Pew Health Expert: Erik Olson

''Budget Cuts Won't Reduce Food Safety Inspections''

"The Food and Drug Administration will not reduce food inspections because of budget cuts, despite warning earlier that it could be forced to eliminate thousands of inspections by Sept. 30."

''FDA Releases Rules to Strengthen Safety of Food Supply''

"Looking for a little weekend reading? The Food and Drug Administration has just the thing. On Friday, the agency released two proposed rules designed to boost the safety of the nation's food supply, encompassing hundreds of pages. One rule covers operations at fruit and vegetable farms, focusing on those foods that we eat raw and have been the subject of several recent recalls."

'''New Era' in Food-Safety Rules to be Dished Out''

"After two years of delay, the Food and Drug Administration announced Friday, Jan. 4 that rules putting the United States at the forefront of food safety worldwide are finally moving forward."

''FSMA Regulations On Produce, Manufactured Food Finally Released For Public Comment''

The Food and Drug Administration released two of the five major regulations tied to the Food Safety Modernization Act for public comment on Friday, the second anniversary of the bill's passage. The newly released rules, arguably the most important two of the five, span a whopping 1,236 pages and regulate food safety protocols for produce and manufactured foods, respectively.

Pew Thanks President Obama for Fulfilling Promise to Make Our Food Safe

Erik Olson, director of food programs at The Pew Charitable Trusts, issues the following statement on Jan. 4, 2013 release of major draft regulations to implement the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which President Barack Obama signed two years prior on Jan. 4, 2011.

''President Fumbles on Food-Safety Law''

"Twenty months after President Obama signed the Food Safety Modernization Act, the landmark legislation appears to have suffered the same fate as another important measure: the Physician Payment Sunshine Act. Both historic laws have yet to become a reality because the Obama administration hasn't completed the work of turning the laws' language into practical regulations, then issuing that guidance to the public."

''Food safety law is being delayed''

"In 2011, the president signed the Food Safety Modernization Act, the most ambitious overhaul of the nation’s food safety system since the 1930s, which passed Congress with broad bipartisan support and industry backing."

Pew's Erik Olson Discusses Delays in Implementation of Food Safety Modernization Act

Erik Olson, director of food programs at the Pew Health Group, appeared on both Federal News Radio and NPR to discuss the delay by the Office of Management and Budget in implementing draft rules for the key provisions of the Food Safety Modernization Act.

''Foodborne Illnesses Not Diminishing, CDC Finds''

"Little progress has been made in combating many types of food-borne illnesses in recent years, according to new federal data, an outcome that food safety advocates say underscores the need to put into place the landmark food-safety bill signed by President Obama more than a year ago."

''Families, health advocates urge Obama to act on food safety''

"Families, public health advocates and consumer groups called on the White House on Tuesday to implement delayed provisions in a food safety law they say would help prevent some of the nearly 3,000 deaths caused by food-borne illnesses each year."

''White House under fire for delays on food safety rules''

"Dana Dziadul and her mother, Colette, are joining other food safety advocates in urging the White House to implement provisions of a federal law that President Barack Obama signed in January 2011."

''Groups Urge Action on Food Safety Law''

"Ten consumer groups that helped promote a landmark food safety law passed in 2010 say the Obama administration is holding up the rules that would put it into effect, a delay they say could cost money and lives this summer, the peak season for food contamination outbreaks."

''Eric J. Greene: Landmark food law in political limbo?''

"When President Barack Obama last year signed a bill hailed as a milestone in food safety, he stood at an exceedingly rare intersection where persuasive majorities of businesses, policymakers and consumers wanted the same thing."

“Supermoms Against Superbugs” Take Washington by Storm

Moms from Maine to Hawaii have come to Washington, D.C., today to press the Obama Administration and Congress to do more to rein in the overuse of antibiotics on America’s industrial farms, a practice that breeds antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

''Rules 'holdup' puzzles food industry and food-safety advocates''

"Most of the provisions in a landmark food safety law which passed 16 months ago still haven't gone into effect and are stuck in a rule-making process at the White House, four months overdue."

''Food-safety rules in limbo at Office of Management and Budget''

"More than a year after President Obama signed a landmark food-safety bill, the key provisions are hung up at a unit of the White House that is in charge of reviewing proposed policy changes."

''Study: Imported Food Increasingly Causing US Illness''

"Imported food is making Americans sick more frequently than ever, according to new research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC."

''Food imports blamed for disease outbreaks''

"Nearly half of all food borne disease outbreaks in 2009 and 2010 were caused by imported food according to new numbers from the Centers for Disease Control."

Expert Profile: Erik Olson

Erik Olson, Director, Food Programs

''Food safety auditors too tied to industry''

"The first hints of trouble came last Sept. 2. Trackers who watch for outbreaks of dangerous diseases noticed that seven people in Colorado had come down with listeriosis, a potentially fatal food-borne illness. Within two weeks, federal authorities had tracked the culprit — contaminated cantaloupe — to Jensen Farms, a small Colorado grower."

''FDA: Fungicide In Orange Juice Is Not A Health Risk''

"The Food and Drug Administration is stepping up testing of orange juice after finding traces of a chemical fungicide that is not approved for use in the United States."

''FDA funding boosted through lobbying effort''

"An unusual alliance of consumer advocates and industry groups won a victory this month when they helped persuade Congress to boost funding for the Food and Drug Administration, while most other programs paid for by a newly passed agriculture spending bill had their money slashed."

''Report: Industry decides food ingredient safety''

Thousands of ingredients that go into food have been classified as safe by private industry alone, without any government oversight, according to a new report published Wednesday...The peer-reviewed report published in the Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety journal draws on research funded by the Pew Health Group, the health and consumer safety arm of the nonprofit Pew Charitable Trusts.

''FDA Probe Points To Cantaloupe Packing Plant As Source Of Listeria''

A report by NPR's All Things Considered on a Listeria outbreak traced to a Colorado cantaloupe farm features a quote from Erik Olson, director of food programs at Pew Health Group. He specifically addressed the risk that proposed budget cuts will affect food safety prevention efforts.

Poll Finds Most Americans Favor Increased Funding for Stronger Food Safety Oversight

Among likely voters surveyed across the nation, 66 percent support additional funding for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to carry out new responsibilities related to food safety, according to a Pew-commissioned poll released today by the bipartisan team of Hart Research and American Viewpoint.

Voters Overwhelmingly Support Stronger School Food Standards, New Poll Finds

More than three out of four American voters—78 percent—believe that schools should be required to meet higher nutrition standards for all foods they serve or sell to students, and 61 percent support providing schools with more funding to meet those standards, according to a new poll conducted by the bipartisan team of Hart Research and American Viewpoint and commissioned by the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project.

''Consumer 10.0: Food safety finally gets its due''

The incredible, edible egg - or at least those coming from two rodent-infested Iowa egg farms - caused 1,937 traceable illnesses from Salmonella enteritidis last year, which means the contaminated eggs probably sickened nearly 60,000 people nationwide.

Historic U.S. Senate Food Safety Vote will Greatly Improve Protections from Foodborne Illness

Erik D. Olson, director of the Pew Health Group food programs, issued the following statement commending the U.S. Senate for passing the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (S.510).

Families Call for Senate Passage of Food Safety Legislation

As the U.S. Senate considers a landmark food safety bill, the Make Our Food Safe Coalition joins families of victims of foodborne illness in calling for swift action to improve the safety of our nation's food supply.

Food Safety Expert Calls for Legislation to Protect Consumers

In light of the latest salmonella outbreak, Pew Health Group Deputy Director Erik Olson urges Congressional action to improve the safety of our nation's food supply.

''Second Farm Recalls Ten Million Eggs''

''A second Iowa farm, which ships to stores in 14 states, is recalling at least 10 million eggs that are possibly tainted with salmonella.''

''U.S. Regulators Lack Data on Health Risks of Most Chemicals''

"This summer, when Kellogg recalled 28 million boxes of Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops and Honey Smacks, the company blamed elevated levels of a chemical in the packaging."

''Inside Washington: After years of outbreaks, FDA steps up oversight of produce safety''

A field worker has unwashed hands. An animal squeezes through a small tear in a fence. Manure from a nearby hog farm trickles into an irrigation system.

Small mistakes like these are often difficult to identify as the sources of food-borne illnesses, a situation that has frustrated health authorities for years. The Food and Drug Administration and other agencies gather information about a contamination outbreak after people have already been sickened, and their investigations into what went wrong come well after the crucial evidence is gone.

''Working to Save Lives With Safe Food''

"At age 2, Kyle Allgood of Chubbuck, Idaho, became sickened by a deadly strain of E. coli O157:H7, from contaminated spinach. When Kyle's abdominal pains would not subside, he was flown to a Salt Lake City hospital, where his downward spiral ended in kidney failure, a heart attack and, ultimately, death.

The tragedy the Allgood family endured is far from rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that each year, food-borne illness strikes tens of millions of Americans, hospitalizes hundreds of thousands and kills several thousand—mostly young children like Kyle, the elderly or others who are especially vulnerable."

Health-Related Costs from Foodborne Illness in the United States

The report ranks states according to their total costs related to foodborne illness and cost per case for an individual, which is $1,850 on average nationwide. The ten states with the highest costs per case are: Hawaii, Florida, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, the District of Columbia, Mississippi, New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

''Protection of Food Supply Faces Problems''

''Erik Olson, director of food and consumer product safety programs for the Pew Health Group, appeared on the "CBS Evening News" in the series 'Where America Stands.'"

''Foodborne Illness and Its Impact on the U.S.''

''Erik Olson, director of food and consumer product safety programs for the Pew Health Group, appeared on C-SPAN’s 'Washington Journal' to discuss the Food Safety Modernization Act and its potential impact.''

Majority of Voters Support New Government Oversight of Food, Pew Commissioned Poll Finds

New polls of voters in selected states – Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio and Wyoming – show overwhelming support for measures that would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new authority to ensure the food Americans eat does not make them sick, according to a new poll commissioned by the Pew Health Group and conducted by a respected bipartisan team of pollsters at Hart Research (Democratic) and Public Opinion Strategies (Republican).

''3 Years After E. Coli Outbreak, Is Spinach Safer?''

''Three years after an E. coli outbreak, thought to be linked to spinach, took three lives and left 205 people sick, ABC's "Good Morning America" discovered that while the industry instituted new safety standards to prevent bacterial contamination, there are no requirements to test salad products before they get to market.''

Pew-Commissioned Poll Finds Large Majority of Americans Want Stronger Food Safety Rules

Among likely voters surveyed across the nation, about 9 in 10 support the federal government adopting additional food safety measures, and 64 percent believe that imported foods are often or sometimes unsafe, according to a new Pew-commissioned poll by the bipartisan team of Hart Research and Public Opinion Strategies.

''Debating How Much Weed Killer Is Safe in Your Water Glass''

"Now, new research suggests that atrazine may be dangerous at lower concentrations than previously thought. Recent studies suggest that, even at concentrations meeting current federal standards, the chemical may be associated with birth defects, low birth weights and menstrual problems."

Pew Statement on House Passage of Food Safety Legislation

Erik D. Olson, Director of Food and Consumer Product Safety at The Pew Charitable Trusts, issued the following statement.

Improving the Food Safety System

Erik Olson, director of chemical and food safety programs with Pew Health & Human Services Policy, issued the following statement at today’s House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Hearing on the recent peanut-related salmonella outbreak.