Friday, May. 15, 2009

Growers, politicos shoot for safe food

Obama requests more inspectors, farmers seek one set of standards

WASHINGTON — Food safety efforts are accelerating across many fronts after repeated finds of tainted California crops.

The Obama administration wants to add hundreds of inspectors. Some lawmakers want to shift food safety responsibilities among different agencies. And soon, California lettuce and spinach producers could extend their self-imposed safety standards nationwide.

"The idea is to get us all under one umbrella so everybody is doing the same thing," Scott Horsfall, chief executive officer of the California Leafy Green Products organization, said this week. "Right now, we're getting a patchwork quilt of programs."

California's leafy greens industry established the Sacramento-based marketing order in 2007, after at least three people died and several hundred fell ill after eating contaminated spinach.

Although voluntary, the marketing order covers nearly all the leafy greens commercially grown in the state.

The 118 member companies of California Leafy Green Products provide the annual budget of roughly $3 million. They agree to meet certain safety practices and to undergo required safety audits.

The idea is about to go nationwide. The Agriculture Department later this month anticipates receiving a formal proposal for a national leafy greens agreement. If approved, the national program would apply the California growers' model of self-governance to every state. It would cover imports as well.

"(It) is a substantial food safety program, and we had to gear up to meet its challenges," Modesto area farmer Ron Ratto told the House horticulture and organic agriculture subcommittee Thursday.

David R. Shipman, acting administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service, told the House panel that "public backing for such a (nationwide) measure could be favorable if certain issues, such as the cost and impact on small entities ... were addressed."

Led by Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, the House subcommittee convened Thursday's hearing amid concerns by consumers and farmers.

As many as 73,000 U.S. residents get sick annually because of E. coli bacteria similar to that which contaminated the California spinach, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. Farmers lose business when consumers become fearful: California leafy greens producers estimate they lost upward of $100 million after the 2006 outbreak.

More recently, the CDC traced pistachios contaminated with salmonella to Setton Pistachio in Terra Bella. The discovery prompted a recall in April of more than 2 million pounds of nuts.

The Obama administration wants $259 million more to cover food safety efforts next year as part of a 19 percent increase sought for the FDA budget. The money would support 400-plus additional food safety staffers.

The administration has established a working group now compiling recommendations about updating food safety laws.

"Overall, I believe consumer confidence in fresh produce is growing and stronger than ever," Cardoza said. "But unfortunately, it will only take one incident to break down this progress (and) move us back to square one."

Bee Washington Bureau reporter Michael Doyle can be reached at mdoyle@mcclatchydc.com or 202-383-0006.