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The U.S. Senate is considering landmark food safety legislation, a week after it was approved by the House.
The legislation, which is more than two years in the making, establishes a national food tracing system, and gives the Food and Drug Administration subpoena power and mandatory recall authority.
Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) says the legislation should help reduce the number of food-borne illnesses...
"There's probably about 76 million per year," he said, that result "in over 300,000 hospitalizations and about 5,000 deaths annually."
"The FDA will have access, and inspectors will have access to records, we gave them subpoena power," said Stupak. "They (food producers) have to produce the documentation requested."
According to Stupak, no additional taxpayer money is needed to pay for the bill. Instead, each food processing facility will pay a $500 annual fee. The legislation also creates exemptions for small and home businesses.
There have been a number of food-borne illness outbreaks over the last few years, including E. coli in peanut butter and salmonella in jalapeno peppers.
The legislation is pending before the Senate committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
The legislation, which is more than two years in the making, establishes a national food tracing system, and gives the Food and Drug Administration subpoena power and mandatory recall authority.
Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) says the legislation should help reduce the number of food-borne illnesses...
"There's probably about 76 million per year," he said, that result "in over 300,000 hospitalizations and about 5,000 deaths annually."
"The FDA will have access, and inspectors will have access to records, we gave them subpoena power," said Stupak. "They (food producers) have to produce the documentation requested."
According to Stupak, no additional taxpayer money is needed to pay for the bill. Instead, each food processing facility will pay a $500 annual fee. The legislation also creates exemptions for small and home businesses.
There have been a number of food-borne illness outbreaks over the last few years, including E. coli in peanut butter and salmonella in jalapeno peppers.
The legislation is pending before the Senate committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
