Report: FDA takes too long recalling tainted food

The Food and Drug Administration is taking too much time to remove contaminated food from store shelves, according to a new report.

The report was issued by the Department of Health and Human Services and said that the FDA “did not always have an efficient and effective food-recall process that ensured the safety of the nation’s food supply.”

Fifty-seven days was the average length of time it took to issue a recall after the FDA was notified of potential danger.

Federal investigators reviewed 30 of 1,557 food recalls between 2012 and 2015. According to NPR, food-borne illnesses account for about 130,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths every year.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb agreed that the report raised concerns and said that the FDA has addressed many of the findings, but still has work to do.

He added, “making sure the FDA has effective recall practices in place, and that we take immediate action to address unsafe foods, are high priorities of mine.”