Eat at your own Risk?

For the first part of June, we will be scheduling interviews about food safety and inspections. The recent food scare from China due to poisonous wheat gluten added to pet food and some animals-for-consumption feed has raised awareness about inefficiencies in the FDA's food inspections programs.

Foods that are shipped long distances are often more processed and contain more additives (whether shipped nationally or internationally). The FDA has not been checking additives and spices for food quality and safety. In fact, the FDA is only checking about 1.3% of food imports to the U.S. The additive from China, mixed with pet food, killed several thousand pets in the US.

Supporting more funding for the FDA safety inspection program and a food system change that emphasizes reliance on local markets could help ensure the foods we are eating are safe.

Many products from other countries are imported through third parties. It is important, for health and safety that we know where our food is coming from. In 2002, the Farm Bill included legislation to make mandatory the labeling of country of origin on all products. The Farm Bill is being reconsidered now and could include changes to more effectively understand where our food is coming from, and if it is safe.