Food-Safety Modernization Act

The Senate passed the Food-Safety Modernization Act. I hear two major changes from this Fox News video about the regulations:

1. Voluntary recall is replaced by mandatory recall. Before this Act, contaminated food would be voluntarily recalled by the companies who showed responsibility. Now, the government has the authority to recall unsafe items.

2. The government is putting more resources out there for food safety. However, due to the constraints of resources, the focus will be put on “where the risks are” --- namely on imported food, which only 1% is being inspected, as well as big corporations. Small farmers will be exempted from the new regulations because their influences are considered smaller than those of big farmers.

What does this Food-Safety Modernization Act mean to restaurant and/or food retail business? Where are the real sources of contaminated food? Does this Act make you feel “safer” as a consumer? How so? What other suggestions will you make to ensure that everyone can have safe food products?

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