A recent report by the Government Accountability Office showed that not only does the FDA rarely inspect produce-processing facilities, but it does not follow up to see that problems are corrected.

Food for Thought

According to a recent government report, the FDA has some serious catching up to do to make sure the country’s produce is fit to eat.

When Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Sen. Ted Kennedy D-Mass. – prompted by the historic and fatal 2006 E.coli contamination crisis – called for an FDA safety investigation, they weren’t pleased with what they found.

According to the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) recent findings, it’s doubtful that these politicians were alone.

The 59-page report, which was composed as salmonella sickened 1,300 people in 43 states over the summer, showed that not only does the FDA rarely inspect produce-processing facilities, but it does not follow up to see that problems are corrected. In addition, the report says it inspects only 1 percent of the produce imported to the United States.   

“This report paints a frightening picture of the FDA’s fresh produce safety efforts,” Boxer told the Associated Press  (AP) in September. It “should serve as a wake up call to do more to protect the nation’s food supply.

“Between 2000 and 2007, the FDA detected food safety problems at more than 40 percent of the 2,002 plants inspected, yet half of those plants were inspected only once,” the AP says.

“The plants with food safety problems received only warning letters from the FDA, and even those ended in 2005.”

Ironically, this information came at the heels of National Quality Month in October, which was started by the American Society for Quality (ASQ) in 1984.

This focus is meant to highlight “strategic importance of quality and continuous improvement,” ASQ says. “It also strengthens the commitment to quality and performance excellence by organizations across the country.”

Budget to Blame?
As the ASQ recognizes, a commitment to quality should be reflected in a company’s budget.

In the case of the U.S. government, the FDA’s quality control budget may be the source of the problem.

“As the amount of fresh produce imported into the United States has grown, the report said, the FDA’s inflation-adjusted budget has remained stable, which has forced the agency to absorb cost-of-living increases for staff members,” the AP says. “Cost-saving measures, such as early retirements and a decision not to fill some positions resulted in reductions in food safety staffing by 17 percent, including 800 scientists, inspectors and others.”

Rewarding Safety
Fortunately, the FDA appears to have been working to remedy this situation for the past 10 months, an assistant FDA commissioner said in a written statement. 

As part of its new Food Protection Plan, the FDA plans to work more directly with states departments of food and agriculture, and “will soon be awarding grants to states to further food and feed safety,” Dr. David Acheson, assistant commissioner for foods, told the AP. –Genevieve Diesing

Healthy Partnership

Many consumers choose their foods carefully in order to stay healthy, but two companies are now going one step further. This October, Gourmetceuticals LLC – a marketer of organically derived ingredients – announced its partnership with Curamedics Pharmaceuticals Inc., a specialty pharmaceuticals firm.

Together, the two will develop food products for the human and veterinary markets that are projected for release nationally in 2009. The partnership will see the use of Gourmetceuticals’ ingredients, PPL-240 and GLPH-1.

While GLPH-1 is a polysaccharide extract that promotes immune health, PPL-240 is an antioxidant that reduces the damage from UVA and UVB rays. “Both ingredients are derived from many natural botanical extracts, [and] are organic and kosher,” Gourmetceuticals says. 

The two firms will develop a beverage, candy and wafers for humans, along with animal treats. “This collaboration aligns well with Gourmetceuticals’ mission to provide high-quality ingredients in products that consumers can easily fit into their daily regimens,” Gourmetceuticals CEO Garrett Lindemann, Ph.D., said in a statement.    

“The products will provide consumers with added health benefits that are backed by more than 20 years of clinical studies, which support the ingredients safety and efficacy,” he noted.   

“Curamedics made a strategic decision to collaborate with Gourmetceuticals as we enter the growing health and wellness market because of its scientifically validated ingredients,” Curamedics CEO Dave Baj added. “We look forward to a long-term partnership with Gourmetceuticals to co-developing unique premium products.”

‘Gourmet Functional Food’
Based in Big Horn, Wyo., Gourmetceuticals says it is a leader in evidence-based culinary technologies. “The company is a spin out of Industrial Farmaceutica Cantabria S.A. (Madrid), which has marketed new technologies to improve health and well-being for the past 25 years,” it says.

According to Gourmetceuticals, its ingredients can transform human and veterinary products into gourmet functional foods. In turn, these attributes offer product partners higher price points and greater profit.”

‘New and Novel Pharmaceuticals’
The South Plainfield, N.J.-based Curamedics says its operating subsidiaries and affiliates serve the global healthcare industry.

“Our businesses [leverage] the expertise and experience of our management team, research and development, manufacturing capabilities and partnerships,” the company says.“Curamedics seeks to be the leader in the markets we serve by delivering new and novel pharmaceuticals that improve the quality of life,” it continues. “Through our dedicated team of passionate, innovative and dynamic employees, we are well positioned to execute our strategy and expand our presence on a global basis.”  –Alan Dorich