Statement of the Hon. Rosa DeLauro on Creekstone Farms Mad Cow Testing Proposal

Statement of the Hon. Rosa DeLauro on Creekstone Farms Mad Cow Testing Proposal

New Haven, CT - Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) today released the following statement in reaction to news reports detailing Kansas-based Creekstone Farms' proposal to test every animal they process for mad cow disease. According to stories in today's New York Times and Wall Street Journal, the company has petitioned the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to permit the testing. The USDA has not indicated what they will decide.

"Creekstone Farms' decision to test every animal for mad cow disease signals a step in the right direction toward restoring public confidence in our meat supply. The fact that Creekstone Farms finds it necessary to take these steps on their own speaks to the lack of swift, specific plans by the Department of Agriculture to deal with this issue. I have questioned Secretary Veneman about the Department's current testing program in response to the positive identification of the first BSE-infected cow in the United states, and have yet to receive a satisfactory response. I have introduced legislation that would require mandatory testing of all cows over 30 months of age, and I want to commend Creekstone Farms for taking a pro-active step to ensure safety for their customers."