Press Releases
Press Releases
| Date | Press Releases | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 4, 2013 |
Pew Thanks President Obama for Fulfilling Promise to Make Our Food Safe Erik Olson, director of food programs at The Pew Charitable Trusts, issues the following statement on Jan. 4, 2013 release of major draft regulations to implement the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which President Barack Obama signed two years prior on Jan. 4, 2011. |
Food Safety |
| Sep 29, 2010 |
New Analysis of Major U.S. Trade Partners Shows Produce-Safety Regulatory Progress A number of major countries exporting fresh vegetables and fruit into the United States have modernized food-safety laws and regulations over the past two decades to emphasize preventive measures, according to new report released today by the Produce Safety Project (PSP) at Georgetown University. The report, “Legal and Regulatory Frameworks Governing the Growing, Packing and Handling of Fresh Produce in Countries Exporting to the U.S.,” presents a series of case studies examining five of the top 10 U.S. produce trade partners – Canada, Chile, China, Mexico and Peru. The report was written by Monachus Consulting, an international agricultural industry consulting firm based in Canada. |
Food Safety |
| May 10, 2010 |
The Produce Safety Project today issued a report that examines the steps taken by select European Union (EU) countries to reform their food safety data collection and analysis systems since the 1990s. Authored by Michael Batz, head of Food Safety Programs, Emerging Pathogens Institute at the University of Florida, and J. Glenn Morris, Jr., director at the Institute, the report, "Building the Science Foundation of a Modern Food Safety System," looks at European countries with strong food safety systems and makes a number of recommendations on how to improve those in the United States. |
Food Safety |
| Mar 2, 2010 |
Foodborne Illness Costs Nation $152 Billion Annually - Nearly $39 Billion Loss Attributed to Produce Acute foodborne illnesses cost the United States an estimated $152 billion per year in healthcare, workplace and other economic losses, according to a report published today by the Produce Safety Project (PSP). |
Food Safety |
| Oct 29, 2009 |
Survey of State Health Departments Underscores Gaps in Foodborne Illness Response A survey of state health departments regarding their capacity to track produce-related foodborne illnesses found that the response and investigation of outbreaks varies greatly and can lead to delays in public-health response. |
Food Safety |
| Jul 31, 2009 |
We commend the FDA for moving forward on initiatives to improve the safety of fresh produce. The proposed guidance documents put out for comment today address three of the highest-risk commodities, and we hope that the agency will finalize these documents quickly. We also look forward to the agency's next steps regarding produce safety: issuance of proposed regulations. Science-based, risk-based, enforceable safety standards will restore consumer confidence in foods that are key components of a healthy diet. |
Food Safety |
| May 7, 2009 |
Dueling Produce Safety Standards Highlight Void Left by Lack of FDA Regulation A side-by-side analysis of a variety of produce safety standards shows significant variations in guidance given fruit and vegetable growers in what steps they need to take to minimize microbial contamination in light of the lack of federal rules. Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its voluntary produce safety guidance 11 years ago, a number of organizations and one state have stepped into the regulatory void and adopted their own standards for the growing and harvesting of fresh produce (fruits and vegetables intended to be consumed raw). Some standards are general in nature, and others are commodity specific. |
Food Safety |
| Nov 17, 2008 |
Salmonella Saintpaul Outbreak Exposes Food Safety Issues Weaknesses in food safety policy, organization and communications were all displayed during this summer's outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul, according to a report released today by the Produce Safety Project (PSP), an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts at Georgetown University. The report, Breakdown: Lessons to Be Learned from the 2008 Salmonella Saintpaul Outbreak, represents an in-depth review of the public record of last summer's Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak that caused illnesses in more than 1,400 people across the country. |
Food Safety |
| Sep 26, 2008 |
A GAO report found that the FDA lacks the critical resources necessary for protecting Americans’ health when it comes to food safety. The lack of resources, resulting in too few inspections, too little enforcement and too many gaps in scientific research, is not new and clearly needs to be addressed. |
Food Safety |
| Sep 17, 2008 |
Likely Voters Want Federal Produce Safety Standards, Deeply Concerned About Broken System Likely voters, by a 3-to-1 margin, want the federal government to establish new safety standards for the growing, harvesting, processing and distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables even if they increase costs, according to a national survey commissioned by the Produce Safety Project (PSP), an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts at Georgetown University. Conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies, the survey found deep discontent - 75% of likely voters -- with the current voluntary system: 36% favor "complete overhaul" and 39% want "significant changes." |
Food Safety |
| May 10, 2007 |
Researchers are using biotechnology to enhance nutritional and other properties of food for consumer benefit, but such products will face a complicated array of review requirements before they can come on the market, according to Application of Biotechnology for Functional Foods, a final new report released today by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology. |
Food Safety |
| Mar 27, 2007 |
Biotech specialty crops—fruits and vegetables, tree nuts and nursery crops—face unique regulatory challenges, but there are opportunities to improve the regulatory system to help support this important sector of the U.S. agricultural economy, according to participants at a recent workshop, co-sponsored by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). |
Food Safety |
| Mar 7, 2007 |
Many public discussions about cloned and genetically engineered (GE) food animals have focused on questions of the regulatory authorities that may govern such animals, but few have considered the impacts of ethical or moral concerns. While ethical issues can be equally as or even more important than safety and regulatory issues to many people, there is currently no established venue where these issues can be fully addressed, according to some of the experts who gathered at a workshop last October sponsored by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology and Michigan State University. |
Food Safety |
| Feb 8, 2007 |
In September 2006, the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology held a workshop in Washington, D.C., examining issues related to the potential importation into the U.S. of new varieties of genetically engineered (GE) crops and the various implications this could have on the U.S. regulatory system and food industry. |
Food Safety |
| Jan 25, 2007 |
Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology to Conclude Its Work The Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology will conclude its work at the end of March 2007. Established by The Pew Charitable Trusts in 2001, the project has achieved its goals of illuminating policy issues arising from advances in ag biotech and serving as a credible “honest broker” that could bring together stakeholders of differing views to discuss the opportunities and challenges that ag biotech presents. |
Food Safety |
| Dec 16, 2005 |
In light of a decision expected soon by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the U.S. challenge to the European Union (EU) policy on genetically modified (GM) foods, the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology has updated its brief on the trade dispute between the U.S. and the EU over agricultural biotechnology. |
Food Safety |
| Dec 6, 2005 |
In March and May 2005, the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology hosted workshops to explore issues related to the regulation and commercialization of the products of animal biotechnology. Participants included animal biotechnology researchers from academia and industry; other representatives from the biotechnology, food, and agriculture industries; consumer, environmental, and animal welfare advocates; ethicists; and federal agency officials. |
Food Safety |
| Nov 15, 2005 |
Americans’ knowledge of genetically modified (GM) foods and animals continues to remain low, and their opinions reflect that they are particularly uncomfortable with animal cloning, according to a new survey released today by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology. |
Food Safety |
| Nov 11, 2005 |
Policy Dialogue Explores Genetically Modified Imports, Implications For Domestic Policies The potential importation of genetically modified (GM) food and commodities from other countries raises a number of issues for U.S. regulators, farmers, food processors and distributors, such as how the regulatory system will handle these products and whether the food and commodity system is prepared. |
Food Safety |
| Oct 28, 2005 |
Workshop Proceedings on Moral and Ethical Aspects of Genetically Engineered and Cloned Animals In January 2005, the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology hosted a workshop to explore moral and ethical aspects of genetically engineering and cloning animals. Participants and attendees included animal biotechnology researchers from academia and industry, representatives from the biotechnology and food and agriculture industries, consumer and animal welfare advocates, ethicists and federal and state regulatory officials. |
Food Safety |
| Jun 14, 2013 |
Pew Commends Rep. Latham on New Food Safety Funding The Pew Charitable Trusts commends Representative Tom Latham (R-IA) for his leadership in securing approximately $27 million for food safety in the House appropriations bill funding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. The new money would help the FDA protect millions of Americans from the dangers of foodborne illnesses and strengthen consumer confidence in the food supply. |
Food Hazards |
| Nov 18, 2011 |
Pew Food Safety Campaign Statement on FDA Funding Legislation Congress’ decision to increase appropriations for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by $39 million provides an important down payment toward the implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which was enacted in January. This law, adopted with strong bipartisan support, will strengthen how the federal government oversees the safety of 80 percent of the food supply.
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Food Hazards |
| May 19, 2011 |
Poll Finds Most Americans Favor Increased Funding for Stronger Food Safety Oversight Among likely voters surveyed across the nation, 66 percent support additional funding for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to carry out new responsibilities related to food safety, according to a Pew-commissioned poll released today by the bipartisan team of Hart Research and American Viewpoint. |
Food Hazards |
| Nov 30, 2010 |
Historic U.S. Senate Food Safety Vote will Greatly Improve Protections from Foodborne Illness Erik D. Olson, director of the Pew Health Group food programs, issued the following statement commending the U.S. Senate for passing the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (S.510). |
Food Hazards |
| Jan 4, 2010 |
Pew: Enactment of Landmark Legislation Will Limit Dangers in the U.S Food Supply “Congress and President Obama should be applauded for enacting historic food safety legislation that will provide the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with improved authorities to oversee the safety of the nation’s food supply and prevent foodborne illness. This reform is the first major update to the law in over 70 years..."
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Food Hazards |
