H.R. 875 would establish the Food Safety Administration within the Department of Health and Human Services to protect the public health by preventing food-borne illness, ensuring the safety of food, improving research on contaminants leading to food-borne illness, and improving security of food from intentional contamination.
Detailed Summary
Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 - Establishes in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the Food Safety Administration. Assigns all the authorities and responsibilities of the Secretary of Health and Human Services related to food safety to the Administrator of Food Safety.
Transfers to the Administration all functions of specified federal agencies that relate to the administration or enforcement of food safety laws. Renames the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the Federal Drug and Device Administration.
Directs the Administrator to: (1) administer a national food safety program; and (2) ensure that persons who produce, process, or distribute food prevent or minimize food safety hazards. Sets forth requirements for the Administrator to carry out such duties, including: (1) requiring food establishments to adopt preventive process controls; (2) enforcing performance standards for food safety; (3) establishing an inspection program; (4) strengthening and expanding foodborne illness surveillance systems; (5) requiring imported food to meet the same standards as U.S. food; and (6) establishing a national traceability system for food.
Requires the Administrator to: (1) identify priorities for food safety research and data collection; (2) maintain a DNA matching system and epidemiological system for foodborne illness identification, outbreaks, and containment; (3) establish guidelines for a sampling system; (4) establish a national public education program on food safety; (5) conduct research on food safety; and (6) establish a working group on foodborne illness surveillance.
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to develop the Food-Borne Illness Health Registry.
Directs the Comptroller General to report on the federal resources being dedicated to foodborne illness and food safety research.
Sets forth provisions regarding prohibited acts, recalls, penalties for violations of food safety laws, whistleblower protections, and civil actions.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 4/23/2009: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
1) The definition of a "FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITY" (as found in the bill's "DEFINITIONS" section, SECTION 3, PARAGRAPH 14) is far too vague and it can quite easilly (and unintentionally?) include the backyard vegetable garden that my grandmother grows. It says: "(14) FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITY- The term `food production facility' means any farm, ranch, orchard, vineyard, aquaculture facility, or confined animal-feeding operation." And there are NO exclusions whatsoever to that vague and far-reaching definition.
Visitor Comments
Ariannecat
April 4, 2009, 11:00am (report abuse)This bill is another act from the government to continue to control through ignorance. They are counting on our ignorance and our inability to become aware of their clandestine acts and stealth approach to changing legislation in favor of chemicals and maintaining power. The sicker and poorer we are the easier it is for them to gain control. What happened to the promised"Change" with this administration? This is how the trillions were promised in the "bailout". Don't give us time to read the idiot bills and pass them while we reamain ignorant. Unbeleivable!
sarah
April 4, 2009, 12:06pm (report abuse)I do not see anything in this bill that specifically targets organic farming or deals directly with Monsanto...I would have to say that food does need to be watched over if we are going to continue producing food on the scale that American consumers demand. This bill deals mostly with meat and poultry. What needs to happen is a revolution in the laws for agribusinesses and a return the smaller more sustainable farms. Maybe an American mindset revolution? Please!
S.
April 4, 2009, 2:20pm (report abuse)Easy way to put a leash on this is a simple amendment:
"Home gardens are not covered under the Language contained within HR 875"
If the sponsors really mean the above, a simple way to prove it is to write it as part of the bill which then becomes law.
Why not ask you congress critter to simply introduce the above in a simple straight forward amendment.
We asked - and have not received an answer. That in itself says more than the "Press Release" from the Sponsor of this bill.
RJ
(logged in user) April 4, 2009, 4:17pm (report abuse)As noted: Thomas Jefferson; "He, who governs least, governs best."
H.R. 875 is a 'knife-in-the-back' attempt to eliminate organic farming/gardening. It would enlarge the scope of the FDA and its' powers, increase taxes, violate Constitutional rights, and further depress our economy under a 'making-food-safe' disguise; w/the opposite effect.
It threatens every citizen's right to raise/obtain/use 'non-chemically altered' food, endangering citizen health. It denies the Constitutional right to life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness by dictating what foods/food products may be raised, sold, &/or consumed.
It would be equally depress our depressed economy - eliminating tax revenue from a multitude of people & business that sell organic foods/food supplements.
Susan Miller
April 4, 2009, 5:48pm (report abuse)This bill is scary.
NO CHOICE. It takes away consumer choice, farmer/business choice.
MANDATES POLLUTION. It mandates widespread spraying of chemicals (i.e. pollution). This sort of pollution has, at best, unkown consequences and more likely adversely affects water sources and wildlife.
UNENFORCEABLE. How much money would it cost to ensure spraying? Would that even work? How would the government do it?
ECONOMICALLY UNSOUND. It could run even more small farmers out of business by raising the cost of doing farm business. This is a problem on it's own and with the current economy it is obviously even worse.
Thank you for your time.
Jonescrusher
April 5, 2009, 1:10am (report abuse)First off, if people hadn't become ill and even die over contaminated food products, there wouldn't need to be even consideration of this type of legislation. But, in the race to the bottom and maximization of profits, food distributors and growers have caused this. As for the home garden scenario- does anybody even understand the logistics of enforcing this and the outcry if it was? So many of you are instantly ready to cry Wolf! and Communism and blame O'Bama it's a joke! The disinformation and sensationalization of this bill while it is still in process serves no-one. We have the right to make our wishes known to our legislators, yet i would bet 90% of those who are crying and screaming about this will not say a word to their officials but carry on in in forums and blogs as if complaining and trying to declare the world is ending will solve anything. People forget that WE are the Government until the Government tells me otherwise I will continue to act like they work for me.
Stephen
April 5, 2009, 6:06pm (report abuse)There is no point in adding to the many sensible comments regarding why this bill is bad, but it is worth adding that I will work to see it defeated and will refuse to comply if it is passed. They can't arrest and impoverish us all if we don't let them.
Leah
(logged in user) April 6, 2009, 11:48am (report abuse)I realize the concerns and for me this is not the bill we need. It is tied to big agricultural organizations.
But face facts we need something to protect the consumers with regards to what we eat.
In the last year and this year we see what is happening regarding the food we eat.
Is what we have in place right now working? From what I see, no, so we need a form of legislation and protections that will do the job, but not overburden and control the companies at the same time that are working hard to make sure we can eat.
I believe that what this bill is doing is basing the need for it on fear instead of logic and fair laws to protect us in what we eat.
Kevin
April 6, 2009, 6:18pm (report abuse)I cannot imagine the levels of out right civl disobedience this bill would cause.When will our elected officials finally understand our country will not survive,when the best interest of the people are not served by thier action ,but those of corporate America? It's becoming a broken record these days, and this is one that could push this patriot over the edge.
gorbie
April 6, 2009, 11:32pm (report abuse)This is an outrage. The attacks on the food...starting with spinach...then tomatoes and then peanuts and now pistachios.....my feeling these are inside attacks...designed to make people believe they need the government to make their food safe...when it is fact the government that has made them not safe...so they can sell their bill....get it?
gorbie
April 6, 2009, 11:41pm (report abuse)Think people....study history...Hegelian Dialect....study....this is how it is carried out. Bait and switch
Cleo Wenker
April 7, 2009, 2:50am (report abuse)We are grown ups don't tell us what to eat or how to garden! This is insane! I was so happy to see the organic industry spreading, my God they are going to take way our chance to eat real food? Oranics may be smaller but packed with way more nutrients and less water content. GMO's are not real food, it is Sci-fi food. Wake up!
Jimbo
April 7, 2009, 12:36pm (report abuse)Are you kidding me with this bill?!?! Sure, give our money out to help bail out banks and the auto industry, and than tax the people to death! You know it's coming. It's bad enough we are having trouble making ends meet, leave the small farms alone!! This country needs these folks!!
Tish
April 7, 2009, 5:42pm (report abuse)This is crazy. If you want poison to be available, at least give us the chance to choose what to eat! Don't you dare to take away our freedom!
Leah
(logged in user) April 7, 2009, 6:17pm (report abuse)First Rosa DeLauro husband Stanley Greenberg never worked for or with Monsanto. He did work for a company that had a contract to do a poll for Monsanto years ago.
There is no connect of Monsanto with HR 875.
One has to decide if the recent food outbreaks are real and if real is the government doing enough to protect us against the illness that have been quoted?
I agree with on point, the wording is very vague and leaves much to be desired and we need to think upon this as well.
On the other hand we do need to be sure our food is safe and what this bill does do is protect both produce and animal issues, not just animals such as NAIS.
Another fact we have to face is that we are living in a global world and we are not going to be able to turn that back at this point or maybe never.
So we need to think about what we want and how we want it and how it will protect everyone whatever their needs are from the growers to the consumers.
Marleeta Jones Burns
April 9, 2009, 12:49pm (report abuse)This is a perfect example of getting places we wish we had not gone simply because it suites the pocket of an industry investor of some nature. Putting small organic farmers out of business is far more about protecting and putting more mooney in the pockets of the larger chemical and food grower industries then it is about protecting the public. Are there not enough science and studies to show the public threat from toxic chemicals being introduced to our food. Is there not enough evidence that the immune system of children of future generations suffer from fast food, "pretty" food assisted by poor choice of preservatives? Please wake up. Vote no to more poison in our food sources...please!
Suzka
April 9, 2009, 4:24pm (report abuse)Ummm..noo!
Mrs Pissed Off Patriot
April 9, 2009, 8:43pm (report abuse)This bill isn't about small farms. Its about de-population. Monsanto the king of Agent Orange and Round-Up is seeking to control our food supply. WE THE PEOPLE are eating their poisoned foods and don't even realize it. The ones that do know the truth, eat ORGANIC. Monsanto is aware people are waking up, that's why their going after small organic farms! Monsanto and the FDA are brothers in arms. Get us sick from their pesticides and sister BIG PHARMA makes millions! Wake up people please! Taking our right to grow food is just as sacred as the right to bear arms. If this bill is passed, people will fight to resist tyranny! Hence' HE WHO CONTROLS FOOD CONTROLS THE WORLD!
Christine
April 10, 2009, 10:27am (report abuse)We are already so removed from the origins of our food. People should be encouraged to produce as much of their own food as possible. It is the only way to truly know where your food is coming from. I appreciate the need for education and inspection of food producers to ensure the safest methods of fertilization, storage, and distribution of our food but handing over control of our food supply to the government is absurd. These would be elected or appointed officials --not necessarily people who are committed to our nation's safety, but people who owe a debt to a constituency, politician, farmer, corporation, etc. who knows their job will likely end with the next administration. We are all now painfully aware of what happens when an administration doesn't think ahead or respect the ongoing consequences of their actions that our nation will face. Speak out against this bill, and think about the food you put into your body. It should be your choice, not the government's mandate.
Bob Deshotels
April 11, 2009, 3:09pm (report abuse)Since the problems with food contamination have been caused by large corporate food producers and Chinese imports, I don't think it makes sense to place a large inspection burden on small local artisan producers, who historically have been very concerned about food quality.
Susan Howell
April 23, 2009, 11:12am (report abuse)Thank God that 95% of thepeople reading this have voted against it.
That's the backbone of little communities!
Susan Howell
April 23, 2009, 11:22am (report abuse)absolutely no way!
Curious
May 18, 2009, 1:11am (report abuse)Does anyone know of a bill that is strictly for GM crops?
Mich_Hyde
June 25, 2009, 11:00am (report abuse)Enough already. Looks like edication is making us more scientific and irrational. How much pesticides can our body take? Enough of this authority even in our food. We don't need the feds to tell us what to eat now!!!
carpediem
June 30, 2009, 3:40pm (report abuse)I am a food equipment engineer. I am in a different food plant almost every week. I see the most disgusting things you could imagine. If you ever saw what the equipment our food is processed on looks like in a meat plant, you would probably not eat most of what you find in the grocery store. This bill does nothing to force Food Processors to replace old unsanitary equipment. HACCP is a joke! "Self Regulating, Self Monitoring" in the Food Industry does not work. They'll spend millions on marketing yet next to nothing on the equipment to make the product. If you want FOOD SAFETY force them to clean up the plants.
James
July 11, 2009, 12:17am (report abuse)This bill does nothing but benefit the big corporations, put organic farming out of business, and benefits the pesticide industry. Way to go about being hypicritical about being green about planting a garden at the back of the lawn, yet introduce a bill that puts small farmers out of business. I will not eat genetically modified food that's baddered with synthetic chemical pesticides. This practice makes food more dangerous to our health by exercising the pests that eventually end up with a super plague that's immune to antibiotics and vaccines, endangers the enviornment by the pesticide residue and the GM spread, and causes global warming by the constant jet engine flyby that sprays the chemicals, as well as the chemicals themselves.
Organic farming is clean, enviornmently friendly, and cost saving. More consumers are preferring this because of the health and enviornmental benefits. This bill is nothing more then a bill that the big corporate giants made.
This Bill Sucks.
Dems and Reps alike!
August 18, 2009, 7:23pm (report abuse)Just reading through the comments, it's very interesting to see that democrats and republicans, pro-Obama and anti-Obama camps alike both think this legislation is wrong. I feel like that's a sign of some kind. What do you think?
genebray1@yahoo.com
October 31, 2009, 3:31pm (report abuse)how can they even consider nuking all our food?be like eating cement
swdhj
November 24, 2009, 10:38am (report abuse)I am in favor of tiered regulations that fit the size and scope of the producer. The tiers should look at the geographic size of their customer base as well as the length of their supply chain. Local farm-2-table farms selling in state should be subject to almost no federal regulation, and larger operations with separate wholesalers and distributors should get additional safety measures. The highest scrutiny should be placed on those producers and food processors who import or export raw materials or food products across international borders, and the operating cost of inspection and enforcement should be borne by those producers and manufacturers--not funded through the general tax base.