FDA rethinking food inspections

I wonder what Upton Sinclair would say about the state of current affairs.

FDA rethinking food inspections - DailyHerald.com:

"The surge in imports has also increased the chances of contamination in foods regulated by the FDA. About 80 percent of seafood, 50 percent of fresh fruits and 20 percent of fresh vegetables are imported.

Despite the mounting threats, the FDA and its contractors inspected only 6 percent of the 421,000 domestic and foreign facilities under its watch in 2010, according to the most recent figures. Inspections account for the full-time work of just 1,000 employees. But if a site is linked to an outbreak of illness, inspectors and FDA scientists descend on it, sometimes staying put for weeks.

Under the food-safety bill enacted last year, food companies must adopt plans to spot and prevent hazards. The law also mandates more frequent inspections. For instance, plants that produce or process high-risk foods, including foods connected to previous outbreaks, must be inspected by 2015 and every three years thereafter."

'via Blog this'

Return Home: The Health, Drug, Prescription, and GMP Supersite Blog

SkillsPlus Intl Inc. - GMP and QSR Compliance Training Experts
SkillsPlus Intl Info Blog
The Health, Drug, Prescription, and GMP Supersite Gift Store 

Related articles

• Fact: 80 percent of U.S. pharmaceuticals made with overseas ingredients, nearly half produced in foreign facilities never inspected by FDA (drughealth.blogspot.com)
• FDA Audit Preparation (drughealth.blogspot.com)