DeLauro Welcomes List of Schools Receiving Recalled Beef; Continues to Press for List of Stores
Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) issued the following statement after receiving a list of the school food authorities that received potentially contaminated meat associated with the historic 143 million pound recall of beef products from the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company in Chino , California . DeLauro had pressed the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ed Schafer, to release this information following the announcement of the massive beef recall (to view the February 21, 2008 letter click here) and reiterated her request for this information to the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, Nancy Johner, as a hearing of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Subcommittee, which the Congresswoman chairs.
"Today marks a victory in our effort to safeguard our children's health. The USDA's decision to release the list of schools that received the potentially tainted meat that was part of the Hallmark/Westland recall is a welcome development as we work to ensure consumers have access to the information they deserve. While I believe the public release of this information should have occurred, much earlier - as I requested immediately following the historic recall last month - I am pleased we have it.
"Successfully attaining the list of schools is only the first step. I expect the USDA to follow through with my request made in a letter last month (click here to view the February 21 letter to Secretary Schafer) and release the list of retail stores who received the recalled meat. This kind of delay and inaction is unacceptable and should not be tolerated.
"I intend to introduce legislation next week that would require USDA to provide to consumers the list of stores and schools that have received meat products subjected to a recall. When it comes to food safety, our main concern should be to protect consumers and school children, not the industry."
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