Summary
This bill proposes a bandaid which will provide some improvement over the present inspection situation but fails to address the fact that food and drugs need to be separatated and the food portion of the inspection process placed under the USDA which has already established its competency and ability to operate a viable inspection system. Food and Drugs require different approaches to provide adequate inspection and the field has become too broad to be effectively handled by the FDA.
Analysis
This bill will likely be passed in some form but will not constitute an adequate improvement over the present system. Providing more inspectors will not fix a system which is basically flawed because it combines incompatible functions under the aegis of an agency which has demonstrated its expertise in drug supervision but must function in a largely different manner while dealing with food safety problems. USDA is capable of referring drug trace matters to FDA where necessary. Filth and the usual contamination are peculiarly within the expertise of the FDA.
