Food Safety and Modernization Act

U.S. President Obama and the House of Representatives recently passed bill H.R.2751, The Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2010, into law; which has been touted as the biggest change to the food industry since the Great Depression.

This controversial new law gives federal regulators the power to recall unsafe products and requires food manufacturers to prepare detailed food safety plans. It was prompted after numerous food contamination cases involving beef, spinach and cookie dough surfaced during the 2000’s. The law’s goal is to prevent outbreaks and to catch an outbreak as quickly as possible by setting up regional centers.

The law vastly expands the FDA’s authority to recall food in the case of contamination or illness. In addition, it will require farms to track their food and implement plans to deal with recalls or outbreaks of disease. FDA officials will be given access to food growers’ records in the case of an outbreak. The law will also require food importers to verify that they meet U.S. food safety standards.

Small farms that sell locally or sell less than $500,000 a year are exempt from the new rules but, the controversy continues.

Meet Farmer Brad and hear his side of the story by clicking on the link – and then come back. We want to know what you think? Post a comment and share your point of view.

Direct link to Farmer Brad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyrGgHdTN_A