The FDA and several of the food regulating bodies around the world are failing. The time has come for their final demise, and for responsible consumerism to reign supreme. However, because of the totalitarian dictatorship most regulating agencies have had over the food industry, the market is not yet ripe for such a change.
Food Regulation Cannot Keep Up
In "Losing My Appetite for Food Regulation" Part 1 and Part 2 I touched on the fact some populations, growth spurts, and technology advancements are just too much for food regulation to keep up. However, in the famous words of capitalist marketing – but wait, there's more!
The U.S. FDA has flat out admitted that they cannot keep up – even spent who knows how many hours composing a 60 page report on how they can't effectively serve the needs of the people, instead of doing what they claim they can't do because they don't have the staff. Really, do we need this kind of mediocrity moderating our food supply?
No Thanks, I'd Like it Done Right
I know it's cliche, but as they say, if you want it done right, you had better do it yourself. And honestly, we can do better than the current food regulating bodies – handwritten reports and all. I know I'm picking on the U.S. FDA here a lot, but it's just so easy…
"FDA is engaged in a reactive, fire-fighting regulatory posture instead of pursuing a culture of proactive regulatory science," the panel concluded. And it was a good thing they took the time to find this out because FDA inspector's reports, "are still handwritten and not rapidly analyzed." – Source: The Nation
If you think about it for a moment – why can't food regulation keep up? Because we, the masses, are too many.
We create too much with our massive numbers and overblown demands. We create, we consume, and we multiply far too effectively and efficiently for any regulating body to keep up – not just food, but I digress.
This overwhelming deluge of product lets the U.S. FDA get away with permitting a pretty low standard in food production. I'm talking about things like rat hair and insects in your food.
In fact, so common are these contaminants that the FDA has published a booklet detailing the so-called "Food Defect Action Levels," which were needed, according to the FDA, " … because it is economically impractical to grow, harvest, or process raw products that are totally free of non-hazardous, naturally occurring, unavoidable defects." – Source: SixWise
Their Problem is Our Solution
Since we, the people, number too many and produce too much for one small group to keep up – then we the people should work for our own good. With all of today's technology and communicative abilities, it wouldn't be all that difficult to keep food manufacturers honest on our own.
However, we have one thing in our way – transparency. We can't hold companies accountable for things we don't know about. We didn't have to know about this stuff when federal food regulation was necessary (because the public could not have possibly kept up) and worked properly, but now that it is failing, the time has come to open up the lines of communication.
A Different Middle Man
Although – corporate transparency as a whole is still a problem. If we are to deregulate the food industry, it would have to be done properly. That is, we would need a non-government agency or advocacy group to keep a watchful eye on food manufacturers, much like the ACLU and other miscellaneous watchdogs.
Unless, of course, all of us bloggers can latch on to the important stuff and spread the news fast enough to stop bad things from happening. We have done a pretty good job so far. Citizen journalism is a powerful thing.
Either way, we need to have better access to the acts and inner workings of manufacturers and corporations before we can really get a handle on this food issue. I believe responsible consumerism would be a much more powerful solution than federal regulation – what do you think?
I recently read an article in The Seattle P-I that the FDA has approved the use of flavoring additive in many butter substitutes called diacetyl which is now being linked to a non-treatable, sometimes fatal respiratory disease called bronchiolitis obliterans. The FDA classifies diacetyl as ‘Generally Recognized As Safe’ for consumption, which according to Dr. David Egilman, a professor at Brown University, is a “get out of jail free card.”
The greatest risk is to chefs, line cooks, and plant workers which are exposed to the vapor of the chemical in large quantities.
Here is the clincher from the P-I article:
“For at least three years the FDA has been ignoring the question and only now, almost eight years after the first solid links between diacetyl and workers, has the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it will attempt to set standards for worker exposure, and this only after repeated hammering by unions and Congress.”
So the question arises, is this the result of corruption, a sinister criminal neglect, or as you suggest, the result of an over-burdened and ineffective bureaucracy?
Thanks a useful idea to human society
Thanks a useful idea to human society
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Infesting insect material may cause stomach disorders, as well as allergic reactions.