Traceback teams in produce-growing areas
Traceback teams in produce-growing areas
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is asking for a $10.6-million increase for food safety regulators to better investigate outbreaks related to fresh produce in next year's budget, including an initiative to place U.S. Food & Drug Administration and state inspectors in produce-growing areas.
The White House unveiled its $2.1 billion spending plan for FDA on Feb. 5. As part of the $10.6 million, FDA asked Congress to approve $4 million to improve produce sampling techniques and increase surveillance by hiring epidemiologists and produce experts with knowledge of produce processing and production techniques.
With the new funds, the agency said it hopes to reduce the time it takes to screen new foodborne pathogens from days to hours.
For another $5.5 million, FDA plans to place traceback teams in produce- growing regions to speed up investigations. After the first year, FDA hopes to have 12 inspectors equipped with traceback tools, such as hand-held GPS devices that can be used with geographic information systems to speed outbreak investigations.
"We're going to equip and strategically position traceback teams in produce- growing areas," FDA budget Director Patrick McGarey said during a press briefing. "So what we'll be doing is forward-deploying them to the areas where we feel there's potential for outbreaks related to foodborne diseases."
FDA is applying "lessons learned" from the spinach outbreak, said Mr. McGarey, who added that the locations and time frames have not been decided yet. The resources, if approved, would not be appropriated to FDA until October, he said. But FDA is planning to hold a meeting next month in California to gather testimony on the best ways to improve food safety for fresh produce.
The new Congress is wasting no time in delving into how to improve food safety. United Fresh Produce Association President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Stenzel was scheduled to testify at a Feb. 8 oversight hearing.
"Congress should heed the wake-up call of the E. coli outbreaks last year and work toward ensuring that our regulatory structure can protect our food supply and prevent or minimize these outbreaks," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D- CT), who is the new chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that is holding the first food safety oversight hearing.
In January, the General Accounting Office, an arm of Congress, issued a new report that for the first time added food safety oversight to its list of 27 flawed government programs.
"The report notes that the patchwork nature of the federal oversight of food safety calls into question whether the government can plan more strategically to inspect food [and] production processes, [and] identify and react more quickly to any foodborne illness outbreaks," said Rep. DeLauro, who has long advocated a single federal agency overseeing all foods.
Specialty crop producers are keeping a close eye on new food safety programs and on government grants that will help them promote their products overseas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's budget, which stayed close to last year's figure of $89 billion, would continue funding certain specialty crop programs at 2007 levels.
Gaining market access to foreign countries is a key priority. The fiscal 2008 budget proposal would maintain the popular Market Access Program at $200 million.
The Bush administration heard the outcry from producers last year when the 2006 budget proposed cutting in half the program, which is designed to help expand sales of U.S. agricultural, fish and forest products overseas, to $100 million.
Another program, the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program, helps businesses overcome phytosanitary and other trade barriers. USDA would continue the program at the 2007 level of $2 million.
USDA proposes to fully fund its three major nutrition assistance programs: food stamps, child nutrition and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children Program, known commonly as the WIC program, which combined account for over $56 billion. Fruit and vegetable producers are hoping to gain a new market when USDA finalizes its plan to add fresh fruits and vegetables to the WIC package.
The White House unveiled its $2.1 billion spending plan for FDA on Feb. 5. As part of the $10.6 million, FDA asked Congress to approve $4 million to improve produce sampling techniques and increase surveillance by hiring epidemiologists and produce experts with knowledge of produce processing and production techniques.
With the new funds, the agency said it hopes to reduce the time it takes to screen new foodborne pathogens from days to hours.
For another $5.5 million, FDA plans to place traceback teams in produce- growing regions to speed up investigations. After the first year, FDA hopes to have 12 inspectors equipped with traceback tools, such as hand-held GPS devices that can be used with geographic information systems to speed outbreak investigations.
"We're going to equip and strategically position traceback teams in produce- growing areas," FDA budget Director Patrick McGarey said during a press briefing. "So what we'll be doing is forward-deploying them to the areas where we feel there's potential for outbreaks related to foodborne diseases."
FDA is applying "lessons learned" from the spinach outbreak, said Mr. McGarey, who added that the locations and time frames have not been decided yet. The resources, if approved, would not be appropriated to FDA until October, he said. But FDA is planning to hold a meeting next month in California to gather testimony on the best ways to improve food safety for fresh produce.
The new Congress is wasting no time in delving into how to improve food safety. United Fresh Produce Association President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Stenzel was scheduled to testify at a Feb. 8 oversight hearing.
"Congress should heed the wake-up call of the E. coli outbreaks last year and work toward ensuring that our regulatory structure can protect our food supply and prevent or minimize these outbreaks," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D- CT), who is the new chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that is holding the first food safety oversight hearing.
In January, the General Accounting Office, an arm of Congress, issued a new report that for the first time added food safety oversight to its list of 27 flawed government programs.
"The report notes that the patchwork nature of the federal oversight of food safety calls into question whether the government can plan more strategically to inspect food [and] production processes, [and] identify and react more quickly to any foodborne illness outbreaks," said Rep. DeLauro, who has long advocated a single federal agency overseeing all foods.
Specialty crop producers are keeping a close eye on new food safety programs and on government grants that will help them promote their products overseas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's budget, which stayed close to last year's figure of $89 billion, would continue funding certain specialty crop programs at 2007 levels.
Gaining market access to foreign countries is a key priority. The fiscal 2008 budget proposal would maintain the popular Market Access Program at $200 million.
The Bush administration heard the outcry from producers last year when the 2006 budget proposed cutting in half the program, which is designed to help expand sales of U.S. agricultural, fish and forest products overseas, to $100 million.
Another program, the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program, helps businesses overcome phytosanitary and other trade barriers. USDA would continue the program at the 2007 level of $2 million.
USDA proposes to fully fund its three major nutrition assistance programs: food stamps, child nutrition and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children Program, known commonly as the WIC program, which combined account for over $56 billion. Fruit and vegetable producers are hoping to gain a new market when USDA finalizes its plan to add fresh fruits and vegetables to the WIC package.
