Picking at food with vigor

A New York Times article previews what is now widely expected to be active Congressional inquiry into food safety regulation in the coming year. The reporter states, "A population panicked by two major food poisoning incidents this year will push for more frequent food safety inspections, healthier food at restaurants and schools, and greater accountability from growers and processors."
Whether or not the population is panicked is perhaps open to debate, but clearly many are distressed. And Congress is dusting off legislation that would "get a tighter grasp on farmers and food processors," the article notes. It will be a happy new year if the industry can translate this activist Congress into an ally for funding not only for food safety regulation but also expansion of fresh produce demand through the farm bill.
In what could be promising news, a vaccine against E. coli in cattle has been granted preliminary approval in Canada. This wouldn't be a panacea; the article points out the pathogen can still be carried in wild animals and enter the environment through contaminated ground water.