A precondition for health is having access to safe food,” said Margaret Hamburg, who became commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on May 22, in a statement before the House Subcommittee on Health 12 days later.

A physician, former New York City commissioner of health, and former assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Hamburg, 54, becomes FDA head at a pivotal time in the agency’s history. With the food industry reeling from numerous food recalls of everything from spinach to peanut butter, and the Obama administration calling for an overhaul in the government’s regulation of food, Hamburg will be managing major changes in the FDA’s oversight of the food supply.

The changes in the FDA the Obama administration would like to make are reflected in its fiscal year 2010 budget, including an increase of $259 million for food safety, as well as in recommendations made earlier this month by its Food Safety Working Group. In addition, Congress has weighed in with the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, which on June 17 was sent to the House of Representatives.

In her statement to the House Subcommittee on Health, Hamburg commended the draft of the Food Safety Enhancement Act for giving the FDA more enforcement power. She cited the provision holding companies accountable for “implementing effective measures to prevent contamination.”

She also observed that the bill would provide the FDA with the “new legal authorities” to detain food and gain access to records from food suppliers. The bill’s authorization of a $1,000 annual fee on food manufacturers to support inspections of their facilities got Hamburg’s approval, though it has been criticized by the industry.

Hamburg views the agency’s mission “as a protector of public health, rather than a body that simply issues and enforces regulations,” said Leslie Sarasin, president and chief executive officer, Food Marketing Institute.

Recent articles on Margaret Hamburg

FDA, CDC Give Listeria Outbreak Update
Oct 19, 2011, Supermarket News, By ROSEANNE HARPER
WASHINGTON – During a conference call Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offered an overview of factors that potentially contributed to the listeria contamination of whole, fresh cantaloupes at Jensen Farms in Colorado and also provided a current count of illnesses and deaths resulting from ingestion of the tainted melons.

FDA Discusses Listeria Outbreak, Measures Taken
Oct 17, 2011, Supermarket News, By ROSEANNE HARPER
WASHINGTON In the wake of this fall's deadly listeria outbreak traced to tainted cantaloupes, U.S. Food & Drug Administrator Margaret Hamburg spoke extensively at the 14th annual National Food Policy Conference about FDA's food safety efforts. She particularly emphasized the important role that cooperation between agencies national, state and local played in traceback and response during the recent

October 17, 2011
Oct 17, 2011, Supermarket News - Subscribers Only

FDA Plans Extensive Food Safety Outreach
Aug 24, 2011, Supermarket News, By DAVID ORGEL
COLORADO SPRINGS — The Food and Drug Administration's implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act will be accompanied by

GMA Conference Highlights Legislative Issues
Aug 22, 2011, Supermarket News, By MARK HAMSTRA
WASHINGTON The implementation of the Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act is a top priority for food suppliers as the Grocery Manufacturers Association Executive Conference kicks off this week in Colorado Springs. The biggest challenge is just the sheer scope of the legislation, and the impact it will have on our member companies, Pamela G. Bailey, president and chief executive

CLEANING UP ITS ACT
Aug 08, 2011, Supermarket News, By JENNA TELESCA
It's been eight months since Congress approved the Food Safety Modernization Act, updating regulations for preventing and addressing food safety problems. The new law has given the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the authority to shut down facilities and make mandatory recalls for dangerous products, among other powers, and has created new guidelines for imported and domestic food. While developing

Page:  1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10  |  Next

All Articles for Margaret Hamburg