ISSUE #3-Safe to Eat?

How do we know what is safe to eat these days? This is the controversy in the increasing health care reform debate. Health care involves many issues such as Medicare and Medicaid, but few tend to recognize the effects of our everyday food on our health. Recent outbreaks such as the 2006 E. Coli outbreak has caused a stir in health care discussions. Researchers state reasons for such outbreaks that include: increasing age of baby boomers because elderly are at a higher risk for getting ill, centralization of produce especially in California and Arizona, and the large distribution of final produce items causing outbreaks to reach a larger amount of people. With these in mind researchers have come up with new regulations for the processing of fruits and vegetables. Poultry and meat regulators such as the Department of Agriculture do a very fine job at safe processing of its products. However, fruits and vegetables are very self-regulated by industry and farmers. After E. Coli outbreaks many restaurants and fruit and vegetable consumers have developed self made standards for their products. To some, however, this by itself cannot be the safest bet. Others argue that there sould be only one agency for ensuring safe produce. This will enable the agency to create one set of direct regulations and standards for the processing produce. These people are striving for more funding towards the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA currently previews fruits and vegetables for some industries. More funding will enable the FDA to hire more inspectors and ensure a safe food supply for everyone. These observers also want more funding for scientific research to create machines that can identify food that is contaminated. On the other hand some people believe that the farmer and growers should hold responsibility for their own produce. They are responding more quickly then one agency will. They are also competing for business and will want to display their best standards and products. These supporters add that greater federal regulation will increase the cost of produce, hurt agribusiness, and reverse efforts towards healthy lifestyles.

I believe that something needs to be done with our current produce regulations. Even though the E. Coli outbreak only affected about 200 people it should open the eyes of many to what is able to happen in the future with any type of food. Produce is a very sketchy product because of the way it is grown and processed. E. Coli started because of the manure spread on the spinich growing land. This simple malfunction can happen anywhere at anytime, therefore, we need a better system of regulating produce. I do not strongly agree with having just one agency inspect fruits and vegetables but rather have many agencies with the same or similar policies and standards. This way produce and quickly, efficiantly, and safely be dispersed throughout the country. With that said the time it takes to inspect and send out the produce should not be an issue. Having agencies inspect food is also a more reliable source than the farmers or growers themselves in my opinion. I also support the idea of more federal funding for both workers and technology. The best way to keep Americans safe is to have the right equipement to inspect our food and ensure the process is thoroughly done. Some argue that more federal funding will cut away from the already dwindling health care. This could be the case and is a good point, however, improper regulations on food can create health issues for people. Thus, sending them to doctors and buying drugs. In the long run health care will have to reform in order for the economy to survive. In a way it is a double edge sword, but what are we more worried about; spending more money or keeping Americans safe?

President Obama and Congress view's on the need for health care reform. (So Close!)

ISSUE#1-Comprehensive vs. Incremental Health Care Reform

ISSUE#2-Ensuring Quality Care for Medicare Patients