Leaving the Public At-Risk

Press Release

Leaving the Public At-Risk

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) issued the following statement about the recall expansion of 5.7 million pounds of beef distributed by United Food Group of California because of possible E. coli contamination. DeLauro is the chairman of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee and co-chair of the Congressional Food Safety Caucus.

"This recall of potentially tainted meat is shocking in its scale and should shock the federal government to stop being a bystander while the public is put at risk.

"This recall began at 75,000 pounds of beef. It was expanded to 350,000 pounds three days later then suddenly exploded to almost six million pounds three days after, along with the announcement that 14 people became ill with E. coli. This is what occurs when we rely on companies to police themselves. The public should not have to count on voluntary recalls and corporate responsibility alone. The public has no recourse through mandatory recalls and that should change.

"This situation also begs the question of why it has taken so long for the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) to expand this recall. Investigations involving E. coli illnesses are complex, but it is not difficult to speculate that a food safety agency armed with enforceable standards and mandatory recall authority would have responded more decisively.

"Sadly, this irresponsible approach to food safety and the public health seems to be growing. Between all of the recalls over just the past 12 months - this massive recall of beef, the spinach recall, peanut butter recall, pet food recall - the agencies responsible for our food safety seem to be asleep at the wheel, content to forward company press releases announcing recall after recall after recall. That must change."

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