Vice Chair DeGette Welcomes Input, Encourages Industry to Support Her Proposals
WASHINGTON,
DC – On the heels of yet another E. Coli outbreak in bagged lettuce,
Energy and Commerce Committee Vice Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO) today
welcomed the food industry’s support of additional oversight for our
nation’s food supply as outlined in the Grocery Manufacturers
Association’s (GMA) action plan, Commitment to Consumers: The Four
Pillars of Food Safety.
“The Grocery Manufacturers Association’s report demonstrates an acknowledgment by industry that strong federal oversight of our nation’s food supply is needed,” DeGette said. “While our approaches may differ on strengthening the system, I hope industry will be a valued partner in reforming the system. I want to thank GMA for their commitment to food safety and coming to the table with their ideas to strengthen the system.
“The lack of uniformity in oversight of our food supply reinforces the overwhelming need for a single food agency. The establishment of such an agency will streamline a process that is currently disjointed with 15 different federal agencies responsible for food oversight. To further protect American consumers, my proposal giving the federal government mandatory recall authority will also encourage industry to establish more rigorous oversight of their processing and packaging operations. This authority, supported by an effective national food tracking system, will not only safeguard our food, but also provide greater consumer confidence in responding quickly and efficiently to outbreaks of contamination in food.
“I encourage GMA to support my proposals with the hope we can form a partnership in reforming our nation’s food system.”
Earlier this month, DeGette introduced two new food safety bills. The SAFER (Safe and Fair Enforcement & Recall) Act gives the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to force a recall of contaminated foods. Under current law, recalls are completely voluntary even when public health is at risk. The United States is one of the only industrialized countries in the world that lacks this basic recall power, despite having the ability to recall toys and many other products. The TRACE (Tracing and Recalling Agricultural Contamination Everywhere) Act requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a product tracing system for all food products from their origin to the market, enabling faster recall in the event of contamination.
DeGette is also a leading cosponsor of The Food Safety Act of 2007, which would create a single food safety agency to oversee our nation’s food supply.
“The Grocery Manufacturers Association’s report demonstrates an acknowledgment by industry that strong federal oversight of our nation’s food supply is needed,” DeGette said. “While our approaches may differ on strengthening the system, I hope industry will be a valued partner in reforming the system. I want to thank GMA for their commitment to food safety and coming to the table with their ideas to strengthen the system.
“The lack of uniformity in oversight of our food supply reinforces the overwhelming need for a single food agency. The establishment of such an agency will streamline a process that is currently disjointed with 15 different federal agencies responsible for food oversight. To further protect American consumers, my proposal giving the federal government mandatory recall authority will also encourage industry to establish more rigorous oversight of their processing and packaging operations. This authority, supported by an effective national food tracking system, will not only safeguard our food, but also provide greater consumer confidence in responding quickly and efficiently to outbreaks of contamination in food.
“I encourage GMA to support my proposals with the hope we can form a partnership in reforming our nation’s food system.”
Earlier this month, DeGette introduced two new food safety bills. The SAFER (Safe and Fair Enforcement & Recall) Act gives the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to force a recall of contaminated foods. Under current law, recalls are completely voluntary even when public health is at risk. The United States is one of the only industrialized countries in the world that lacks this basic recall power, despite having the ability to recall toys and many other products. The TRACE (Tracing and Recalling Agricultural Contamination Everywhere) Act requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a product tracing system for all food products from their origin to the market, enabling faster recall in the event of contamination.
DeGette is also a leading cosponsor of The Food Safety Act of 2007, which would create a single food safety agency to oversee our nation’s food supply.
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