Fix the U.S. Food Safety System Now!

Subject:
Support the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009

Dear [Decision Maker],

American consumers have suffered far too long from risky and unsafe food due to our antiquated food safety laws and lax enforcement. The recent salmonella outbreak in peanut products is a tragic example -- the FDA hadn't inspected the plant in years, and nine people died and countless others suffered because of gaps in our food-safety laws.

No more lives should be at risk -- please support the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, and work with your colleagues to pass a strong, comprehensive food safety bill now.

[Your personal comments will be added here.]

As you work on this issue, please take the lessons we have learned from the latest salmonella outbreak to make sure that final legislation includes annual inspections of all food processing facilities, as well as a requirement that plants test for contaminants and turn over positive test results to the FDA.

In the 21st Century, Americans should not be dying and suffering from what most of us would think of as a 'low-risk' food: peanut butter. In fact, this recent salmonella outbreak was the second such outbreak in two years -- a sad illustration of how ineffective our food safety system has become.

The FDA had not visited the Georgia plant of the Peanut Corporation of America that produced the tainted peanut products since 2001, and never visited the company's Texas facility, where salmonella also was found. If these facilities had been inspected properly and frequently, lives possibly could have been saved. I want the FDA to inspect all food processing facilities at least once a year, and high-risk facilities more often.

The company also reportedly had a dozen positive tests for salmonella, but did not make those results known to the FDA. Again, if FDA had these results, tragedy potentially could have been averted. I urge you to also require food processors test for contaminants, and to be required by law to notify the FDA immediately of positive results.

Americans have suffered through unnecessary food contamination nightmares in recent years, including peanut products, spinach, pet food and peppers. Don't make us wait longer to see real improvement in our food safety system.

I urge you to support the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. Americans deserve a strong food-safety network so we can begin to have faith again in the foods our families eat each day.