U.S. Food Safety: Solutions at a Glance

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Back in March, the FDA came up with "non-binding" guidelines for food processors to try to reduce instances of food poisoning in fresh produce. This was the first time any such suggestions had been made for the produce industry.

Others think the food industry can create its own solutions.

"I think things have changed now and... companies are willing to talk about mandatory guidelines," said Michael Hansen, a senior scientist with Consumers Union.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), which represents the nation's top food producers, unveiled in September a "four pillars" plan to increase government oversight -- but of imports rather than domestically produced food.

The new strategy is also meant to take "a bit of the burden off of the FDA," said Jenny Scott, vice president of food safety programs at GMA.

According to Scott, the four pillars include:

• a mandatory paper trail for importers that ensures that anyone supplying a U.S. company puts in place programs that assure their products meet U.S. safety standards;
• giving countries and foreign firms with good safety records expedited clearance through inspections, thereby allowing the FDA to focus on products that present the biggest risk;
• lobbying for more resources for the FDA to oversee food safety;
• bolstering efforts within foreign countries to improve safety standards there.

"Ideally, we would like to put programs in place that prevent these problems overseas, so that we're not just relying on us to catch them at the border," Scott explained.

The GMA is opposed to certain other recommendations, such as importer user fees. "We look at that as just being another tax," Scott said.

It also opposes granting the FDA recall authority over foods.

"There are maybe only two incidents that I can remember in the last 10 years where the company refused [to recall goods], and, in both instances, the FDA came out with a press release that was worse than them doing a recall, because it said, 'You are making a hazardous product,' " Scott said.