US Food Safety Regulation Lagging

Over time, the US food safety monitoring and standards have progressively improved. Not so over the past three years, as a report from the CDC lists these three years have not improved in food safety, and cases of salmonella infections may be increasing. Widespread food-borne infection outbreaks over the last few years in foods like peanut products and spinach have spiked salmonella outbreaks. The CDC reported a total of 48,000 salmonella cases in 2008, while three years prior in 2005, 42,000 outbreaks were reported.  Salmonella infections were highest in New Mexico and Georgia. Rationale for the geographic spike may be as a result of local eating habits.  A Texas-owned peanut plan closed in February 2009 as a result of  the $14.6 million fine imposed on it after a national salmonella outbreak sickening 700 people.