Durbin Statement On Food Safety Working Group Recommendations

Statement

Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the White House Food Safety Working Group announced a set of principles to guide long term food safety reform in addition to immediate reforms focusing on prevention:

"Over the last year we've seen major recalls of cookie dough tainted with E. coli, peanut butter and pistachios spiked with salmonella, and chemically-contaminated Chinese imports . These are not isolated incidents and are the result of an outdated, under-funded and overwhelmed food safety system."

"Today's announcement signals an important break from our past policy of making piecemeal changes to outdated laws. These changes are a fundamental step towards comprehensive food safety reform."

"I look forward to working with Secretaries Sebelius and Vilsack to fully implement the Working Group's recommendations and create a science-based food safety system focused on public health and prevention."

Earlier this year, Durbin introduced the bipartisan FDA Food Safety Modernization Act - a bill which would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new authorities, tools and resources to comprehensively reform the nation's food safety structures. The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act is the latest in Durbin's decades-long effort to reform our food safety system.

A number of today's recommendations are included in Durbin's FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, including:

* Science-based standards: The Working Group announced that FSIS will issue guidance on reducing salmonella in turkeys and poultry, and FDA will issue a final rule on reducing salmonella contamination in shell eggs. FDA is also developing safe produce guidelines for leafy greens, melons, and tomatoes. Durbin's bill required FDA to take these actions.
* National Traceback System: The Working Group also announced the creation of a national traceback system which will be coordinated through a new unified incident command center. Durbin's bill was the first piece of comprehensive food safety legislation to include language requiring advances in traceback authority.

Other steps announced by the Working Group include:

* Enhancing enforcement: The Working Group announced that FSIS will increase its E. coli sampling in beef;
* Structural improvements: The Working Group will establish a Deputy Commissioner for Foods - a single official at FDA in charge of food safety; and a chief medical position at FSIS.
* The Working Group also plans additional outreach and communication of food safety information to the U.S. public.

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