FDA Seeks Food Recall Authority

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Despite that, the United States still has the safest food supply in the world, according to FDA Commissioner Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach.

"But we realize the world is changing," he said at the teleconference. "There was a time when we produced the food ourselves. Now we've noticed that much of this food comes to us 365 days a year because it is being produced in other parts of the world."

"Globalization has radically changed our food supply and our food supply chain," he added.

According to von Eschenbach, these trends mean that the FDA needs to alter its practices to better ensure food safety. The plan includes both imported and domestic foods, von Eschenbach noted.

Among the other recommendations put forward by the advisory panel that produced the report:

• Add more inspectors from the U.S. Customs, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Border Patrol in countries that are major exporters to the United States.
• Strengthen the CPSC's authority by: making it illegal for companies to knowingly sell recalled products; authorizing the CPSC to issue follow-up recall announcements; requiring companies involved in recalls to report supplier and delivery details; and enabling the CPSC to impose asset forfeiture penalties for criminal offenses.
• Establish a certification program for companies with a proven track record for meeting U.S. safety standards.

The advisory panel, established in June to study import safety, was led by Health and Human Service Secretary Mike Leavitt.

More information

For more information on the FDA's food safety effort, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.