June 21, 2012

USDA’s Microbiological Data Program heading for chopping block

The House Appropriations Committee is requesting that funding be terminated for USDA’s Microbiological Data Program (MDP) for fiscal year 2013.

Concurring with earlier recommendations by the Obama administration, the committee stated, “While food safety is a vitally important part of successfully marketing produce and other agricultural products, other federal and state public health agencies are better equipped to perform this function.”

Under the Microbolgical Data Program, 600-plus food distribution sites around the United States are tested for salmonella, listeria and E. coli.

The committee said scrapping the MDP will result in a savings of almost $4.4 million.

The House is expected to vote on the entire agriculture appropriations bill in the next month.





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