Accidental Hedonist - Thanks FDA....for nothing.

Thanks FDA....for nothing.

07/18/08, by Kate Hopkins

1127 views • Categories: FDA, Salmonella

Today the FDA posted the following to their Website:

After a lengthy investigation, the FDA has determined that fresh tomatoes now available in the domestic market are not associated with the current outbreak. As a result, the agency is removing its June 7 warning against eating certain types of red raw tomatoes.

They go on to saw that the salmonella problem is with Serrano Peppers...but really, how are they sure of that after spending the past several weeks telling us it was tomatoes? And more importantly, how can we be sure?

Oh, and the tomato industry? Sorry about your loss of 100 million to 250 million dollars. I'm sure you understand.

Psst...Tomato Industry? I'd get yourself some lawyers. People who cause a quarter of a billion dollar mistake should not get a free pass.

So, has there been any good news in the FDA recently? Well they did give themselves bonuses and pay raises...

Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., says he was stunned to learn that 28 senior FDA executives took in a combined $1 million in bonuses last year, pushing their pay above that of members of Congress, federal judges - and even some cabinet secretaries.

I suppose it's good to know that instead of being merely inept, they're immoral as well. That's something, isn't it?

(h/t Jack from Fork & Bottle)

Permalink • 5 comments

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Comment from: Heidi [Visitor]

I regularly read this site, and enjoy it, but this issue has you so upset, I thought I'd chime in with my two cents. Most of the people working for the FDA are extremely highly educated - think Ph.D's and M.D's - and yet they get paid on the same pay scale as all other government employees. I don't know who exactly gets these bonuses, but they account for about 1% of 1%. The rest of the people there aren't political and are just working hard to keep us safe. I know reading the above can really inflame, but just remember it's not the whole story.

Permalink 07/18/08 @ 13:47

Comment from: Nikki [Visitor]

Heidi,

I'm not sure what your point is. There are quite a few people with doctorate/medical degrees working for the federal government who get paid on the same pay scale as everyone else. I work directly with two PhDs in the branch of the division of the directorate of my particular agency. That's how the federal pay scale works. And the article clearly states that the 28 execs paid THEMSELVES the one million dollars worth of bonuses; that's an average of almost $36,000 each (equivalent to the annual salary of a GS-5, step 5). It wasn't shared amongst the entire staff. If they wanted higher salaries, they should pursue a career in the private sector--the same option that every federal employee has.

Permalink 07/19/08 @ 06:05

Comment from: ntsc [Visitor]

· http://blog.charcuteire,com

Congress authorized the bonus system to make up the differential between private and public sector. Why are they suprised it is being used?

Obviously Congress needs to check on the proper use, since not all goverment employees have the high moral fiber of the elected officials in Congress or the Executive branch.

Permalink 07/21/08 @ 06:20

Comment from: Heidi [Visitor]

Nikki,

I'm not sure what YOUR point is. Mine was that saying "thanks for nothing FDA" is melodramatic. Plenty of people get paid normal government salaries and aren't over-paying themselves.

Permalink 07/22/08 @ 08:05

Comment from: Kate Hopkins [Member]

· http://www.accidentalhedonist.com

Heidi,

If it's any consolation, I now find myself embarrassed at the title of the post. It seems both childish and (as you said) melodramatic.

I agree that there are a great many people at the FDA trying to do an impossible job given the resources alloted.

My venom is meant almost exclusively to those who ensure the limited amount of resources provided, some of whom most certainly got a taste of the bonuses given to those who won't be there next year. The bonuses should have gone to those actually do the work involved, not those who will move on to Cargill's and ADM's board of directors in the next few years.

Permalink 07/22/08 @ 08:19

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