Office of the White House
Briefing Handout
October 2, 1997
Clinton Administration Accomplishments in Improving Food Safety
The President's announcement builds on a strong record of food safety initiatives, ensuring that
Americans eat the safest possible food. The Administration has put into place improved safety
standards for meat, poultry and seafood products, and has begun the process of developing
enhanced standards for fruit and vegetable juices. The Administration also has expanded research,
education and surveillance activities throughout the food safety system.
- October, 1997. President announces new initiative to enhance FDA oversight over imported
foods and develop guidance on good agricultural and manufacturing practices for fruits and
vegetables.
- May, 1997. Administration announces comprehensive new initiative to improve the safety of
nation's food supply--"Food Safety from Farm to Table"--detailing a $43 million food safety
program, including measures to improve surveillance, outbreak response, education, and research.
- January, 1997. President announces new Early-Warning System to gather critical scientific
data to help stop food borne disease outbreaks quickly and to improve prevention systems further.
- August, 1996. President signs Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996. The law requires drinking
water systems to protect against dangerous contaminants like cryptosporidium, and gives people
the right to know about contaminants in their tap water.
- August, 1996. President signs Food Quality Protection Act of 1996, which streamlines
regulation of pesticides by FDA and EPA and puts important new public-health protections in
place, especially for children.
- July, 1996. President Clinton announces new regulations that modernize the nation's meat and
poultry inspection system for the first time in 90 years. New standards help prevent E. coli
bacteria contamination in meat.
- December, 1995. Administration issues new rules to ensure seafood safety. Utilizes HACCP
regulatory programs to require food industries to design and implement preventive measures and
increase the industries' responsibility for and control of their safety assurance actions.
- 1994. CDC embarks on strategic program to detect, prevent, and control emerging infectious
disease threats, some of which are food borne, making significant progress toward this goal in
each successive year.
- 1993. Vice-President's National Performance Review issues report recommending
government and industry move toward a system of preventive controls.
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Food Safety Initiative
Hypertext updated by ear 1997-OCT-02