You deserve safer imported goods.

Deadly pet food, lead-tainted toys, toxic shrimp.With headlines warning about an onslaught of hazardous imports, it's no surprise that consumers are wary of products from overseas. In a nationally representative sample of people polled by Consumers Union, ninety-two percent said they wanted their food to be labeled with the country of origin.

In the last three years, imports have increased by some fifty percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Meanwhile, recalls of Chinese-made products continue to rise. But the staff and budgets of the federal agencies responsible for the safety of imports have remained stagnant or, in some cases, have been cut.

As a result, few shipments received at U.S. ports are inspected for safety. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for imported fruits, vegetables, fish, pet food, beverages, and food additives, yet inspects roughly 1 percent of those products, down from about 8 percent in 1992. At the same time, food imports are on the rise, and now make up about 20 percent of the American diet.

It's not just the lack of funding that hampers safety efforts. Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of CONSUMER REPORTS, thinks that laws governing the safety of imports are outdated and inconsistent. And while consumer products and automobiles can be subject to a mandatory recall, tainted or unsafe food (except for infant formula) is left to voluntary recalls by manufacturers.

Consumers Union has long supported efforts to increase safety funding and modernize product and food-safety laws. It backs legislation that would consolidate the food-safety responsibilities in one agency with the ability to handle inspections, trace food from ...