Poisoned fruit: The rising consumption and waning regulation of imported produce

Background: U.S. consumption of imported fresh produce has doubled in the past 15 years, but inspection has not kept pace with this increase. Although imported produce is three times more likely than domestic to contain Salmonella bacteria, and imported fruit is four times more likely to contain illegal levels of pesticide residues, less than one percent of imported produce is inspected by the federal government.

Methodology: The study is based on an analysis of longitudinal trade and produce-consumption data from the USDA; a policy analysis of regulations governing imported produce; and an analysis of the frequency and scientific results of FDA inspections of imported produce.

Results: The presentation will show that food safety regulations and practices related to imported produce are insufficient and that, given the contamination record of the shipments that are inspected, the regulatory deficiencies threaten the health of U.S. consumers who eat imported produce.

Importance: This study is the first to analyze the increased consumption of imported produce in the context of U.S. food safety regulation in order to draw conclusions about the implications for public health.