What Miami Needs to Know About the Federal Food Safety Modernization Act

Focusing upon the dangers of drugs that the Miami Beach community trust and use regularly (at least that we trusted in the past), it's easy to forget that the FDA is the FOOD and Drug Administration and that food safety laws are also in place.

Because food sold in the marketplace can be just as dangerous as any defective drug product. Example? The egg recalls a couple of months back.

Federal Food Safety Modernization Act Passes Senate

So, it's good to know that the federal government has decided to pay attention to food safety, and right now there are bills going through both the House and Senate that focus upon insuring that the food we buy to eat is indeed safe for all of us. The Senate, in fact, just passed its Food Safety Enhancement Act, and you can follow its progress here (S.510). It's the first major food safety legislation passed in Congress since 1938.

The Food Safety Modernization Act was passed by both Democrats and Republicans - not an everyday event these days - and President Obama has already voiced his approval of the proposed new law. The Miami Herald has just issued its editorial, approving of the Act's passage.

What will the new federal food law do? First, it will up the number of FDA inspections of food facilities that serve the U.S.A. - even if they are outside the nation's borders - and it includes a list of 50,000 facilities that would be reviewed between now and 2015. (There's been lots of criticism for the lack of FDA inspections of food plants in the past, something that really hit the spotlight with this fall's egg recalls.)

Second, it will empower the FDA to force recalls of food that is found to be contaminated in some way. Right now, shockingly, usually the FDA doesn't have the clout to force food from store shelves, and has to depend upon the food suppliers to voluntarily recall their own products. The new law will expand the FDA's ability to force an early and broad recall of dangerous food items - or even food that is suspicious, and might prove to be dangerous to eat or drink.

Food in Miami

Here in Miami, we're like the rest of the country: we go into the grocery store and just assume that what we choose to buy is good quality, safe stuff for us. Okay, maybe it's high calorie. Maybe it's junk food. Not the most nutritious stuff for any of us, but still not something that's going to hurt us when we eat it. As we've learned in the news recently, that's not always the case.

However, our community relies upon food safety for more than just our own kitchens or fast food runs or dining out for lunch or dinner. Miami is a big tourist mecca, and we're proud of our beautiful ocean front location as well as our festive, fun atmosphere. Our visitors come here to enjoy themselves, and we serve them food and beverages that they trust will be safe for them -- they trust Miami just like we trust our grocery store.

So, here's to making food safer here and around the country. And, as always we advise: trust your gut (no pun intended). If you buy a food or drink that you question, don't use it. Check the FDA site, call the store where you bought it. And, if you or a loved one is injured by a tainted food item, don't delay in getting medical attention -- and if necessary, legal help.

Because while there are laws being passed now as preventative measures, there are already lots of laws on the books to bring justice for those who are harmed or killed by defective food and drink items. Use them.

By Bryant Esquenazi on December 7, 2010 10:18 AM