July 4, 1998

THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES JOINT INSTITUTE FOR FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH AND LABELING OF FRESH JUICES July 4, 1998

EMBARGOED UNTIL July 4, 1998, 10:00am EDT
 
          THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES JOINT INSTITUTE FOR FOOD SAFETY
                   RESEARCH AND LABELING OF FRESH JUICES
                               July 4, 1998
 
In his weekly radio address, the President will announce the publication of
a final rule to improve the safety of fruit and vegetable juices.  The new
regulation, which will take effect in time for this year's apple cider
season, will help prevent illnesses from fresh, unpasteurized juices by
requiring labels on these products.  In addition, the President will
announce a plan to create a Joint Institute for Food Safety Research that
will develop a coordinated strategy for conducting food safety research
activities consistent with the President's Food Safety Initiative.
Finally, the President will call on Congress to provide full funding for
his Food Safety Initiative, pass vital food safety legislation, and confirm
Dr. Jane E. Henney as the new FDA commissioner.
 
Warning Labels for Consumers.  The President will announce a final rule
that will require warning labels on juice products that have not been
processed to reduce microbial risk. These labels will state:  "WARNING:
This product has not been pasteurized and, therefore, may contain harmful
bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, the elderly, and
persons with weakened immune systems."  These labels will be required for
all packages of untreated, fresh juices but not for juice sold for on-site
consumption, such as in restaurants.  The rule will be effective for this
year's apple cider season.  The FDA expects it to reduce significantly the
incidence of juice-related illness, now estimated at up to 40,000 cases
each year, including both treated and untreated juice.
 
Food Safety Research Institute.  The President will direct the Secretaries
of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) to report back to him within 90 days on the creation of  a Joint
Institute for Food Safety Research that will: (1) develop a strategic plan
for conducting food safety research activities consistent with the
President's Food Safety Initiative; and (2) efficiently coordinate all
Federal food safety research, including research conducted with the private
sector and academia. The principal goals of this Joint Institute will be to
develop the means to identify foodborne hazards more rapidly and
accurately, and to develop effective interventions to prevent food
contamination at each step from farm to table.
 
Food Safety Initiative and Legislation.  The President also will call on
Congress to provide full funding for his $101 million food safety
initiative, which would support a variety of measures including:  hiring
additional FDA inspectors to examine the safety of our nation's fruits and
vegetables, both domestic and imported; developing new ways for federal
inspectors to detect food-borne illnesses in meat and poultry and determine
the source of contamination; improving educational outreach on proper food
handling; and expanding our early warning system to help detect and respond
to outbreaks of foodborne illnesses.  The President also will call on
Congress to pass two vital pieces of legislation to improve the safety of
the nation's food supply.  One bill  will ensure that the FDA halts imports
of fruits, vegetables, and other food products that do not meet U.S. food
safety requirements or that do not provide the same level of protection as
is required for U.S. products. The second bill will give USDA the authority
to issue mandatory recalls and impose civil penalties for unsafe meat and
poultry.
 
New FDA Commissioner.  The President also called on Congress to confirm Dr.
Jane E. Henney as the new Commissioner of the FDA.  The FDA needs the
strong leadership of Dr. Henney to help lead the way to improving food
safety and assuring the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical and
biological therapeutics, medical devices, blood products, generic drugs,
food additives, and cosmetics.
 
 
 
      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.
 
*February 1998.  Administration announces its proposed food safety budget,
which requests an approximate $101 million increase for food safety
initiatives.
 
*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 foodborne disease outbreaks quickly
and to improve prevention systems.
 
*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,
utilizing 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.

This is a mirror of the White House press release, July 4, 1998 from the <http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/html/briefroom.html> White House Briefing Room.