MFU Public Radio Commentary

October 23, 2007

By Sandy Courtnage

2007 Produces a Bumper Crop of Unsafe Products and Food-borne Illnesses

2007, so far, has produced a bumper crop of unsafe products and food-borne illnesses.  We have had to recall toys with lead paint, toothpaste and cough medicine were found with an antifreeze substance, and poison pet food killed scores of cats and dogs.

More recently the New Jersey-based Topps Meat Co. said it would be shutting its doors.  Topps is reeling from the second largest hamburger recall in history, a full year’s production run, which involved 21.7 million pounds of hamburger. 

According to recent news reports, the hamburger problem began last month, when people in New York and Florida fell ill from E. coli poisoning.  Eventually, 40 people were sick.  The Topps recall, however, didn’t begin for a full 18 days after the USDA first confirmed the contamination.  Reporting delays like this are getting to be routine.

Another recent food-borne illness involves Banquet chicken and turkey pot pies, manufactured by ConAgra.  They are the source of salmonella poisoning that has affected at least 165 people in 31 states.  Thankfully, no deaths have been linked to this outbreak.  Here again the lag-time between a problem being discovered and the company responding is appalling.  The pot pie incidents were discovered in mid-August, and ConAgra finally issued a recall in mid-October – but not without first trying to blame the victims by arguing that the consumer simply wasn’t cooking the pies properly.

Some of the reporting problem can be linked to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Federal Drug Administration.  These agencies inspect and certify the safety of food and drugs in this country. 

The inspection part of these agencies is woefully understaffed.  The inspection of meat, poultry and eggs had 7,200 inspectors 15 years ago, and only 200 more today.  The actual number of inspectors on the ground, however, is much less than 15 years ago because of 1,000 permanently unfilled vacancies.

These vacancies, of course, lead to over-worked inspectors who are unable to physically examine these foods, and instead only can make cursory checks of company records.

How have we gotten to this unsafe place with our food?  One could point to the corporate nature of our food production and supply.  And, one could point to the lack of accountability in both industry and government. Given this current and often deadly situation, however, doesn’t it seem logical that USDA and FDA should keep their inspection functions fully staffed.  And, should we not expect those inspectors to actually see the food being processed – rather than look at the paperwork describing that process.  As one over-worked inspector said, “You can put anything you want on paper.” 

The USDA’s track record of keeping staff positions open extends to many other areas of the federal government.  Let’s look at a few more:

• The USDA Agriculture Secretary right now is a temporary appointment;

• The top three positions in the Attorney General’s office are acting;

• And, at the Department of Health and Human Services, Medicare and Medicaid, with a $600 billion dollar a year budget, have had an acting administrator since last fall.

It’s time to consider if these vacancies are starving the legitimate work of government.

Food and drug inspections are vital to our health and safety.  We do not need agencies poorly managing a bumper crop of problems and illnesses.  We need diligent oversight, timely information, and corporate and government accountability.

For the Montana Farmers Union, I’m Sandy Courtnage.  Thanks for listening.