A look at food inspection

GEORGIA: FDA wants states to grade their own inspectors

The FDA is supposed to evaluate the performance of states it pays to inspect food processors on its behalf. However, the FDA hasn't reviewed Georgia since at least 2001. In the time period between 2001 and 2009, eight people contracted botulism from chili sauce canned in Augusta, contaminated peanut butter from Sylvester, Ga. sickened hundreds, and salmonella-tainted products from Peanut Corporation of America have been blamed for nine deaths and more than 700 illnesses.

"If they haven’t raised issues, they don’t have any issues with how we conducted those inspections,” said Oscar Garrison, Georgia’s assistant agriculture commissioner for consumer protection, referring to the FDA. “That’s all we have to go on.”

The FDA has delegated about 80% of food processing inspections to state regulators

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Some lawmakers and lobbyists say ethics law is confusing

ARKANSAS: State gets $5.25 million in economic development grants

FLORIDA: Lawmakers consider overhauling system for mentally ill criminals

KENTUCKY: A look at Kentucky citizens' state of "mental distress"

LOUISIANA: State of the wetlands explored by students this week

MISSISSIPPI: Farmers fight for hurricane relief funds

NORTH CAROLINA: Group protests Duke Energy's coal-fired plant

SOUTH CAROLINA: State's utilities wary of carbon tax

TENNESSEE: Investigation shows companies flood waterways with pharmaceuticals

VIRGINIA: Democrats go after GOP delegats on stimulus vote

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