It's All In Our Heads!

Diana Stuart's paper, "The illusion of control: industrialized agriculture, nature, and food safety," puts forth the idea that the industrialization of agriculture in the United States is a pivotal reason for food borne diseases today. The arguement makes sense as she goes on to say that the focus of these huge manufacturing industries is solely mass production for maximum output and maximum profit. As they syphine their focus into one aspect of the business, they lose control over the healthy aspect of their trade. Little care is taken to ensure that foods are clean and healthy, and thus there has been break outs of E. Coli in beef, peanut butter, and also leafy greens. This usually is caused by animal feces that have somehow contaminated the food when they are nearby in the packaging plants. Stuart states her belief that there is no possible way to retain control of food and continue at the level of production that industries are today. She also interestingly notes the "boomerang effect" which she describes as nature evading attempted manipulation but technology can lead to greater problems than it was originally designed to solve. This is releavant to our food system because no matter what is developed to protect our food, the disease mutates to become accustomed to its new environment. Especially in the food industries today which are so vulnerable to diseases.
Stuart ends by saying that the consumer has the mind set that theyhave control over their food because we think trust that the manufacturers are ensuring that the food that they sell is wholesome and healthy. Yet, the reality is the other way around, the industries are in control of the food, because the bond of trust between the consumer and the producer is not really there. The producers are looking to maximize profit.

so if what Staurt says is true, and there can be no control over food while maintaining this enormous production rate, then where do we go from here? how is this problem to be fixed so that both consumers and producers are happy? or is that possible and must there be a compromise of some sort?
Secondly, how seriously would the requirement of more regulations on food testing hinder small or local producers? and would it be worth it in the end?