Food Safety Modernization Act
Urban Farming Agriculture
Food Chain Radio Host Michael Olson
#942• November 2, 2013 • Sat 9AM Pacific
Guests: Jo Ann Baumgartner, Wild Farm Alliance
Sarah Hackney, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Ken Kimes, New Natives Farm
THE NEW RULE
What kind of farm will be allowed by U.S. government’s Food Safety Modernization Act rules?
Responding to a number of industrial food contaminations, Congress passed the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010. This Act granted absolute dominion over the nation’s food to the U.S. Government’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
There are five areas of food safety enhancements being planned by the FDA:
(1) Prevention controls to hold those up and down the food chain responsible for implementing “safe and effective” measures to prevent contaminations.
(2) Inspection and compliance controls to watch over the food chain.
FDA – U.S. Food and Drug Administration Protecting and Promoting Your Health
(3) Import controls to force food importers to certify compliance with food safety guidelines.
(4) Response controls to give FDA the abilitly to recall any food it deems unsafe for any reason.
(5) Enhanced Partnership controls to better allow government agencies to coordinate food safety efforts.
These government food safety rules, which are now up for comment, lead us to ask…
Why was a former Monsanto Corporation executive selected to rule over food safety?
How will his new rule attempt to make food safe?
What kind of farm will be allowed to grow government-safe food?
