One of the worst outbreaks of foodborne illness in the U.S. is teaching the food industry the truth of the adage, “Be careful what you wish for because you might get it.”

The industry pressured the Bush administration years ago to limit the paperwork companies would have to keep to help U.S. health investigators quickly trace produce that sickens consumers.

The White House also killed a plan to require the industry to maintain electronic tracking records that could be reviewed easily during a crisis to search for an outbreak’s source. Companies complained the proposals were too burdensome and costly, and warned they could disrupt the availability of consumers’ favorite foods.

Under pressure in 2003 and 2004, the White House agreed to dilute record-keeping proposals by FDA safety experts.

The terrorists don’t have to win. Political hacks accede to lobbying from corporate creeps and we’re only collateral damage.

Thanks, Mr. Justin




  1. eyeofthetiger says:

    Hahaha. Remember the whole trying to curb drug trafficking from Mexico in the 80’s? How slow could the paper be in the US? Maybe they are just squeezing until genetic testing is mandatory for suppliers.

  2. lou says:

    It’s just a long list of things W has screwed up. Now we can add another. Sad !

  3. ECA says:

    Home land security…
    Iv heard the word OXY MORON, given to Mil intelligence…

    Homeland sec,
    delays AIR FLIGHT.
    CANT check 1% of incoming IMPORTS from SUSPECT ports.
    Scares ALL the cops in ALL the cities, which makes them take it out on the Citizens..
    Hasnt increased FIRE protection/prevention services(just in case)
    COSTS us TONS of money, to pay for min wage baggage checkers(the corp gets it, they cant do it for FREE)
    FDA has closed down 2/3’s of its facilities including those in PORT CITIES(imported foods).

    We have more protection getting on PLANES then Any place else in the USA. And every other Protection we had BEFORE 9/11, has GONE OUT THE WINDOW(S).

  4. Malcolm says:

    Makes you kinda sick, eh?
    Interesting how all the Corporate greed is lining up behind McSame. Oh good, more profits! More dead! More pain for all but the very rich. Does the phrase “bought the lies hook, line, and sinker” ring a bell?

  5. deowll says:

    So they bought congress and the white house and got their butts burned or at least the tomato growers did.

  6. JimD says:

    Well, this can BIT THE INDUSTRY IN THE BUTT though !!! Now, no one wants to eat Tomatoes, so the Industry is HOIST ON IT’S OWN PETARD !!! If they had instituted tracking systems, the losses to industry would have been reduced and the people getting sick and dying might not have happened !!! Such tracking should apply to meat too, we’ve had too many beef recalls lately !!!

  7. JimD says:

    ECA, Mil Intelligence is also a Non-Sequitor !!!

  8. Mr. Fusion says:

    Ah, local tomatoes are hitting the stores and road side stalls. Salmonella free and loaded with flavor.

  9. Herewegoagain says:

    “Under pressure in 2003 and 2004, the White House agreed to dilute record-keeping proposals by FDA safety experts.”

    Pressure my butt!! All they had to do was ask. This was just another decision that was pre-paid for by industry.

    US citizens are just meat for unscrupulous businesses, rounded up and led to the slaughter by crooked politicians.

    But that’s alright, because our cell phones can cook pancakes.

  10. user999 says:

    If you haven’t yet figured out the international corporations are the Enemy, you’re all in lots and lots of trouble, with a capital T.

  11. Holden says:

    ECA, I totally agree. I don’t think anyone who looks at the facts can support or justify the existence of homeland security. Just more government to eat our tax dollars.

  12. GregAllen says:

    The conservative obsession with deregulation is making us poor, homeless and sick.

    Thanks a lot, cons, for turning off your brains when you foisted this horrible bunch on America.

  13. MikeN says:

    I’m glad they didn’t pass this regulation. I’d heard it passed with regards to tracing cows. I don’t want to see small growers put at a bigger disadvantage to big corporate farming/ranching. So they weren’t able to trace some salmonella. I’d rather the government not have that power. If it’s people, you guys would be in agreement.


0

Bad Behavior has blocked 5803 access attempts in the last 7 days.