11.7.2008 9:38 AM
The
FDA Under Obama
Food Safety Likely to Be a Priority for Obama's Administration. Who Will
Get the Top Post?
Source of Article: http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/obama-FDA-plans-44110708 The Food
and Drug Administration's reputation has taken a hit over the past
few years. Amid budget cuts,
the agency has had its setbacks--numerous foodborne
illness outbreaks, including this year's epic salmonella outbreak ultimately
tied to jalapeno peppers from The pressure is on
for President-elect Obama. According to an AP article, the FDA
has suffered for long periods without a permanent leader and Obama is being
urged to quickly appoint an FDA commissioner. The article says
names that have been thrown around for the top post include Cleveland Clinic
cardiologist Dr. Steven Nissen; Susan Wood, a
former director of the FDA's women's health office; and Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Baltimore's health chief. Food safety will
be a priority for Obama's FDA, according to the article. Neera
Tanden, a senior campaign adviser, is quoted:
"He thinks this is a fundamental role of government to ensure that
people's food is safe and he has been concerned that we are not in a position
to ensure that." (Michael Pollan
will be happy to hear this.) Issues that are at
the forefront are increased inspections of imported food (only a fraction of
imports are currently inspected); more visits to foreign drug manufacturing
plants; and a tracing system for produce. William Hubbard, a
retired FDA official, says in the article: "An Obama administration
would swing the pendulum back more to protection of public health. This bodes
well for greater regulation in the food safety area, on imports, and on drug
safety." |
Copyright (C) All rights reserved under FoodHACCP.com
If you have any comments, please send your email to info@foodhaccp.com
