Your Say: Federal regulation vs. policing by food industry

• Peanut butter recall linked to salmonella was expanded last week.
• Some question oversight by the FDA.
• Others say food industry should not police itself.

A New Mexico company's peanut butter recall linked to salmonella was expanded last week. Another outbreak tied to cantaloupes killed at least two people this summer. Is government oversight lacking?

"The company recalled products under multiple brand names after salmonella illnesses were linked to Trader Joe's Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter." So, where was the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the monitoring this product?

Martin Vaughn

The conservatives want the Feds out of their lives. The best way to do that is to do what you know you should. If the food industry policed itself, and the owners put public safely always above profit, there would be no need to even talk about the FDA or any other regulating organization. It's just that simple.

Lanny Howe

If we're going to depend on government agencies to grow and monitor our food, we need to expect to get sick from time to time.

The government has proved time and again that it breaks everything it gets its hands on. Grow your own food. It's safer!

Anita Huggins

This is so absurd. Here's why. I'm a farmer, a gardener, and a writer. First, there are more than 2 million cases of salmonella in the U.S. every year. Nearly all of those cases get over it in a day or two, have some diarrhea, feel sick, and are fine.

For the FDA or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make a big deal out of a few cantaloupes (or tomatoes, or lettuce, or eggs, or whatever they choose to pick on in any given day), is silly. They are justifying their existence, their jobs, and nothing more.

Rex Jensen