Pew Says Most Kentuckians Support Food Safety Act

by Stephanie CrosbyThe Pew Health Group is working to rally support for legislation on Capital Hill known as the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. The group released a poll today that says 85% of Kentuckians support strengthening food safety regulation.The poll of 500 Kentucky residents was conducted last month.Pew Food Safety Campaign Director Sandra Eskin says, among other things, the bill would give the Food and Drug Administration more authority over farmers and food manufacturers.“So one major component of the legislation is to require food processors, food companies, to develop food safety plans, look at their operation, identify where contamination can occur, institute measures to try to prevent that contamination or minimize it, and then monitor it,” says Eskin.But organizations that represent small farms oppose the bill, saying the new mandates are too costly for small operations. They say the farms would be put out of business by larger corporations that can afford to comply with the new rules.The bill was introduced last year, but is still awaiting a vote in the Senate.

• FDA Food Safety Modernization Act - S.510