With federal oversight lacking, states pass their own laws to improve food safety

With little federal oversight of food safety and several recent outbreaks of contamination, many states are tackling the problem themselves. But there is concern that without consistent regulations, food manufacturers and distributors will face difficulty adhering to the standards.

In Georgia, where a salmonella outbreak started from tainted peanuts in a processing plant, lawmakers passed a bill requiring food processors to report internal test results on their products within 24 hours. Idaho created a licensing system for the food industry, in which fees pay for safety inspections. A number of other states are considering similar bills.

"I think states are reacting to the perceived lack of federal oversight on food," said Doug Farquhar, a program director at the National Conference of State Legislatures, told Jane Zhang of The Wall Street Journal. Others say that the recent outbreaks and resulting legislation highlight the need for more federal oversight. "It's a good thing states are trying to raise the bar and improve food safety, but it needs to be looked at carefully," said Robert Brackett, chief science officer of the Grocery Manufacturers Association. "It should really lead to a national system." (Read more)