8.7 Million Pounds of Beef and Cow Subject To Class 1 Recall

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today on the recall of 8.7 million pounds – one year’s worth of production – of beef and cow parts from the Rancho Feeding Corporation. The products came from suspected diseased and unhealthy animals that did not have “the benefit or full benefit of federal inspection” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

“We are talking about a year's worth of product so much of it may have been consumed already. While there have been no reported illnesses, this is a clear indication of why we need to provide federal and state public health agencies, including the USDA, with the resources they need to prevent and quickly investigate outbreaks of foodborne illnesses and deaths.

“Allowing facilities to get away with repeat violations of the law is unacceptable, let alone allowing those same rule breakers to continue operations for a full year. The best way to ensure a safe food supply is through a fully funded, independent single food safety agency that I have long called for. No American should have to worry that the food they eat will make them sick.”

This recall announcement, which includes tripe, tongue, feet, “mountain oysters” and “sweet breads,” follows two recalls last month that totaled more than 40,000 pounds of meat products by the company, formerly known as Rancho Veal Corp. USDA has now suspended The Rancho Feeding Corporation operations.

USDA classified this as a Class 1 recall with a “high” health risk with reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.

DeLauro is a senior Democrat and former Chairwoman of the subcommittee responsible for funding the Department of Agriculture.