Thinking twice about slathering that peanut butter on your child’s sandwich these days?
Last week, President Obama expressed deep concern for the safety of our food system. During his weekly online video address he sites recent increases in cases of contamination as a result of a financially crippled, outdated, understaffed, and over-expansive Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While all of this may be true, contamination is only the tip of the iceberg when we consider the true “safety” of our foodways. While 5,000 people dying of food contamination yearly should not be ignored, the 652,091 people who die of heart disease and are crippled by its predecessor obesity (which has also been linked to five of our nations top killers), may be a cause to consider the other dangerous implications of our nation’s foodways. Regardless of the reasoning, a restructuring of the FDA, which seeks to prioritize consumer interest is long overdue.
Safe is one thing, but healthy and sustainable is a whole other question. Unfortunately, most government policy and planning surrounding management of our foodways have been reactionary policy and not the result thoughtful planning.
Over the last 100 years, the American population and the complexity of our food production have increased exponentially. It is interesting to note the danger of possible contamination was one of the reasons for founding the FDA. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt formed the initial Food and Drug Act prohibiting the sale of food that had been “adultered” and appointed the FDA to create proper guidelines and standards. At this time, this term referred to the addition of fillers of reduced “quality or strength” or coloring which concealed “damage or inferiority,” or “filthy decomposed, or putrid” substances. That founding act still stands today, but the FDA now watches over $17 billion worth of domestic food and $49 billion worth of imported food each year—everything we eat except for meat, poultry, and some egg product—which is regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Over time, the organizations priorities have slowly shifted away from safe and healthy food as they have taken on new responsibilities. These new responsibilities expand as far as blood transfusions to the purity of mascara. The vastness of their jurisdiction (and recent contaminations) has lead many to demand restructuring of the organization.
Fortunately, Obama is one step ahead of the game with his new budget proposal and nomination of former New York City Health Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, MD, as FDA commissioner. In addition to leading the country towards more sustainable food sourcing by supporting the development of an organic garden at the White House, Obama has earmarked $1 billion for the FDA’s food budget. This would double what the agency received two years ago, which will go directly to improving the safety of our food system.
From an environmental and health standpoint, this is a big step in the right direction. As a part of a larger food trend of conscious consumption, the move to prioritize food safety speaks to a growing demand for transparency of our foodways. This trend is best exemplified in a new campaign by McDonald’s to let their customers “See what they’re made of.” With more transparency comes better—and perhaps sustainable—practices.
United States agricultural industry is responsible for 8% of the 20% total, of global agricultural emissions. Rising consumer awareness about this issue is apparent in the “eat local” and organic food movements, but are far from being widely embraced. Additionally, standards for what actually qualifies as “local” and “organic” are questionable. Therefore, if and when this becomes an issue that the FDA wishes to oversee, they have a lot of work cut out for themselves. For now, campaigns like Cool Foods, who provide information about how our food choices can affect global warming are joining the fight to raise consumer awareness.
To conclude, a refocusing or possible restructuring of the FDA is long overdue and hopefully in our midst. While the safety of our foodways should be a primary focus of our government’s role in food production, the promotion of healthier more sustainable foodways should not be restricted to the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control. Food—and healthy foodways—should be a part of the American Healthcare system’s overhaul. Because, as Obama himself was quoted saying, “healthcare is not just health insurance.”
In times of calamity and food shortage, government provides food.
Posted by: Buy Fioricet Online | October 18, 2009 at 11:15 PM