Environmental attorney Sanders says embattled FDA releases report detailing its efforts to protect America's food supply.

In a report released today, the embattled U.S. Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”) says that it's increasing up its inspection staff by at least 130 people. But that is not all; in response to the tomato scare during the summer 2008, the agency is also developing a safety plan to reduce the risk of infection-causing salmonella bacteria.

Because of a real fear of other food-borne illnesses, the agency is drafting enforcement rules to prevent listeria bacteria, which causes fever, muscle aches and digestive symptoms, in prepared food. To prevent the outbreak of new bacterial infections, FDA also approved irradiation technology to kill E. coli and salmonella.

Food-borne illnesses are caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated with bacteria, parasites, or viruses. Harmful chemicals can also cause food-borne illnesses if they have contaminated food during harvesting or processing. Food-borne illnesses can cause symptoms that range from an upset stomach to more serious symptoms, including diarrhea, fever, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and dehydration. Most food-borne infections are undiagnosed and unreported, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that every year about 76 million people in the United States become ill from pathogens, or disease-causing substances, in food. Of these people, about 5,000 die.