On June 16, Governor Pulaali’i Nokolao Pula (R) called an emergency meeting in Pago Pago, the capital of American Samoa, to address concerns regarding food and agricultural practices. This discussion was crucial in understanding the importance of food safety, and more specifically, the measures necessary to protect public health. The meeting marked one of the territory’s most determined efforts yet to strengthen health protections and address systemic food safety issues.
Food safety in context
Food safety has been a recurring concern in American Samoa, a region where the majority of food is imported from the United States and neighboring Pacific nations. Studies have reported that up to 95% of American Samoa’s food supply is imported, a statistic that emphasizes the risk of food insecurity in cases of shipping delays and tariff price fluctuations. Historical data from 2018 alone shows that food accounted for around 8% of the territory’s total import value, making the territory especially vulnerable to climate change and agricultural decline. Over time, imported staples like rice and canned goods have become more accessible and affordable. Consequently, traditional farming practices and ancestral knowledge of crops such as taro, breadfruit, and yams have declined. Fewer households engage in subsistence agriculture as access to farmland decreases. Only about 39% of children still consume traditional fruits and vegetables on a regular basis.
Regulating safety standards is further complicated by a lack of enforcement resources compared to the 50 states. American Samoa has historically been in need of increased access to health inspections. Even in the present, public confidence in the effectiveness of enforcement systems has been on a continuous downtrend. In recent years, the World Health Organization has emphasized the importance of reliable food safety systems for island communities that depend on imports over local agriculture. It stated, “WHO supports Member States to build strong, sustainable and resilient national food control systems to protect consumer health and prevent fraud.”
Governor Pula leads interagency meeting
At the interagency meeting, representatives from health, agriculture, and environmental government agencies gathered to present findings that revealed major regulatory gaps in local farming operations. Systemic challenges like inspection shortages, missing compliance documentation, poor living conditions, and language barriers all exacerbated health risks. A 2018 survey revealed that most adults in American Samoa consumed processed meats and sugar-sweetened beverages daily, while less than one-fourth of adults consumed the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables daily, contributing to chronic risks. Other hazards included crop storage near animals, misuse of pesticides, absent business licenses, and inadequate waste disposal systems, revealing a significant lack of current initiative. One example includes reports from the USDA-ASFSP that found chemical residues in bok choy and traces of E. coli in produce.
Key leaders proposed new efforts to address these deficiencies. Agencies agreed to conduct joint inspections, introduce new food safety regulations specific to local farming conditions, and improve translation services to ensure compliance. They also announced plans for laboratory testing of pesticide residues in local produce to align with international safety standards.
Pula concluded the meeting with a statement.
“This conversation is long overdue,” Pula said. “We must ensure that our people, especially our children, have access to food that is clean, healthy, and grown under safe conditions.”
Next steps for safeguarding
The meeting resulted in commitments designed to address systemic food safety issues. By committing to joint inspections and new regulations, officials have shifted toward a more robust oversight system that prioritizes both public health and agricultural sustainability. For American Samoa, a community that relies on imported food and fragile local production, these reforms stabilize food safety and promote health. As these measures are integrated, future steps will be to ensure consistent enforcement so that safe, clean, and healthy food continues to be accessible.
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