Salmonella-tainted eggs linked to U.S. government's failure to act

[n2doc]

By Lyndsey Layton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, December 11, 2010; 12:00 AM
Public health officials closed the books this month on an outbreak of salmonella illness that had sickened more than 1,900 people since May and led to the largest recall of eggs in U.S. history.

Two Iowa egg farms drew most of the blame, triggering a congressional investigation, a federal criminal probe and several lawsuits filed by victims.

What has not drawn much scrutiny is the role of the federal government, which recognized 20 years ago that salmonella in eggs posed a public health threat. Although federal inspectors have closely monitored meat and poultry production for the better part of a century, they have largely ignored eggs, another staple of the American diet. It was not until July, well after the recent outbreak was underway, that the government's first rules on safe egg production took effect.

Unlike other regulatory efforts, this one did not sputter under lobbying pressure by business. In fact, the $4.4 billion egg industry had been seeking mandatory rules for years, despite the red tape and extra costs. Consumer groups wanted the regulation, and public health experts supported it, along with economists who said the benefits would far outweigh the costs.

But the proposal was thwarted by government itself - philosophical resistance to regulating business as well as rivalries and dysfunction at two federal agencies that share responsibility for keeping egg production safe.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/10/AR2010121007485.html

[AsahinaKimi]

1. Something else for the Republican wish list:

Getting rid of those pesky Heath protection laws that prevent Corporations from making a bigger profit.


edited to include the word:

Bastards!