Food Safety System Adequate, Says NFPA's Cady

October 12, 2001

The current regulatory system governing food safety is sufficient to meet new challenges facing the U.S. food supply and can be improved through stronger communication and coordination among the responsible agencies, according to testimony by National Food Processors Association President and CEO John R. Cady. Cady testified before the Senate Government Affairs Subcommittee for Government Management, Restructuring and the District of Columbia.

"Our current food safety system not only works, but works well," Cady said. "There continues to be strong evidence that America's food safety regulatory system ensures that the food products that consumers purchase in their neighborhood grocery stores, or that are delivered to their local restaurants, are safe." Cady cited data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that show a decreasing trend across the United States in illness due to nine common food pathogens.

The association does not see value in terms of increased efficiency or effectiveness in forming a single national food safety agency, as some lawmakers have proposed. "We are not convinced that a new layer of management, led by a single administrator, would achieve the goal of enhanced U.S. food safety," Cady said.

"NFPA believes that the way to achieve such improvements is through the creation of a unified food safety policy, drawing on the best expertise throughout various departments and agencies," Cady said. "This means a truly science- and risk-based policy and system with uniform requirements to ensure that the same food safety guidelines will be followed and enforced. A unified policy is needed to provide cohesion and promote the sharing of technology, information and resources to better ensure food safety."

"It is important than any actions we take regarding food regulation neither lessen public confidence in food safety nor compromise the effectiveness of our existing programs. This is especially true in light of the tragic events of September 11th," Cady said.

In his testimony, Cady described NFPA's role in helping to launch the Alliance for Food Security, the food industry's effort to coordinate and communicate with federal agencies to ensure all potential threats to the U.S. food safety system are addressed and minimized. "Americans deserve to know that the food industry and federal agencies have long fought to ensure that our products present minimal risk from contamination," he said. "We are redoubling our commitment and increasing our vigilance to ensure that systems are in place to minimize and, if possible, eliminate threats to our food security."

"We recognize that the food safety system is not perfect. We have long advocated for more resources for the Food and Drug Administration to ensure it can perform its core mission. In particular, FDA's information tracking system for imported foods, called OASIS, needs to be updated. More research to develop better sampling and testing techniques are needed to get a more rapid response. We understand that the Bush Administration is advocating more inspectors at our borders and ports to make sure that nothing slips through'" Cady said.

"Given the vast powers that the FDA already has over imported foods, we don't believe, however that additional authorities, at this time, are necessary." Cady added, "Any emergency regulatory actions taken during this period of crisis must have sunset provisions."