A new survey conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) shows that political interference in scientific work of the food and drug industries is high. The survey, which consisted of 44 multiple-choice questions and two essays, was sent to about 8,000 employees of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Drug Administration (USDA).
According to the report, “The reported levels of political and corporate interference both at the USDA and FDA are troublingly high.”
Of 1,710 respondents, 238 (23 percent) reported that they had received requests from agency decision makers to “inappropriately exclude or alter technical information or conclusions in an agency scientific document.”
The topic of food safety has returned to the public spotlight once again after the recall last month of shell eggs due to Salmonella contamination. Roughly 76 million Americans suffer annually from foodborne illnesses each year, a statistic that has caused many to push for tighter regulation and more progress in the food technology and safety industry. The UCS is among certain groups that are urging the federal government to reform the industry.
“We are at a moment where the administration can act decisively by creating a Scientific Integrity Plan,” said Francesca Grifo, director of the Scientific Integrity Program at UCS.
Though some small improvements have been made sine the last UCS survey was conducted in 2006, the UCS is calling on the government to play a greater role. Specifically, the group would like Congress to pass bipartisan food safety legislation that would enact many of the needed reforms highlighted by the recent survey.
Survey Shows Alarming Amount Of Political Influence Over Food Safety
By AJ Swartwood - Talk Radio News Service
A new survey conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) shows that political interference in scientific work of the food and drug industries is high. The survey, which consisted of 44 multiple-choice questions and two essays, was sent to about 8,000 employees of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Drug Administration (USDA).
According to the report, “The reported levels of political and corporate interference both at the USDA and FDA are troublingly high.”
Of 1,710 respondents, 238 (23 percent) reported that they had received requests from agency decision makers to “inappropriately exclude or alter technical information or conclusions in an agency scientific document.”
The topic of food safety has returned to the public spotlight once again after the recall last month of shell eggs due to Salmonella contamination. Roughly 76 million Americans suffer annually from foodborne illnesses each year, a statistic that has caused many to push for tighter regulation and more progress in the food technology and safety industry. The UCS is among certain groups that are urging the federal government to reform the industry.
“We are at a moment where the administration can act decisively by creating a Scientific Integrity Plan,” said Francesca Grifo, director of the Scientific Integrity Program at UCS.
Though some small improvements have been made sine the last UCS survey was conducted in 2006, the UCS is calling on the government to play a greater role. Specifically, the group would like Congress to pass bipartisan food safety legislation that would enact many of the needed reforms highlighted by the recent survey.