PRODUCT LIABILITY: FDA Urge to Impose Stricter Reviews on Food Ingredients
March 8, 2010
Washington – The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has urged safety regulators in a report released recently to focus on some specific food ingredients such as artificial flavors and spices following the recall of thousands of food products tainted with salmonella.
The GAO report also asked the US Federal and Safety Administration (FDA) to review the safety of some food ingredients which are not subjected to review because these are “generally considered safe.”
The government watchdog has also accused FDA of “not doing its best effort” to prevent unsafe food products from reaching the market.
GAO officials said that FDA should “mandate companies which manufacture and use food ingredients to provide the government with better information.”
Last week, food regulators has announced a recall that covers thousands of processed foods after a test has revealed that these were tainted with salmonella, a bacterium which can cause severe diarrhea and vomiting which may lead to dehydration or death if left untreated.
Experts said the recalled foods contain hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) which has been tainted with salmonella.
Meanwhile, some health regulators are urging the government to “increase the liability of corporate executives over unsafe food products” and to impose a “stricter misdemeanor prosecution against companies.”
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