Durbin Statement on Indictment of Companies Involved in Tainted Pet Food Case

Statement

Durbin Statement on Indictment of Companies Involved in Tainted Pet Food Case

United States Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement in response to the federal indictment of a U.S. company and two Chinese businesses for knowingly importing tainted ingredients used to make pet food. The unsafe pet food killed thousands of pets last year.

"Too often, American consumers are treated like guinea pigs by companies who put profits over public health. The prosecution of those responsible for the deaths of thousands of pets around the country sends a clear signal -- the integrity of our food safety system must be taken seriously."

"Congress must now pass legislation implementing user-fees for the inspection of food imports and provide the USDA with the resources they need to improve the oversight of imported food products."

Senator Durbin has been actively engaged on food safety issues for over a decade. Last year, following the deaths of thousands of pets around the country, Durbin called a hearing to take meaningful action in addressing problems in federal regulation of the pet food industry. This Congress he's called for the implementation of a food safety program to standardize American food safety (The Imported Food Security Act of 2007 - S.1776.)

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