US-NC-Citizen-Times.com-Food and Drug Administration looks to North Carolina in developing plan to better protect nation’s food supply

Raleigh – North Carolina food safety officials check store shelves each week to test for contaminated foods, and emergency plans are drafted in case of a widespread contaminated food supply.

The process, which continues to find problems that lead to recalls, has caught the attention of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is now working with North Carolina officials to develop a system to better protect the nation’s food supply.

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture launched its food monitoring program in 2005, responding to concerns that terrorists could contaminate food. Now the program has a heavy focus on routinely catching food products — both imported and produced domestically — that may have bacteria, pesticides and other potentially harmful contaminants.

The testing has been successful, but concerning. In two years, the state has found staphylococcus, E.coli and salmonella bacteria in soft cheeses, undeclared allergens in imported raisins and illegal antibiotics in foreign-raised fish. In each case, the state’s tests led to recalls….more..