Energy and Commerce Vice Chair DeGette to Introduce Major Food Safety Legislation Next Week
WASHINGTON,
DC – As contaminated spinach surfaces again, Energy and Commerce
Committee Vice Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO) today reiterated her
commitment to reforming the food safety system in the United States.
“Every new outbreak of contaminated food illustrates the need for comprehensive reform of the food safety system in the United States,” said DeGette. “Metz Fresh acted responsibly by recalling the spinach when the contamination was discovered. However, under current law, recalls are strictly voluntary – the Federal Government must have the authority to force a recall in cases where industry is uncooperative. Because of these ongoing outbreaks, I will introduce two major pieces of food safety legislation next week giving the government the authority to force a recall, and requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a product tracing system to track products from their origins to the grocery store, enabling faster recall in the event of contamination.
“Mandatory recall authority will also encourage industry to establish more rigorous oversight of their processing and packaging operations. This latest recall of spinach demonstrates the urgency of fixing our broken food safety system.”
DeGette is also a leading cosponsor of “The Food Safety Act of 2007,” which creates a single food safety agency to oversee our nation’s food supply.
“Every new outbreak of contaminated food illustrates the need for comprehensive reform of the food safety system in the United States,” said DeGette. “Metz Fresh acted responsibly by recalling the spinach when the contamination was discovered. However, under current law, recalls are strictly voluntary – the Federal Government must have the authority to force a recall in cases where industry is uncooperative. Because of these ongoing outbreaks, I will introduce two major pieces of food safety legislation next week giving the government the authority to force a recall, and requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a product tracing system to track products from their origins to the grocery store, enabling faster recall in the event of contamination.
“Mandatory recall authority will also encourage industry to establish more rigorous oversight of their processing and packaging operations. This latest recall of spinach demonstrates the urgency of fixing our broken food safety system.”
DeGette is also a leading cosponsor of “The Food Safety Act of 2007,” which creates a single food safety agency to oversee our nation’s food supply.
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