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WORLD> America
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Food safety system a health 'hazard'
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-03-15 11:42 "She is very balanced and thoughtful about the actions that she takes and certainly has had the experience of running a very complex organization," Cassell said. Ellen Bloom of Consumers Union said Sharfstein's experience is "just what the doctor ordered for FDA."
"The president's appointment of these two prominent public health professionals is a clear signal that this administration has placed a priority on bolstering FDA's food safety role," said Pamela Bailey, president and chief executive of the Grocery Manufacturers Association. Hamburg's appointment requires Senate confirmation; Sharfstein's does not. Obama said while he does not believe government has the answer to every problem, there are certain things that only government can do such as "ensuring that the foods we eat and the medicines we take are safe and don't cause us harm." "Protecting the safety of our food and drugs is one of the most fundamental responsibilities government has," he said. Obama cited a string of breakdowns in assuring food safety in recent years, from contaminated spinach in 2006 to salmonella in peppers and possibly tomatoes last year. This year, a massive salmonella outbreak in peanut products has sickened more than 600 people, is suspected of causing nine deaths and led to one of the largest product recalls in US history. These cases are a "painful reminder of how tragic the consequences can be when food producers act irresponsibly and government is unable to do its job," Obama said, noting that contaminated food outbreaks have more than tripled to nearly 350 a year from 100 incidents annually in the early 1990s. Separately, Obama announced a ban on the slaughter of "downer" cows, which are too sick or weak to stand on their own, to keep them out of the food supply. These animals pose a higher risk of having mad cow disease, E. coli and other infections. Obama said he takes food safety seriously, not just as a president but also as the parent of two young daughters. "No parent should have to worry that their child is going to get sick from their lunch," he said. Also awaiting the next FDA chief is a renewed effort in Congress to require government regulation of cigarettes and other tobacco products, to reduce the harm from smoking. Associated Press writers Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Mary Clare Jalonick and Lauran Neergaard contributed to this report.
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