U.S. Regulatory Framework Fails to Keep Pace with Food and Water Contamination, Experts Argue
Experts contend that the U.S. regulatory framework is not adequately addressing the contamination of food and water. The Safe Drinking Water Act, for instance, mandates an extensive, multi-step process for adopting new standards, which critics claim allows contaminants to remain unregulated for a decade or more. This regulatory delay is also evident in food processing, where chemical washes, despite being unapproved, are still legal due to the USDA's assertion that they are 'minimal and safe.' A prominent example is the practice of soaking conventional U.S. chicken in chlorine and other antimicrobial chemical baths to reduce contamination. This method, which is not required to be disclosed on packaging, has been banned in the European Union since 1997. Industrial poultry processors often prioritize speed, with large facilities handling millions of birds daily, leading to a reliance on chemical interventions to compensate for poor sanitation. Additionally, many conventional chickens are injected with water,... 
