Number: RS22886
Title: Food Safety Provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill
Authors: Geoffrey S. Becker, Resources, Science, and Industry Division 
Abstract: Food safety re-emerged as an issue in the 110th Congress following a series of widely publicized incidents - including adulterated Chinese seafood and pet food ingredient imports, findings of bacteria-tainted spinach, meat, and poultry produced domestically, and several large food recalls. In 2008, Congress approved a new omnibus farm law that includes, among other provisions, several changes affecting U.S. food safety programs. Changes in the livestock title (Title XI) include subjecting catfish to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mandatory inspections similar to those for red meat and poultry; creating an option for state-inspected meat and poultry plants to ship their products across state lines; and requiring meat and poultry establishments to notify USDA about potentially adulterated or misbranded products.
Pages: 4
Date: July 1, 2008