CONSUMER APATHY CAN CRIPPLE FDA RECALL EFFORTS.(LIFE & LEISURE)

Byline: CONSUMER REPORTS

Food products are difficult to recall after they've been distributed. Most of them are consumed quickly, well before any complaints about their quality start coming in.

Recalling bad food products is the job of the Food and Drug Administration. The agency regulates nearly $1 trillion worth of products, including food additives, drugs and medical devices.

Each year, the agency issues recalls on about 3,000 products, ranging from peanut butter to pacemakers. In addition, several hundred products are seized by FDA inspectors before they go on sale. Unlike the Consumer Product Safety Commission and National Highway Traffic …