KMIR 6 - Palm Springs News, Weather, SportsGov't auditors says food traceback program flawed
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Associated Press - December 10, 2009 9:24 PM ET
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - An independent watchdog agency warns that a crucial part of the nation's rapid-response plan is not in place if there's a pressing need to trace back food during an illness outbreak or bioterrorism attack.
Federal auditors found that nearly half of all the food manufacturers they surveyed that are supposed to register with the Food and Drug Administration did not give the agency accurate contact information.
Congress set up the program after the September 11 attacks to keep food safe from bioterrorism and to allow quick tracebacks when contaminated food reaches consumers.
The Health and Human Services Department's Office of Inspector General warns that the FDA needs to improve its record keeping and consider fining violators.
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