New York Times endorses food safety bill

The New York Times endorsed the Food Safety and Tracking Improvement Act in a December 20 editorial.

The article lauded provisions for mandatory recalls of food products that could cause serious health problems, more frequent inspections of food facilities by the Food and Drug Administration, and a $500 fee assessed to food processing plants that would underwrite the inspection program. The editorial board also backed a requirement that all food processors regulated by the FDA develop Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plans. The act has been passed by the House of Representatives and is under consideration in the U.S. Senate, although the Senate bill does not currently include the $500 fee for food processors.