The US Food and Drug Administration is seeking legislative changes so it can better protect the American food supply chain.

“Rising food imports, increasing consumption of convenience foods, and new foodborne pathogens are among the challenges we face. To address these challenges, we must move toward a food safety and defense system that is more proactive and strategic” FDA wrote one year ago in its Food Protection Plan.

Now, in their 2008 progress report, the FDA is restating its requests for legislative changes, which include the power to hire private-sector inspectors, issue mandatory recalls and force food facilities to register biennially. “These authorities are critical to future food protection implementation efforts” the report’s authors write.

The report also provides an overview of some initiatives that are already underway to ensure food safety, including the creation of overseas offices around the world.

Jeff Levi, Executive Director of Trust for America’s Health, responded in a statement that “the FDA should be commended for moving forward with some key initiatives to improve food safety”.

He also points, however, that one quarter of Americans (roughly 76 million people) get foodborne diseases each year, 325,000 are hospitalized and 5,000 die.

“America’s food safety system has not been seriously upgraded in more than 100 years, and too many Americans get sick each year from preventable foodborne illnesses,” says Levy. “We need a major overhaul matched by major investments to achieve the level of change needed.”

More coverage

U.S. FDA seeks broader regulatory powers – CBC

F.D.A. Details Its Food Safety Campaign – New York Times