990802 Coordinated Approach to Food Safety is "Best"August 6, 1999Washington - A logical, coordinated approach to food safety, rather than the creation of a single food safety agency, “is the best way to improve upon the system already in place,” according to the National Food Processors Association (NFPA). “A single, science-based food safety policy is needed to provide the solidarity necessary to advance coordination and promote the sharing of technology, information, and resources to better ensure food safety,” said Dr. Rhona Applebaum, NFPA's Executive Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, at a Senate hearing. “Better coordination among various federal, state, and local government agencies responsible for ensuring the safety of the U.S. food supply is the most effective means of enhancing our nation's food safety system, which already provides consumers with one of the safest food supplies in the world.” Dr. Applebaum made her comments in testimony delivered at a hearing on the federal food safety system, held in Washington, DC on August 4 by a Subcommittee of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. “Nutrition labeling has provided a precedent to this coordinated approach,” Dr. Applebaum noted. “Both the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture -- under separate authorities and with different processes -- enforce virtually identical nutrition labeling rules. States are limited to promulgating and enforcing rules identical to the federal rules, by preemption provisions of the federal statutes, which ensure uniformity. The rules governing the Nutrition Facts label for foods work exceedingly well, enforced by different federal agencies. Why can't there be a similar approach to food safety requirements?” Other points made by Dr. Applebaum in her testimony included: -- The current approach to handling food safety problems once they are identified works well. The systems in place at FDA and USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service result in industry and the agencies acting quickly and effectively to protect consumer health when potential problems arise. Handling of product recalls and withdrawals continues to be accomplished effectively under government's broad existing authority. -- Any changes and improvements to our food safety system must be grounded in sound, objective science. Scientifically based risk assessment should determine the allocation of resources in the food safety regulatory framework. The system must identify real public health risks to consumers and focus on these risks. -- Efforts to educate consumers on proper food preparation and handling techniques must be enhanced. Many food safety problems can be prevented through appropriate handling and preparation. Also, because consumers recognize government agencies as credible sources of information on food safety, government experts on food safety should be more proactive in promoting the use of new food safety tools, such as irradiation, as well as safe food practices in the home. To this end, we applaud efforts proposed by experts at USDA to include safe food handling practices as a separate guideline in revisions to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans for the Year 2000. American consumers need such information to ensure to the extent possible that the foods they eat constitute a nutritious, healthful and -- above all -- safe diet. “Neither the National Academy of Sciences nor the President's Council on Food Safety feel a single food safety agency is necessary; in fact, the President's Council has stated that many food safety issues would be difficult to resolve by a reorganization,” Dr. Applebaum pointed out. “For example, some issues like bovine spongiform encephalopathy are both animal and human health issues. And many programs, particularly research and education programs for food safety, often do not operate as separate activities within the agencies, but rather draw significant strength from one another.” Dr. Applebaum noted that “The President's Council is working to develop a comprehensive food safety plan, and is also working to ensure that the regulatory agencies better coordinate their food safety activities. In light of these facts, NFPA believes that it would not be wise to reorganize our highly successful food safety system in favor of a single food safety agency, with the potential disruptions that could result.” Dr. Applebaum concluded that “The architecture of the nation's food safety system is not so flawed that the building needs to be gutted. It simply needs an upgrade in technology, and some remodeling.”
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