A bill introduced in the Senate Oct. 15 would give the Food and Drug Administration more authority to quickly recall contaminated food. The measure (S. 1551), introduced by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), is intended to protect the U.S. food supply from contamination by terrorists overseas.

Under the bill, FDA would be given immediate recall and detention authority to quickly stop contaminated food from spreading to more consumers. Currently, FDA must seek authorization from a judge to seize contaminated food, and it relies on voluntary recalls.

"Food safety is an important part of our national security and homeland defense," Clinton said in a statement. "But the FDA's outdated enforcement tools have not kept pace with emerging hazards."

"FDA needs new tools to assure that imported food meets U.S. safety standards in the production process overseas--even before it reaches our borders," she said.

The measure, referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, would also give FDA more resources so it can increase inspections of food imports. Currently, FDA inspects less than 1 percent of all imported food annually, and has only 700 inspectors to oversee food imports and investigate 57,000 sites, according to Clinton's statement.

Another provision would ensure that overseas food facilities exporting food into the United States meet U.S. standards.

The legislation would allocate more funding to develop testing and surveillance technology so inspectors can identify pathogens before they spread. Increased funding would also be made available to the National Institutes of Health for the development of diagnostic tests.

Finally, the measure would expand training and education to ensure health care professionals are equipped to combat these threats.

Volume 3 Number 42, October 24, 2001, Page 987, ISSN 1524-1866