Congressman Panetta Leads Letter Calling for Sound Science on COVID-19 Transmission and Safety of the American Food Supply

Press Release

Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) and Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-4-WA) are leading 15 bipartisan members of Congress in sending a letter to the Administration, expressing concern that the World Health Organization (WHO) may modify its assumptions regarding viral transmission of COVID-19 via food and food packaging at the urging of the Chinese government. Currently, there is no credible evidence to support the transmission of COVID via food or food packaging. Any guidance from WHO stating otherwise would pose a threat to the stability of the U.S. food supply chain.

The letter calls on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to urge the World Health Organization (WHO) to commission a panel of objective and independent virus experts to review the evidence presented by the Chinese government. Additionally, it asks the Administration to engage with the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures to ensure sound science informs SPS standards.

"I am deeply concerned by any conclusions about our food supply chain that are not supported by legitimate evidence," said Congressman Panetta. "Our proposed commission would ensure that evidence presented by the Chinese government is properly and objectively scrutinized to ensure WHO guidance remains independent from any notion not supported by fact. I urge the Biden Administration to heed our call and take necessary steps to ensure the world's leading global health agency is guided by sound science."

"A year into living with the ramifications of a global pandemic, it is clearer now than ever before how important science is to our decision-making and how fragile our nation's food supply chain can be," said Congressman Newhouse. "Men and women in Central Washington and across the country have been working around-the-clock to ensure a safe and secure food supply, and it is alarming that the WHO would accept unfounded, non-scientific claims made by the Chinese government that undermine confidence in our food safety and food supply chains. We must reject baseless, politically-motivated attacks that threaten our country's agriculture industry and continue to trust the facts."

Source