By Jennifer Samios
In America we have many governmental regulatory agencies that are overlapped on top of each other to assure that the food we have available is dependable and fit for consumption. The top of the regulatory chain is headed by The United States Department of Agriculture.
About USDA:
The United States Department of Agriculture (informally the Agriculture Department or USDA) is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food. It aims to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers, promote agricultural trade and production, work to assure food safety, protect natural resources, foster rural communities and end hunger in the United States and abroad. (Wikipedia)
In Pennsylvania we have the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, in many areas is even more strict and vigilant than the USDA.
About PDA:
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture encourages, protects and promotes agriculture and related industries throughout the commonwealth while providing consumer protection through inspection services that impact the health and financial security of Pennsylvania's citizens. (PDA)
In the U.S. we have an intricate system of logistics that facilitates the delivery of our food supply for the consumer. The delivery of our food supply is regulated by the Department of Transportation.
About USDOT:
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT or just DOT) is a federal Cabinet United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966 and began operation on April 1, 1967. It is administered by the United States Secretary of Transportation. (Wikipedia)
Its mission is to "Serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future." (Dot)
In our capitalistic society many large food manufacturers provide us with the brands and diversity that we all recognize and depend on. These manufacturers operate under the scrutiny of varied dynamics. These dynamics include:
a. Competition from other manufacturers.
b. The scrutiny, publicity, and watchfulness of the American media.
c. The criticism and watchfulness of the American medical industry.
d. The labeling guidelines and criteria of the Consumer Products Safety Commission.
e. Etc.
The productivity of our agricultural industry is due largely to the employment of modern scientific farming principles. These principles are enabled largely by the use of crop rotations, the use of fertilizers, and the use of insecticides. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the production, use, and registrations of all pesticides. On top of the U.S. E.P.A., each state has their own “environmental protection agency” that oversees and regulates the production, sale, use, and applications of pesticides within the individual states.
Across the United States there are many private corporations that are contracted by our food producers, food distributors, food retailers, restaurants, retail chains, etc. These private corporations are hired to evaluate and guide our food industry to make recommendations and evaluations so that our food industry components can meet the guidelines and recommendations of our regulatory agencies.
Since much of our domestic food supply is now sourced abroad, the reach of our regulatory agencies is now global in scope. As the rest of the world looks to the United States as a significant partner for the export of their food production, they also must meet the regulatory criteria of our food regulations.
One of the functions of the United States Department of Health is to keep track of disease and illness in the Untied States. When illness results from the consumption of food, the United States Department of Health and the American media which monitors the United States Department of Health acts swiftly and surely to discover and solve any problems.
There is a current movement to focus the modern consumption of our food supply on organically grown, pesticide free, chemical fertilizer free and “naturally” produced food stuffs. There is also a limited focus on the limitation of genetically altered food production from direct human consumption. This is a largely debatable practice, but it has gained some traction. These trends or movements are not necessarily directed by our regulatory agencies, but they non the less have a regulatory and qualifying effect on our food supply.
The citizens of the Untied States have more food diversity, more food supplies, and more dependable quality than any country on the planet. The oversights of our regulation, the competition within the food industry, the discerning nature of the food consumer, and the oversight of our “free press” all assure us of a dependable food supply.
Works Cited
"About U.S. Department of Transportation." Home | U.S. Department of Transportation. U.S. Department of Transportation, 15 Feb. 2011. Web. 23 Feb. 2011. <http://www.dot.gov/about.html>.
"United States Department of Agriculture." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 22 Feb. 2011. Web. 23 Feb. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USDA>.
Jenifer
ReplyDeleteThat is very interesting I never thought of how much government regulation goes into the food we buy at the grocery store.
Ruth Hall
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteGood information. You provided all the info needed to cover your topic and your point was very clear. Good Job on the info once again.
Alison
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteVery interesting information in your blog and how regulated the food chain really is in the US. How do you feel the overlapping of the job?Do you you think that it is helpful or would it be better to have it all under one department?
Don Findley
Jennifer, I agree with the other that this is an interesting topic. You include some great information. I love that Don has some additional questions for you. Might be worth considering some of them. I do have to say to be careful when pulling quotes from other sites. Be sure to indicate the information is a direct quote.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing that the goverment has so much power over our food. In some ways it is a good thing, meat is regulated so you are not eating infectious meat and all have to follow certain standards to make it to the store. I was not ware there were so many different agencies making these regulations. Thanks for the education. Christina C
ReplyDeleteJennifer,
ReplyDeleteIt is good to know that our food us under such close watch. Though we have some scares from time to time, I'm pretty confident in our protection agencies.
Samantha Cribbs
Don Findley,
ReplyDeleteI think I know where you were going with your question--duplication of agency responsibilities leads to added expense. However, the responsibility for food regulation under one department or agency would inevitably lead to corruption and a decline in food quality. Just as "checks and balances" exist between our three branches of the U.S. government, the overlapping of duties and responsibilities between food regulating agencies assure continued quality.
Jennifer Samios