Among these are enhancing the use of science at all levels, such as the development and implementation of new technologies, setting inspection priorities based on risk, creating and strengthening standards, and developing stricter monitoring and surveillance criteria. But a federal focus can only be effective if the federal agencies responsible for food safety are given a more clearly defined mandate to act, the report concludes. That includes broadening the Food and Drug Administration's inspection authority, authorizing the FDA and the Food Safety and Inspection Service to take a stronger stand on ordering food recalls and stopping food sales when necessary, authorizing the FDA and FSIS to require regulated entities to notify them of adulterated or misbranded foods, and allowing the Environmental Protection Agency to require records on pesticide usage. While some consumer groups have called for the creation of a single agency to oversee food safety, the report concludes that what is needed is unifying legislation, not one food safety agency. Within the existing framework of statutes and implementing organizations, significant further improvements can be made.
Some operators find there's a profitable side to unlimited refills.
Consumers asked for them,'' says Downs. Now, coffee, iced tea and a variety of soft drinks come with bottomless cups and glasses. Our costs are higher than margin, but in the end we make more money. Unlimited refills are more about hospitality than economics, according to Don Dobson, vice president of operations for Furr's Restaurant Group, of Richardson, Texas, operator of Furr's Family Dining and other concepts. Customers perceive it as extra-value.