More or Less Food Safety Regulation?

A recent article in Food Safety News by Andy Weisbecker poses this question... More or less food safety regulation? We know the rumblings on outbreaks and food safety issues are growing. Over the past weeks, a few news stories have highlighted the distinctions between two different legislative approaches to address the issue of food safety. The impetus is accordingly growing across the country to get the pending FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, which would give the FDA more authority and money, finally passed and enacted into law.

The American public seems to be in favor of more legislation. The article states that not only is the number of Americans concerned about outbreaks of illness linked to contaminated food increasing, the concern is also growing about the capacity of our existing food safety system to ensure our well being. A September 2009 survey among likely voters across the nation found that about 9 in 10 support the federal government adopting additional food safety measures and overall, 58 percent of voters were worried about bacterial contamination of the food supply--with about a third saying they worry "a great deal." The survey showed that American voters overwhelmingly believed the federal government should be responsible for protecting the food supply, and that the voters supported new measures to ensure it has the authority and capacity to do so.

However, opponents argue that this proposed legislation favors an industrial agricultural system, and that local food systems provide significant food safety benefits. In both Wyoming and Florida, state legislatures are considering bills to lessen the regulation of local "cottage" foods, with their proponents arguing at least in part that this approach would increase food safety.

What do you think? Is more or less better?

To read the full story and understand both sides of the issue, click here.