A few days ago, US Federal health officials issued a warning for people to avoid eating foods containing peanut butter in the wake of a salmonella outbreak that has sickened nearly 500 people and killed a half dozen. The source of the salmonella contamination? A \u201crelatively small supplier\u201d based in Georgia.<\/p>\n
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What would things have been like if the source had been a supplier based in China?<\/p>\n
There would be cries to outlaw importing from China. Rants about how the Chinese government has such poor oversight over the safety of products produced in the country. Calls for withdrawing all plans to source from China.<\/p>\n
Does this recent salmonella outbreak put things into perspective?<\/p>\n
Should there be cries in other countries not to buy American goods? Should people criticize the US government\u2019s oversight? Should companies withdraw plans to source from the US?<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t think so, although the following excerpt from the above-linked article makes it seem that perhaps US citizens shouldn\u2019t throw the proverbial stones at the Chinese government over their industry oversight\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cThe outbreak has triggered a congressional inquiry and renewed calls for reform of food safety laws. For example, the FDA lacks authority to order a recall, and instead must ask companies to voluntarily withdraw products. \u2018Given the numerous food-borne illness outbreaks over the past several years, it is becoming painfully clear that the current regulatory structure is antiquated and ill-equipped to handle these extensive investigations,\u2019 said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., who chairs a panel that oversees the FDA budget. Seattle-area lawyer William Marler, who specializes in food safety cases, said the government shouldn\u2019t wait for the results of more tests to request recalls. \u2018At least 30 companies purchased peanut butter or paste from a facility with a documented link to a nationwide salmonella outbreak,\u2019 said Marler. \u2018The FDA has the authority actually, the mandate to request recalls if the public health is threatened. Instead, the FDA has asked the companies to test their products and consider voluntary recalls. It is just not enough.’\u201d<\/p>\n
In my mind, the bottom line is this: don\u2019t blame an entire country for the quality problems of one supplier \u2013 or even a small percentage of suppliers.<\/p>\n
Do you agree?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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