Source:  MEATINGPLACE.COM, 9/15/09

A large number of Americans would like to see the federal government adopt additional food safety measures, and many think imported foods may be unsafe, according to a new poll commissioned by Pew Charitable Trusts.

Among the findings of the survey of 1,005 likely voters, conducted by Hart Research and Public Opinion Strategies:

• 89 percent support enacting new federal measures to better protect people from getting sick from eating contaminated food
• 83 percent believe the federal government should be responsible for ensuring that food is safe to eat
• 64 percent believe imported foods are often or sometimes unsafe and
• 58 percent are worried about bacterial contamination of the food supply.

The U.S. House of Representatives in July passed legislation expanding FDA's authority to include mandatory recalls, on-farm inspections and stricter inspection of imported foods, paving the way for the Senate to consider a version of the bill. 

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