PLEASE RESPOND TO THE DISCUSSION QUESTION LISTED BELOW.
Two essential means of protection for citizens are; The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990.
The Food Safety Modernization Act puts emphasis on preventing foodborne diseases. It also focuses on increasing the inspections of food manufacturing/processing and requires facilities to take precautionary measures to prevent contamination. According to the CDC, in 2013 the estimated foodborne illnesses in the United States was 15% of the population. That breaks down to over 19 thousand cases of confirmed parasitic infection, over 4 thousand hospitalizations and 80 deaths. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d). Even though there is a decline in the number of foodborne illnesses it is important to continue to strive to bring that percentage down even further.
The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 requires; nutritional labeling of almost all foods, expanded ingredient labeling, and restricts nutrient content claims and health claims. Nutritional labeling is crucial for so many individuals. Imagine what would happen to a diabetic who is unable to identify if a food item contains sugar or if a child with a severe food allergy couldn’t tell if their specific allergen is in the ingredients. For many individuals Nutritional labeling can be a life saver. But it also helps other individuals avoid and manage other common diseases; such as heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and osteoporosis just to name a few.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d). CDC Estimates of Foodborne Illness in the United States. Trends in Foodborne Illness in the United States. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/trends-in-foodborne-illness.html
The government should strive to do more to protect consumers but at the same time consumers should also strive to become more aware and informed in today’s business environment. If consumers were more aware and informed they would have a significantly higher chance of protecting themselves and their assets. Prime example would be the 2010 home foreclosure epidemic. If the government could keep the public up to date on current economic situations and the financial status of the economy, the public would have a better understanding of when to invest and what to invest in. There has been several instances where the government has mislead the public through social media to avoid panic. However, if the public did more research than relying on the social media they would be more prepared and aware. Another example towards consumers being more aware and informed is credit cards. There are many individuals who sign up for credit cards without understanding the terms and conditions that are there for their protection because of the government’s Truth in Lending Act.
