(HHS: Washington) -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius recently commended federal food safety agencies for their accomplishments supporting the charge of President Obama’s Food Safety Working Group, which advises the president on how to upgrade the U.S. food safety system for the 21st century. The Food Safety Working Group, chaired by Vilsack and Sebelius, recommended a public health focused approach to food safety based on three core principles: prioritizing prevention, strengthening inspection and enforcement, and improving response and recovery.

“I’m proud of the significant progress that has been made to protect public health since the Food Safety Working Group announced its key findings last July,” says Secretary Vilsack. “There is no more basic role for government than ensuring safe food and completing the Food Safety Working Group’s executive actions is an important step in strengthening the U.S. food safety system.”

 …