Plan Unveiled for Joint Institute for Food Safety Research
                                                               
                                            Release No. 0288.99
                                                               
                              USDA: Andy Solomon (202) 720-4623
                        HHS/FDA:  Larry Bachorik (301) 827-6250


PLAN UNVEILED FOR JOINT INSTITUTE FOR FOOD SAFETY RESEARCH

WASHINGTON, July 15, 1999--The President's Council on Food Safety today
sent President Clinton a detailed blueprint for establishing a Joint Institute
for Food Safety Research to coordinate federal food safety research, ensuring
that valuable resources are directed to the most needed and most promising
projects.  The President announced his intention to create the Institute last
year.

According to the blueprint submitted today, Agriculture Secretary Dan
Glickman and Health and Human Services Secretary Donna E. Shalala will jointly
lead the Institute, which will work closely with others in federal, state and
local government, as well as the private sector and academia.  An executive
director and staff are expected to be in place later this year.  

"Our cutting-edge food safety research efforts are already among the
finest in the world," said Secretary Glickman.  "This Institute will help
ensure that our research remains well coordinated, prioritized, and carefully
planned to help reduce foodborne illness for American families."  

"This coordinated effort will help us keep ahead of potential food
safety problems and better protect the American food supply," Secretary
Shalala said.  

The Institute will   

          coordinate research planning, and prioritization;
          mobilize resources to prevent or minimize current and emerging food
     safety problems;
          optimize research investments and infrastructure;
          use current research programs in innovative ways; 
          centralize communication on food safety research; and 
          increase accountability for federal research efforts. 

Although the American food supply is the safest in the world, the
Clinton Administration has made reducing foodborne illness a national
priority.  The President's budget requests an additional $72 million for food
safety efforts in FY 2000.  In 1995, the Administration announced new,
science-based regulations to modernize oversight of the nation's seafood, meat 
and poultry.  Last year, the President announced new warning labels on
packaged fresh fruit and vegetable juices that have not been processed to
prevent, reduce or eliminate illness-causing microbes.  And, earlier this
month, USDA and FDA announced efforts to improve egg safety by requiring safe
handling labels and a refrigeration requirement.

     The blueprint and other food safety information can be accessed on
the web at www.foodsafety.gov .

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