Letter from Michael Bennet

Dear Kip:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Food Safety Modernization Act, S.510. I appreciate your concern on this matter.

In the wake of recent outbreaks of food-borne illness and nationwide recalls of contaminated food from both domestic and foreign sources, lawmakers in Congress have highlighted the need to modernize and strengthen our nation’s food safety system. Several food safety bills have been introduced in the 111th Congress—each one containing a different proposal for improving our food safety system.

In the Senate, S.510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, introduced by Senator Richard Durbin is one approach to improving food safety nationwide. The bill would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to expand the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to regulate food and give the Food and Drug Administration new authorities and resources.

S. 510 would require processing facilities to put in place preventative food safety plans and require importers to verify the safety of foreign suppliers and imported food. The bill also seeks to improve our ability to detect and respond to food-borne illness outbreaks by increasing the frequency of FDA inspections, improving surveillance systems, and giving the FDA the authority to recall products in the event of a food-borne illness outbreak. S.510 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP).

It is important that these legislative proposals do not imperil the future of organic agriculture, small scale farmers, or backyard gardens. The growth of the organic food industry has been tremendous, and has become an increasingly significant sector of agriculture in Colorado and across America. Over 260 of Colorado’s farmers and ranchers have certified organic operations, with over 100,000 acres in organic production. In addition, Colorado has 61 organic food processors and handlers, which provide 920 jobs and boast $560 million in annual sales of certified organic products.

As a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) and the Senate Agriculture Committee, I will work with my colleagues to ensure a fair, comprehensive, and effective system is established that both improves the safety of our nation’s food supply and works for family farmers and producers of all sizes and types. I am optimistic that we will succeed in achieving these common goals.

For more information about my priorities as a U.S. Senator and about issues of importance to Colorado and our nation, I invite you to visit my website at http://bennet.senate.gov/. Again, thank you for contacting me.

Sincerely,

Michael Bennet
United States Senator