mexico tomato pic

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has claimed that an ongoing strategy to improve the performance of the department has achieved promising results, despite claims that the agency was slow to respond to the recent Salmonella crisis.

According to a progress report issued by the agency this week, “significant progress” has been made towards achieving the goals of its Food Protection Plan, which was unveiled in November 2007, with the aim of increasing food security.

The FDA said the plan focused on prevention of problems from the source, the use of targeted risk-based inspections and testing, and a rapid response once problems were identified.

However, many in the fresh produce sector appear to be far from convinced by the FDA’s response to the Salmonella scare.

The Western Growers Association has called for a congressional inquiry into the way the agency has handled the outbreak.

'It's so ridiculous that the agencies are speculating as to what the other produce is,' Amy Philpott, a spokeswoman with United Fresh Produce Association told the Los Angeles Times. 'It's causing so much confusion, and tells the consumer nothing. If they have the epidemiological data, they should just say what it is.'

Among other work carried out under the protection plan, the FDA said efforts to increase policing outside of US borders were now underway, while a Memorandum of Agreement with China was also being initiated.

“Implementing the strategic approaches outlined in the plan is essential if we are to enhance our ability to respond and intervene in foodborne outbreaks,” said commissioner of food and drugs Andrew von Eschenbach.

However, Mr von Eschenbach admitted there was “much more that needs to be done”, adding that he hoped Congress would support the FDA by providing the new powers that were requested in the protection plan.

Although last month’s Salmonella outbreak was initially linked to contaminated tomatoes, FDA officials have now expanded their investigation into other types of produces that may have used the same distribution channels.