Running Head: Analytical Research Paper

Analytical Research Paper
Westwood College
Casey Harris- Armstrong
May 10, 2012

In the society today, there are so many things that can affect the economy and it can cause an increase or decrease in revenue. The recent research that was found was interesting, especially finding out the economic issue with the many foods that we intake into our bodies and how it can affect this society. In for date and numbers in the recent study of the United States there had to be a survey that implemented the Census data, food imports which showed how the numbers has doubled in this country from 1997 to 2008. Over 60 percent of imported food comes from developing nations, such as Mexico and China (Economic in Crisis 2012). As we know China is one of the largest countries that imports just about anything. The United States has this relationship with China in order to keep our country in business. The United States imported over 3 billion pounds of meat in 2008 alone, with seafood being the primary item. This is important because improperly produced and consumed meat is the largest cause of food borne illness. The massive amount of imported food coming to America, the FDA only has the resources to inspect less than 2 percent. The given numbers listed has been a major problem, because many nations have less food safety regulations than the United States (Economic in Crisis 2012). The $1.4 billion piece of legislation would strengthen the nation’s food safety system by providing the Food and Drug Administration with more oversight over food processing facilities along with the power to order mandatory recalls. Food processing has been a huge issue due to many people getting sicker and has been studies of Cancer developments across the world. There has been a triple in the rating of people getting more and more diseases that have said to kill them. Under current law, the parties responsible for distributing the contaminated products are charged with issuing the recalls themselves. The FDA can only suggest that a recall be issued; however, there have been many foods that have been recalled in the past year, because of something that has caused many people to become ill. The bill also mandates more frequent inspections of food processing facilities and better outbreak traceability. The FDA would hire new inspectors in order to meet the requirements. The current outdated food safety system, very few processing facilities are inspected, leaving most of the food Americans eat unchecked. In 2007, the FDA, which oversees 80 percent of the nation’s food supply, estimated that it would conduct border inspections on just 0.6 percent of the food it is supposed to regulate (Economy in Crisis 2012). The top cause of food borne illness was attributed to salmonella, according to the report. It was the cause of 28 percent of the deaths and 35 percent of the hospitalizations. Along with salmonella, norovirus, Campylobacter, Toxoplasma, E.coli, Listeria and Clostridium perfringens were responsible for 90 percent of the illnesses (Economy Crisis 2012). In a recent talk show, Dr Oz did a session that gave many people insight on the different foods we intake as a society and how it can effect us. Environmental pollution is a global crisis that affects all of us on a very local level - at the dining room table. Brand-new studies show that high levels of toxic chemicals are in our tuna salads, our green bean casseroles, and even our apple pies. They threaten our children's development and put us at increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The good news is that to these deadly poisons you can still eat the food you love and reduce your exposure ( Three Dangerous Foods 2012- Dr. Oz). Eating fish seems like one of the healthiest food choices you can make; fish is low in fat and high in protein and brain-supporting Omega-3 fatty acids. Unfortunately the fishes