FEINSTEIN FOOD SAFETY BILL TAKES AIM AT FOOD PROCESSORS
News Date December 01, 2009
Yesterday, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced legislation that would require food producers to take responsibility for keeping food free from harmful pathogens.
The bill, The Processed Food Safety Act (S. 2819), would amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the sale of any processed food that has not been certified to be pathogen free.
In announcing the bill, Senator Feinstein said, “It is the responsibility of the food producer, not the consumer, to make sure our food is safe to eat.”
The Processed Food Safety Act (S. 2819) at a Glance:
- Prohibits the sale of any processed poultry, meat and FDA-regulated food that has not either undergone a pathogen reduction treatment, or been certified to contain no verifiable traces of pathogens
- Requires that labels on ground beef, or any other ground meat product, specifically name every cut of meat that is contained in the product
- Does away with loopholes in current laws that allow for producers to add coloring, synthetic flavorings and spices to their products without informing the consumer
- Requires HHS to promulgate regulations under Section 415 of the FD&CA to require application of pathogen reduction treatments. Section 415 is the registration requirement for food producers, which exempts farms. (Contact: Bob Ehart)