New FDA Rules to Help Decrease Illnesses

Here at LawInfo.com we like to keep the readers of this blog up to date regarding food recalls, especially those that cause life-threatening illnesses.  The Cantaloupe and Peanut Butter recalls are a few of the recalls we highlighted within the last few months.

In response to the deadly Salmonella outbreaks in peanuts and cantaloupe, the FDA has proposed new safety rules to try to limit the outbreaks.  The following are some of the new proposals by the FDA:

• Farmers would be required to take new precautions against contamination
•  Farmers would be required to make sure workers’ hands are washed
• Farmers would be required to make sure irrigation water is clean
• Farmers would be required to make sure that animals stay out of fields
• Food manufacturers would be required to submit food safety plans to the government to show they are keeping their operations clean
• Companies would be required to lay out plans for preventing certain problems
• Companies would be required to monitor their own progress and explain to the FDA how they would correct them
• The FDA will be authorized to make more surprise inspections
• The FDA will be authorized to shut down food facilities
• The law will add stricter standards on imported foods

According to the FDA, “the new rules could prevent almost 2 million illnesses annually, but it could be several years before the rules are actually preventing outbreaks.”

What to Do if You Have Been Affected by a Recalled Product:

If you or a loved one has become injured or has sustained property damage as a result of a recalled product, you may be entitled to compensation.  To speak with a products liability attorney, click here.