FDA requires faster food safety reporting

[uscitizen]

FDA requires faster food safety reporting


Sep 8, 3:03 PM (ET)

By MATTHEW PERRONE

WASHINGTON (AP) - Food makers must alert government officials of potentially contaminated products within 24 hours under a new rule designed to help federal regulators spot food safety issues sooner.

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday unveiled a new electronic database where manufacturers must notify the government if they believe one of their products is likely to cause sickness or death in people or animals.

Regulators said the database will help the FDA prevent widespread illness from contaminated products and direct inspectors to plants that pose a high safety concern.

"There's been a lag time; we learn about problems after people get sick," said Michael Taylor, senior adviser to the FDA's commissioner. "This is intended to inform us of contamination problems before people get sick."

The law creating the database was passed in 2007, after Congress criticized the FDA for its handling of safety problems with a range of foods and drugs.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090908/D9AJAL300.html

Passed under Dem rule.

 

[Damocles]

Yeah, when testing for safety is shown to be horribly run, the best way to fix it is to make it "faster"....

Fix it first, then work in speed.

 

[ib1yysguy]

Yeah, when testing for safety is shown to be horribly run, the best way to fix it is to make it "faster"....

Fix it first, then work in speed.

Damo's solution is to get rid of the FDA since it's inefficient. Let the magic of the free markets keep our food safe.

 

[Cypress]

Yeah, when testing for safety is shown to be horribly run, the best way to fix it is to make it "faster"....

Fix it first, then work in speed.

Man, what article did you read?

Because USC's article say they are going to make a database to make reporting faster. Not testing faster.

 

[Damocles]

Damo's solution is to get rid of the FDA since it's inefficient. Let the magic of the free markets keep our food safe.

If that was my solution I would have suggested that.

ib1yysguy's solution is to speed up what is broke because that always makes it better. When he gets a flat tire he hits the accelerator because that just makes everything better.

 

[Damocles]

Man, what article did you read?

Because USC's article say they are going to make a database to make reporting faster. Not testing faster.

Again, making reporting faster does not fix problems in the testing that create the inherent issue to begin with. That was the point of my post.

 

[uscitizen]

The article was abbout faster reporting and dissmeination of test results not make the testing faster.

What is the matter with Damo Today? Pissed becuase he did not get to go to the big 9112 rally in DC?

 

[Damocles]

The article was abbout faster reporting and dissmeination of test results not make the testing faster.

What is the matter with Damo Today? Pissed becuase he did not get to go to the big 9112 rally in DC?

*sigh*

Again, reporting more quickly changes nothing at all. The horses are out of the barn already. The testing is where it is broken not the reporting.

 

[Bonestorm]

*sigh*

Again, reporting more quickly changes nothing at all. The horses are out of the barn already. The testing is where it is broken not the reporting.

So you support a better funded and more robust food inspection protocol by the FDA as opposed to this system of food producers self-reporting?

 

[Damocles]

So you support a better funded and more robust food inspection protocol by the FDA as opposed to this system of food producers self-reporting?

Or a more strictly enforced self-reporting method. Larger fines for not testing properly. Each time you "report" your own intransigence that could have been avoided through properly tested material you get fined double, if you don't report it you get fined double that...

You know, find some way to incentivize testing rather than simply incentivizing dragging their feet and reporting it as late as possible.

 

[Bonestorm]

Or a more strictly enforced self-reporting method. Larger fines for not testing properly. Each time you "report" your own intransigence that could have been avoided through properly tested material you get fined double, if you don't report it you get fined double that...

You know, find some way to incentivize testing rather than simply incentivizing dragging their feet and reporting it as late as possible.

I'm not really up on food safety regulations but my understanding is that the companies are required to perform the testing but prior to these new regulations did not have a duty to immediately report the results of the testing where the results show potentially contaminated products. These new regulations impose that obligation on food producers.

The new rules also impose fairly severe sanctions, including potential criminal prosecution, for failing to timely report.

It seems the new regs do what you want them to do.

 

[Damocles]

I'm not really up on food safety regulations but my understanding is that the companies are required to perform the testing but prior to these new regulations did not have a duty to immediately report the results of the testing where the results show potentially contaminated products. These new regulations impose that obligation on food producers.

The new rules also impose fairly severe sanctions, including potential criminal prosecution, for failing to timely report.

It seems the new regs do what you want them to do.

According to the story they aren't new "regs" they are simply a new database that will make it so we get the information quicker once they finally report. I'd prefer that they not even get the products out and report late. Disseminating the information of the fact that you are already contaminated more quickly isn't what I think our goal should be. We need quicker and more accurate testing, not dissemination.

 

[uscitizen]

According to the story they aren't new "regs" they are simply a new database that will make it so we get the information quicker once they finally report. I'd prefer that they not even get the products out and report late. Disseminating the information of the fact that you are already contaminated more quickly isn't what I think our goal should be. We need quicker and more accurate testing, not dissemination.

they are also required to report within a shorter timeframe than before.

 

[Damocles]

they are also required to report within a shorter timeframe than before.

Again. Finding out you ate contaminated food stuffs 3 days ago rather than 5 days ago doesn't make it much better.

 

[Cancel4]

We can only hope.

 

[uscitizen]

Again. Finding out you ate contaminated food stuffs 3 days ago rather than 5 days ago doesn't make it much better.

You are just being obtuse.

from the article:
Food makers must alert government officials of potentially contaminated products within 24 hours under a new rule designed to help federal regulators spot food safety issues sooner.

And everyone may not have eaten the contaminated foodstuffs yet, recalls and notification can be faster.

But since the dems did it you are against it of course.
If dems were against abortion you would be for it.

 

[Damocles]

And again. Finding out after you are contaminated is too late, we need to get better testing results so that the food doesn't get out at all.

My point has been, focusing on how quickly they tell you that you are already contaminated is the wrong aim, it is fruitless, and you are still contaminated. This is no "victory" for the consumer.

It is still my point, it will remain my point.

 

[Whomever]

And again. Finding out after you are contaminated is too late, we need to get better testing results so that the food doesn't get out at all.

My point has been, focusing on how quickly they tell you that you are already contaminated is the wrong aim, it is fruitless, and you are still contaminated. This is no "victory" for the consumer.

It is still my point, it will remain my point.

Duhhh, the faster word gets out the fewer eat the contaminated product.

I agree ZERO contamination is the goal, but not realistic considering greed before safety in corporations.

 

[Damocles]

Duhhh, the faster word gets out the fewer eat the contaminated product.

I agree ZERO contamination is the goal, but not realistic considering greed before safety in corporations.

Which again, is my point. The focus is skewed, and we cheer mediocrity.

 

[uscitizen]

I accept whatever improvements I can get. Perfection is impossible.