U.S. taking proactive food safety stance

CHICAGO, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- An official with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says the United States must take a proactive stance to food safety.

Food safety requires "thinking out of the box," David Acheson, assistant commissioner for food protection with the FDA, said at a meeting this week of the Institute of Food Technologists.

Acheson said consumers' expectations of safe food are also changing.

"Consumers demand a lot," said Acheson. "They are driving the global market and they want fresh, safe food 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."

He said the demand that lettuce be shredded, bagged and delivered is "adding a new dimension to potential food safety problems."