FDA to open post in Latin America?

According to the Associated Press, the FDA may open an office in Latin America to better monitor the safety of imported foods.  Over the weekend, FDA has been in Mexico investigating some farms believed to be possible sources of the recent Salmonella StPaul outbreak.  From the FDA:

June 20 -- The FDA is now working to narrow the investigation. As part of this, the agency is sending teams of multi-disciplinary experts to both Mexico and Florida this weekend to conduct joint inspections of the farms and other critical points on the supply chain where the tomatoes may have become contaminated.

The FDA investigators will conduct joint inspections with regulators in Mexico and Florida at the farms and other distribution points. Meanwhile, the FDA will continue to collect samples of tomatoes and conduct traceback activities.

In an article in the International Herald Tribune, the Associate Press reports that

"Inspectors . . . have cleared [Mexican] tomato exports from all but the three states that are being inspected. . . .

[HHS Secretary, Michael] Leavitt said the main goal of the planned FDA office would be to ensure that food and other products from Latin America are safe for consumption or use."

Read the AP article

Go to the FDA website on the salmonella st paul outbreak