In 2009, after an outbreak of contaminated peanut butter, President Obama enthusiastically promised to support strong food safety measures, noting "no parent should have to worry that their child is going to get sick from their lunch."

Less than two years later, Obama signed into law the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, which promised real action to better protect the public from preventable foodborne illnesses.

But today, crucial food safety protection proposals that would give life to the FSMA are still languishing in White House review!

One in six Americans -- 48 million people -- suffer from a foodborne illness each year, resulting in 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. It's a danger that could affect any one of us if we don't put the necessary protections into place.

Tell the Obama Administration to keep their promise to enact the Food Safety Modernization Act and protect Americans from foodborne illness.

Dear President Obama,

An estimated 3,000 Americans will die from a foodborne disease this year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and yet your Administration continues to hold up the release of proposed food safety rules that could help curb this serious public health threat.

[Your comments will be inserted here.]

This inaction is truly disheartening because, in a March 2009 radio address, you committed to work vigorously for strong food safety measures, noting "no parent should have to worry that their child is going to get sick from their lunch," and that, "many of the laws and regulations governing food safety in America have not been updated since they were written in the time of Teddy Roosevelt."

Less than two years later, on January 4, 2011, you signed into law the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) -- passed by Congress with bipartisan and industry support -- which promised real action to better protect the public from preventable foodborne illness.

However, I am now concerned and deeply disappointed because crucial food-safety protection proposals that would give life to FSMA have been languishing in White House review for more than seven months. I remain puzzled by your Administration's failure to put in place these important protections that you so strongly supported.

The nation can wait no longer for safe food. Please allow the promise of this landmark law to become a reality now, by releasing the long-delayed proposed rules.

Sincerely,
[Your name here]