By Ronald Margulis
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns pledged an additional $7 million to help protect the nation's food supply in front of 2,000 food manufacturers, food processors, restaurant executives and food retailers gathered at last week's Food Safety Summit in Washington, DC.
On the final morning of the Summit, Mr. Johanns said, "Two million dollars will be redirected to the study of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, known as Mad Cow Disease, and $5 million will be awarded by USDA facilities with the express purpose of promoting food safety. The funds would be in addition to the $600 million that USDA is permitted to spend under anti-terrorist legislation.
FDA Commissioner-Designate Les Crawford, confirmed by a Congressional committee last week, also addressed the audience and described his plans for advancing food safety as he takes the helm at the Food and Drug Administration.
Moderator's Comment: We asked this same question after last year's summit -- Is the food supply safer now that it was one year ago? Will it be safer one year from now?
Last year, I wrote that the food supply was no better or worse than it was the previous year. Not much has changed to make me alter my opinion. And the $7 million pledged by USDA is less than a drop in the bucket when looking at the need for improved food security measures. - Ronald Margulis - Moderator