FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Contact: Adriana Surfas
Friday, July 11,
2008
(202) 225-3661
USDA
Proposed Retail Consignee Rule Will Continue to Leave Consumers in the Dark
Proposal
would not have applied to historic Hallmark/Westland recall
DeLauro
has fought for consumer access to this information – introducing The
Food Safety Recall Information Act, which would require the
USDA to list all the retail stores and school districts that have received food
products that were subjected to a USDA recall. Additionally, when the
previous rule, which would have applied to all recalls, was stalled by the USDA
and the Office of Management and Budget she pressed for the rule to move forward
(to view the 2/21/08 letter to USDA click
here, to view the 3/12/08 letter to OMB click
here, to view DeLauro’s statement when USDA testified before the
Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, which she chairs, click
here, and to view the 3/17/08 letters to USDA and OMB click
here).
“I
am very disappointed that this new rule would apply only to Class I recalls.
This rule would not have applied to the historic recall of beef products from
the Hallmark-Westland plant earlier this year, which was the largest meat recall
in our history. If we are serious about protecting consumers from unsafe
foods, it is critical that this information be provided for all recalls.
“Listing
the retail stores that may be selling beef or poultry subject to a Class I
recall, which involve products that pose the highest risk for foodborne illness,
should be viewed as only the beginning. The next step should be to apply
this rule to all recalls, as well as requiring the department to list the school
districts that may have received products subject to a recall.
“I
commend Dr. Raymond for his efforts in moving this initiative forward despite
resistance from within the Department and the Administration.”
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