Peanut Butter Crisis A Year On
The strange and disturbing result of last year’s crisis with salmonella tainted peanut butter is that there hasn’t been much change at all. In fact, the criminal investigations into the now bankrupt Peanut Corp. of America (and its top executives) resulted in no charges whatsoever. The outbreak was linked to 700 sicknesses and 9 deaths across the US. It seemed like every product that had peanut butter in it was pulled off the shelves.
Major changes in food inspections methodology were called for nationwide. Yet, food-born illnesses continue to grab headlines.
Under the scrutiny of media outlets everywhere, Georgia, home state of Peanut Corp. of America, got its act together super-fast. It now requires regular food testing by manufacturers and that they report any contamination with 24 hours. “Plants must open internal records to inspectors and detail methods to ensure that any contamination is destroyed before a product is shipped” (link). However, an amendment to that bill lets companies bypass self-testing by submitting a “food safety plan” to the state. It’s a step in the right direction, I guess.
Needless to say, Congress has been slower to react. Well, more precisely, the Senate’s bill has stalled…like it has on health care, cap and trade, etc.:
On the federal level, a coalition of 18 groups including grocery and food industries and consumer safety organizations wrote a letter this month to Senate leaders imploring them to vote soon on the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009. The House has passed its version of the bill, which would require food companies to develop food safety plans, require regular inspections of food plants and give the FDA more power.
Thanks, Senate!
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A depressing question that comes to mind is Should we be thankful for the peanut butter crisis? Many foodies and health experts have been clamoring for increased food safety for years. And, some of those advocates say that without the salmonella outbreak we wouldn’t have this chance at really good reform. Well, not to be ungrateful (and sarcastic), but I’m sure the families of the victims of the countless food-borne illnesses in the US are comforted by that.
My thoughts on this are similar to what I want done with health care reform; We need lots more focus on preventative action. Why suffer through the flu when you can get a flu shot? Why suffer food poisoning when manufactures could keep the rats and bacteria out of the food in the first place?
How about it, Senate?
February 7, 2010
Posted in: Uncategorized
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