthening the food safety system. It allows FDA to focus more on preventing food safety issues, rather than reacting to problems after they occur.  The after math of food issues can be detrimental to ones life.

In my opinion, even though our government is trying they aren't trying hard enough.  When researching food labeling I learned that our government does not have high standards when it comes to food laws.  As I read in the “The National Law Review” the FDA issued a final guidance outlining its recommendations to food companies.  In 1992, the FDA states their position on food labeling, basically that food derived from genetically engineered plants is not any different than food from non-genetically engineered plant.  They state that they do not present any differences or any safety concerns. In 2001, the government created a draft of guidance for genetically engineered labeling.  Fourteen years later, think about where we are  today.