Effectiveness of FDA questioned

WASHINGTON, April 24 (UPI) -- The effectiveness of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is being questioned following word it knew of safety concerns before an E.coli outbreak.

The FDA sent a letter to California growers in 2005 expressing "serious concern" about foodborne illness outbreaks from lettuce and spinach crops in the state, which at the time had totaled 19 since 1995, CBS News reported Tuesday.

However, no action was taken and the FDA instead urged the industry to take "the appropriate measures to provide a safe product."

The E.coli outbreak a year after the warning left three people dead and more than 200 sickened.

"Sadly, today this great Food and Drug Administration, when it comes to food safety, has become the weakest link," Sen. Richard Durban, D-Ill., said.

Officials said the FDA, which is responsible for 80 percent of the nation's grown foods -- compared to 20 percent under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture -- has far fewer inspectors than the other agency.

"If products are regulated by FDA, like seafood and produce and grains, they might only see an inspector once every five or 10 years," said Caroline Smith DeWaal of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.