The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is aware of an outbreak of Salmonella Africana.  According to the newsletter distributed by Marler Clark the Agency has not released any information as to the location of cases or the vehicle of infection.  Apparently traceback is in progress and eventually the FDA will release details including any required advisories or recalls.

Given the challenges facing the FDA it is questioned whether field investigations should be conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This agency has teams of field epidemiologists in the EIS program backed by diagnostic and research laboratories equipped to identify and characterize foodborne pathogens.

Currently, food safety appears to be divided among numerous federal agencies and accordingly it would appear both logical and practical to combine activities into a single food safety and nutrition agency.