Consumers Union Opposes USDA Proposal On Salad Safety- Group urges Congress to pass FDA food safety program

Consumers Union Opposes USDA Proposal On Salad Safety

Group urges Congress to pass FDA food safety program

Consumers Union is voicing opposition to a proposed national USDA Leafy Green Marketing Agreement, claiming the pact will fail to adequately improve the safety of raw spinach and other salad ingredients.

"We urgently need improvements in the safety of many kinds of food, from spinach and other leafy greens to peanut butter to imported fish," said Elisa Odabashian, Director of Consumers Union's west coast office. "But this USDA Marketing Agreement approach is the wrong way to go about it.

Consumers Union claims the agreement amounts to industry self-regulation, wrapped up in a USDA package, so consumers think the government is insuring that their food is safe. "But," points out Odabashian, "all the safety standards will be developed by the big food processors and other members of the industry. There will be only one consumer member on their
Administrative Committee, and that consumer member will be chosen by the food processors."

At issue is whether the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, which has set food safety standards for California growers and processors, should be expanded nationally. While the agreement has imposed new safeguards on its participants, it is voluntary.


Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/09/salad_safety.html#ixzz0SSQIElNb

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