Hungry for Change

As scary as the American diet, food laws, and "food stuffs" (what I like to term the millions of non-food products we eat aka Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)) is, some people with a good head on their shoulders are attempting to make some positive changes. However, like most items that work their way through politics it is a painstakingly slow process.

Now I'm not a political kind of gal. I am aware, I hold an opinion about issues in life, and I vote but I do not dive deep into the controversies. Why? Because it makes me sick to my stomach to learn how much corruption is out there--does that clue you in to where I stand? (::grin::) But when it comes to what I am putting into my body I FLIPPIN CARE A TON! Because I do not have the time or means to be entirely self-sufficient with my food (if anyone read the Omnivore's Dilemma you remember Michael Pollan's completely self-procured meal? A single meal, hunted boar, grown veggies--it took him forever!), I am forced to rely on and trust what I can get in my markets.

For those of you, like me, who care about the food process but have difficulty following where it's coming from, here's a simple breakdown of what's going on in Washington with the food industry:
*Note: I have not looked into how far these controls go. For example, while this bill gives the FDA more control, do we trust the guidelines and actions of the FDA?

Senate Passes Sweeping Food Safety Bill--now must be passed by the House before it can go to be signed by President Obama.

Among the key provisions:

• The Food and Drug Administration will be granted sweeping new powers to issue mandatory recalls of contaminated food. Currently, the FDA requires cooperation from the food industry to carry out a recall. 
• The bill beefs up inspections of food-processing facilities and mandates that the same rules apply for imported food—a source of concern with an increasingly globalized food supply. According to the New York Times, one-fifth of the food Americans eat—and 75 percent of our seafood—is imported. 
• A food tracking system will be put in place to more easily pinpoint the source of contamination. 
• Both the House and the Senate versions of the bill would impact about 80 percent of the food supply, including fresh produce, eggs and processed foods that don't contain meat. But slaughterhouses and poultry farms are not covered—they are inspected separately by the USDA. 
• Senator Jon Tester (D-Montana) introduced an amendment that would exempt small farmers and those who sell directly to consumers at places like farmers markets. Those communities had raised concerns about the cost and logistics of complying with the new rules.

Large outbreaks of foodborne illness and recalls have buffeted the nation in recent years. This summer, a recall of 500 million eggs refocused attention on the need for new food safety rules: 1,600 people were sickened by tainted eggs in that outbreak. Foodborne illnesses kill 5,000 people each year in the U.S. 

Past recalls have involved spinach, peanuts, and jalapenos. And Whole Foods announced just last week that it is recalling several kinds of cheese that are suspected of E. coli contamination.

From TakePart.com