Obama Orders Review Of FDA In Wake Of Salmonella Outbreak
President Obama has had it up to here with poor FDA oversight, particularly of salmonella-infested peanut factories, and he's called for a review of the underfunded organization, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Obama said Americans should be able to count on the government to keep children safe when they eat peanut butter, and that includes his 7-year-old daughter, Sasha, the AP reported.
"That's what Sasha eats for lunch probably three times a week," Obama said. "And you know, I don't wanna have to worry about whether she's gonna get sick as a consequence to having her lunch."
"Obama Orders Review of FDA in Salmonella Outbreak" [U.S. News & World Report]
(Photo: lucianvenutian)
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Comments:
Is he just gonna issue orders on issues that concern him personally?
@Plates: seems someone missed the POINT OF THE COMMENT.
At least with Bush the hate had a point if someone getting old after a while. Obama has barely been in office and the hate just keeps rolling from the neo-cons.
@Corporate_guy:
It affects us all when people in our community get sick from it, and we know that.
I get what he's trying to do, but I think him always bringing it back to his family or friends kind of makes it seem that the president will only act when something affects him personally.
@Corporate_guy: Agreed.
The post is meant to be a *bit* tongue-in-cheek, but I think the original headline was too tempting a bait for anti-Obama readers. I've edited it to restore neutrality.
It's nice someone is paying attention to the FDA. Also, I kind of like that he *knows* what his daughters eat for lunch. How many dads, let alone presidents, can say that?
i think it's about time someone show some concern for this "problem" that seems to have gotten out of hand because people let it get by. I'm upset it took the president saying something for it to be properly looked into.
@Corporate_guy: I agree, I think Vitaly N. hasn't read the extensive amount of products that are effected. That or maybe it was a weak attempt at a bash.
It effects everyone and to not have him say anything would be more concerning.
The FDA has been defunct for years. The government has previously taken a laissez-faire approach to the food industry. With the belief that unhealthy and dangerous producers would not gain market share over clean, safe companies.
Of course then they screw with the numbers, deceive us with "passing" test results, and the market doesn't reject them until someone dies.
I'll accept Obama's hand in this one over the invisible hand.
@sc2373:
62.3% of Dads know what their daughters eat for lunch, only 22% of Presidents can say the same.
I got those figures from someplace, but I forgot the name. A book maybe, or the interwebs.
Clearly, he's taking this "very seriously."
@NodalPoint: Agreed! The FDA has needed review for a long time. Well, lots of government agencies have needed review, as we've seen in the past couple years. Hopefully the review amounts to something and isn't just a simple query.
@Sorentso: Not only were many products (and people) affected, but we see how ineffective the FDA has become at its overseer role. We hope this review has good effect, and may it boost my depressed affect, and effect a new era of food safety, in which we audaciously hope our food is not . . . infected.
(gaah! make it stop! make it stop!)
@Vitaly N.: I get what he's trying to do, but I think him always bringing it back to his family or friends kind of makes it seem that the president will only act when something affects him personally.
And that's why Jimmy Carter lost so much respect on the national stage - when he said during a debate or a Q/A (I forget which) that he had asked his daughter what she thought about some international conflict. He was a laughing stock for the rest of the term.
@Jim Topoleski: @dollywould:
I'm going to HOPE that was sarcasm and you two missed the joke.
Otherwise I'll have to hurt the OP.
@Vitaly N.: You know, with at least five hundred people sickened and eight people dead that we know of because of this contamination, you'd think some people could restrain their NOBAMA1!!! impulses out of common decency for, I don't know, five seconds. Guess not.
@Sorentso: I agree that it would have been concerning if he had not said anything.
...I think a more appropriate wording for my original post would have been "why does it always come back to Michelle, Sasha or Malia"...It was a bit sarcastic...
In any case I like most of what Obama is saying/doing for now...not trying to start a political war here....'tevz..
hey, I read the Wired article about Comcast, and guess who I saw in it?
Congrats on being a barbershop quartet fan! Are you a fan of the B Sharps? ;D
89% of the internet agrees with you, however, 11% do not and 5% voted in the wrong poll.
Oh GREAT!!! Just another example of Obama letting BIG GOVERNMENT run our lives and government agencies!!!
Open your eyes people!!!
Did you know that Obama has naked pictures of your sister and he shows them to his friends?
@sc2373: He knows what his daughter has for lunch?!?! Is there anything this man can't do? Say hallelujah!
I am really interested in knowing whether or not I can eat the Little Debbie Nutty Bars in my pantry. I am holding off until the investigation is complete.
In all seriousness, my husband, 3 year old son, and myself had salmonella poisoning after the last peanut butter scare in January 2008, it's not fun at all. I can barely eat peanut butter things anymore. Except Nutty Bars, those are still yum.
@Plates: The Secret Service has tests for Salmonella? Or are they going to jump on the PB&J.
Is HE the idiot?
@Parapraxis: Indeed. I come from the land of Defamer, where about 99 percent of the comments are sarcastic, and this was not well done.
Someone NEEDS to look at the FDA. This crap keeps happening. It's way past time for it to stop.
And if I had a 7-year-old who ate PB all the time, I'd be concerned too. The difference is that he can actually do something.
@se7a7n7: I am guessing by your use of CAPS that you are trying to be sarcastic but then there was that sister comment.
At any rate, this goes to show that sometimes beauracracy has a purpose. As long as it is kept under control, government oversight is a good thing.
@dollywould: I know sarcasm. I've worked, sarcastically. Sarcasm is a friend of mine.
Plate - (imagine pained, yet avuncular expression on my face while I draw out the pause to milk the crowd) - you're no sarcasm.
FUCK yeah. I never thought I'd say this, but: OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA!
@NodalPoint: You really don't want to know what the invisible hand has been doing and not washing before handling food.
@Jim Topoleski: I'm glad you clarified, because I suddenly got nervous and was reading and re-reading that post to see if it was an obvious setup to a "that's what she said" joke or something.
More money will fix this.
They don't have food tasters?
@nacoran: I'm sure he was just using his daughter as an example. Many children eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch.
I am sure the Secret Service would prevent that. What an idiot.