Tighter Inspection of Seafood Sought: House Agriculture...

Tighter Inspection of Seafood Sought: House Agriculture Committee members accused the Food and Drug Administration of understating the health threat of seafood-borne illness and called for a system of mandatory federal inspections to replace the current voluntary system. White House officials acknowledged during a hearing that more stringent inspection might be in order, but said the Bush Administration had not yet decided whether to support any congressional bill. Agriculture Department Assistant Secretary Jo Ann Smith told the committee one alternative being considered was to create a mandatory program funded through fees on the seafood industry.