奥巴马演讲稿1.docx

I’veoftensaidthatIdon’tbelievegovernmenthastheanswertoeveryproblemorthatitcandoallthingsforallpeople.Weareanationbuiltonthestrengthofindividualinitiative.Buttherearecertainthingsthatwecan’tdoonourown.Therearecertainthingsonlyagovernmentcando.Andoneofthosethingsisensuringthatthefoodsweeat,andthemedicineswetake,aresafeanddon’tcauseusharm.ThatisthemissionofourFoodandDrugAdministrationanditisamissionsharedbyourDepartmentofAgriculture,andavarietyofotheragenciesandofficesatjustabouteverylevelofgovernment.

Themenandwomenwhoinspectourfoodsandtestthesafetyofourmedicinesarechemistsandphysicians,veterinariansandpharmacists.ItisbecauseoftheworktheydoeachandeverydaythattheUnitedStatesisoneofthesafestplacesintheworldtobuygroceriesatasupermarketorpillsatadrugstore.Unlikecitizensofsomanyothercountries,Americanscantrustthatthereisastrongsysteminplacetoensurethatthemedicationswegiveourchildrenwillhelpthemgetbetter,notmakethemsick;andthatafamilydinnerwon’tendinatriptothedoctor’soffice.

Butinrecentyears,we’veseenanumberofproblemswiththefoodmakingitswaytoourkitchentables.In2006,itwascontaminatedspinach.In2008,itwassalmonellainpeppersandpossiblytomatoes.Andjustthisyear,badpeanutproductsledtohundredsofillnessesandcostninepeopletheirlives–apainfulreminderofhowtragictheconsequencescanbewhenfoodproducersactirresponsiblyandgovernmentisunabletodoitsjob.Worse,theseincidentsreflectatroublingtrendthat’sseentheaveragenumberofoutbreaksfromcontaminatedproduceandotherfoodsgrowtonearly350ayear–upfrom100ayearintheearly1990s.

PartofthereasonisthatmanyofthelawsandregulationsgoverningfoodsafetyinAmericahavenotbeenupdatedsincetheywerewritteninthetime