Peachy Keen, Georgia
In addition to peaches, we all know (now) that Georgia also dabbles in peanuts. Notably, the state is regarded as the nation's leading peanut producer, employing an estimated 50,000 people in an industry worth approximately $2.5 billion. Following the massive recalls of peanut butter products originally announced by the Peanut Corporation of America in January 2009, Georgia lawmakers introduced and passed a new bill that will make Georgia the first state to require food producers to inform state inspectors if test results show that their food products contain trace elements of harmful pathogens.
Although, in the coming weeks (or months), the FDA will also begin requiring food manufacturers that obtain positive test results to report such findings to the agency, Georgia is the first individual state to enact such rules. Under the proposed legislation, state agriculture officials will be empowered to adopt regulations that will establish how frequently food processors must conduct internal testing. Similar to the looming federal requirements, the new rules will require food processors to report results within 24 hours of any positive test. The laws, as drafted, also exempt (of course) meat, poultry and other manufacturers that fall within the jurisdiction of the USDA.
The legislation has now passed in both the Georgia state Senate and House of Representatives. Governor Sonny Perdue is expected to sign the bill soon.
Peachy.
