Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following comments today about the salmonella outbreak which has now sickened almost 450 people, including 25 in Michigan.  It is thought that peanut butter found in cookies and crackers caused this outbreak. Investigators are looking at the Georgia-based Peanut Corporation of America, which makes peanut butter used by many companies, including Kellogg's in Battle Creek, Michigan.

“First, I am very concerned about those who are sick and their families.  People have reason to be angry about the quality of our nation’s food supply.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the food and the system have been allowed to deteriorate over the past eight years and we’ve paid a terrible price for it.  Americans have to think twice about every trip to the supermarket and the hamburger, the spinach and the cookies they find on store shelves.  In the coming weeks I plan to introduce legislation designed to address these problems.  This legislation will grant FDA the proper authorities and resources it needs to ensure the safety of our food supply, as well as the safety of other products regulated by FDA, and restore American consumer confidence in the Agency.  The American people deserve nothing less.”

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