Tell Your U.S. Senators: Make Our Food Safe NOW!

One in four Americans will get sick from tainted food this year, and about 5,000 will die.

But despite the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passing bipartisan food safety reform legislation in July 2009 that would update the law and strengthen the system, the U.S. Senate has still not acted.

Your Senators have the opportunity to change course and finally sign into law legislation that would protect children, senior citizens, and others susceptible to food-borne illness.

Take action today! Fill out the form below and tell your Senators it is time to stop delaying and pass strong food safety legislation now!

Want to do even more? Click here for materials you can use to create awareness and provide support for events, rallies and other ideas you may have.

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

At this time last year, Americans were in the throes of a Salmonella outbreak linked to peanut products from the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA).  In response to that outbreak, the President and leaders from both parties called for action but, one year later, we are still waiting for Congress to enact FDA food-safety legislation containing the types of provisions that would have prevented the PCA outbreak. Had these provisions been in place before the PCA outbreak:

- The company would have been required to develop a food-safety plan, which would have identified the points in the process where contamination could occur and what steps it was taking to minimize it;  
- FDA would have been inspecting the plant on a regular basis; and, 
- Once a problem was discovered, the agency could have immediately required a recall, rather than having to rely on voluntary action.

The House overwhelmingly passed comprehensive bipartisan food safety legislation (the Food Safety Enhancement Act, H.R. 2749) in July 2009, and the Senate Committee on Health Education Labor & Pensions unanimously approved S. 510 (The FDA Food Modernization Act) in November.  I call on you to urge Senate action on strong legislation that would create a comprehensive system for preventing and responding to foodborne illness.

S. 510 is a good, bipartisan bill that includes many key components necessary to reform the way FDA regulates food safety.  While, as a food safety advocate, I would like to see the bill made stronger in regards to inspection frequency, testing and reporting, and safety of imported foods,  the most important thing is to get the bill to the floor for a vote.  I hope our additional concerns will be addressed in conference.  In addition, I urge you to oppose any amendment that would threaten passage of this important piece of legislation.

Like any significant reform movement, many have suffered to bring us to this point.  Unfortunately, the brunt of foodborne illness is carried on the shoulders of the most vulnerable - pregnant women, children, the elderly and the seriously ill.  Please help us write a new chapter on food safety in the United States.  It is long overdue.

Thank you in advance for taking action to move S.510 to a vote.

Respectfully,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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