To the editor:

Recently, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius issued Executive Reorganization Order No. 32 transferring many food safety responsibilities currently under the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Implementing order 32 requires legislation that Kansans should think long and hard about.

Most states rely on their state and local health departments to conduct food safety inspections, which can include meat inspection, dairy inspection, and restaurant and grocery inspection. Departments of health monitor food-borne illness outbreaks and they’re responsible for keeping the food supply safe.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture is currently responsible for meat and dairy inspections. But it also has an entirely separate (and important) mission devoted to promoting Kansas’ agricultural interests. It has a director of marketing and research that reports directly to the secretary of agriculture and an advisory board of agribusiness representatives that review all of the agency’s rules and regulations before they’re finalized.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a similar dual role. Groups like the Consumers Union have urged USDA for years to adopt stricter policies concerning “downer” animals to no avail. Similar foot-dragging in the early response to mad cow disease caused Great Britain to group food safety regulation under an independent agency that reports to the Ministry of Health.

We should not transfer more food safety responsibilities to the Department of Agriculture. If anything, we should transfer all food safety regulation to the KDHE. Their bottom line is the health of Kansans. We would create efficiencies and maintain or even improve food safety.

Kimber Richter, president,

Kansas Public Health Assn.,

Lecompton