11.jan.07
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Rachel Courtland
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/January/11/local/stories/03local.htm
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget, introduced Wednesday, includes an increase of $2.1 million to the state's food safety program, up from $1.7 million last year.
The story says that with the region still reeling from last year's E. coli outbreak, the possible funding boost is one of a number of new statewide efforts to improve food safety.
The governor's budget would more than double the amount of money dedicated to investigate illnesses and outbreaks caused by foodborne bacteria. The budget would also create several statewide food safety positions.
The state's food safety program is currently managed by the Department of Health Services. Beginning July 1, the newly created Department of Public Health would take over the task.
Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, was quoted as saying, "I think it's a good beginning, but I also believe we need to fully fund research that can find the source of contamination."
Caballero was cited as saying that preventing contamination is also an important part of food safety, and that she will meet today with a group of state environmental, water, food and agriculture officials to get an overview of their areas of jurisdiction.