Demand better regulation of imported foods to prevent future outbreaks of foodborne illness

  • by: Georgina B.
  • recipient: Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott

A mass hepatitis A breakout in Australia due to infected frozen berries from China has seen calls for better regulations for imported foods.

However, Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott, has argued that it is the responsibility of business not to poison its customers, not for the government to create better regulations.

Mr Abbott was also reluctant to place additional requirements on business in case it placed more costs on them.

Eighteen confirmed cases of hepatitis A have been reported in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, while children at nine South Australian primary schools and childcare centres are being observed after being served frozen berries from the infected batch.

The response of the Federal government has been surprising – instead of instigating a crackdown on imported foods to prevent future outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, imported berries are still not subject to any greater surveillance following the hepatitis A outbreak.

Furthermore, hundreds of jobs have been lost in the department responsible for checking potential food hazards.

The government of Australia should take any necessary step to ensure its citizens are protected from eating disease-ridden food from other countries. Please sign and share the petition to demand better regulation of imported foods to prevent future outbreaks of foodborne illness.

Sign Petition
Sign Petition
You have JavaScript disabled. Without it, our site might not function properly.

Privacy Policy

By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.

Having problems signing this? Let us know.