With egg recall, food safety moving up Reid’s to-do list

The salmonella outbreak that has spurred the recall of more than 500 million eggs is focusing new attention on the U.S. Senate, where a major food safety bill has been stalled for months.

In the year since the House passed its version of the bill,  there have been more than 60 recalls of products regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, Politico reported today, citing a report by safety activists.

Failure to modernize food safety rules has hampered the FDA, as it has little power to force recalls, and must rely on companies to pull tainted products from the shelves. Among provisions, the new bill strengthens the agency's police powers to mandate recalls, enables it to hire more inspectors and requires more frequent inspections of food plants, and requires food makers and processors to have control plans in place that address known problems.

"The pressure is now on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who has consistently pushed the bill to the back burner," according to Politico.

Reid supports the legislation, but has not found time for  it on the Senate floor amidst seemingly constant wrassling with Republicans over other priorities. A Democratic aide told Politico the food safety has bipartisan support and is being pushed by consumer groups and is acceptable to industry.

Prospects for action in September got a boost last week when senior senators including Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Judd Gregg, R-N.H., and Chris Dodd, D-Ct., announced a new compromise.

“It is on a list of items that are possible for consideration when we return in September,” Reid spokeswoman Regan Lachappelle told Politico.

In Nevada, the issue seems to be a no-brainer.  A June poll commissioned by the Pew Health Group showed 82 percent support Congress acting on an FDA bill, even if it increases food costs.

One complicating factor on Capitol Hill: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is intent on adding an amendment that would ban the chemical compound bisphenol-A (BPA) from plastics in food and drink containers. 

"BPA is linked to problems with brain and reproductive development in fetuses, infants, and children," Feinstein says. "It is critical we act now to protect the most vulnerable, our infants and toddlers, from this harmful chemical.”

Thirty major chemical and food manufacturing groups have joined together to fight Feinstein, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.  Industry says there is no viable alternative to BPA,  and the FDA has not declared it a risk to public health at current levels.