ID:

326

Date:

2008-07-25

Headline:

Food industry bitten by its lobbying success

Reporter's name:

Larry Margasak

Delay/denial:

No

Lawsuit:

No

Fees:

No

Media outlet:

Associated Press

City:

Washington, DC

Summary:

While the Bush administration was comparing an electronic food-related illness tracking system against a slower, cheaper paper-based system, food-industry lobbyists met with White House officials at least ten times in 2003-4 before the Bush Administration chose the paper-based system preferred by the industry. The White House was credited with killing the planned electronic tracking system, which industry representatives now believe could have helped saved money and prevent sicknesses during the salmonella outbreak of April-July 2008, which sickened nearly 1,300 people and cost an estimated $250 million.

Notes:

The records which AP reviewed were obtained under FOIA by the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Keywords:

food, salmonella, outbreak, regulation, industry, lobbying, records,

URL:

http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=78&sid=1446669

Agencies:

FDA
HHS

States:

DC
TX

Categories:

business
food safety
lobbying
public health