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WASHINGTON – In the shadow of an egg salmonella food outbreak, Food and Drug Administration chief Margaret Hamburg earlier this week said her agency needs to move from one centered on reaction to prevention, the Associated Press reports.
She urged Congress to pass pending legislation that would provide the FDA with enhanced enforcement power, including authority over imported food.
"We need better abilities and authorities to put in place these preventive controls and hold companies accountable," Hamburg said while discussing the salmonella poisoning and the recall of roughly a half-billion eggs from two Iowa egg distributors.
In the meantime, she advised customers to avoid "runny egg yolks for mopping up with toast," as investigators continue working with the companies involved.
The salmonella case has raised questions about the federal inspection process at egg farms. Currently, the FDA oversees inspections of shell eggs, while the Agriculture Department supervises the inspection of other egg products.
The FDA's investigation is expected to last several months, as the sources of contamination have been difficult to ascertain.