One of the top-ranking Democrats in the Senate, Chuck Schumer of New York, called on the FDA to overhaul its food recall process, saying dangerous food now may remain on sale for months before the agency acts. The New York Daily News quoted Schumer as saying, “Delays in getting bad food off store shelves is just a recipe for disaster.”
As an example, Schumer pointed to the ongoing recall of flour by General Mills. Illnesses were reported last December, but a recall did not begin until May, he said. Last week, General Mills expanded the recall to an additional 15 million pounds. Schumer said the FDA “must come to the table with a healthy, new plan, detailing how they will revamp and execute a reformed food recall process.”
Inspector General Daniel Levinson of the FDA called for immediate attention to the recall system in early June, in a rarely issued “early alert” to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf. Levinson cited two instances in which the FDA waited for months before forcing a recall. The FDA agreed the delays were unacceptable and said it was making improvements in its handling of cases of contaminated food. Although the FDA generally relies on companies to voluntarily recall suspect food, it has the authority to mandate a recall.