Faleomavaega (AS00) - “Kegs of Beef from California Unfit for Human Consumption,” Says Faleomavaega

January 31, 2000 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C.—“KEGS OF BEEF FROM CALIFORNIA UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION,” SAYS FALEOMAVAEGA

Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that he has personally taken the matter of the poor quality of beef contained in kegs and is produced by a company located in California, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In a letter today to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman, Faleomavaega expressed his strong concern with the poor quality of the kegs of beef being shipped to American Samoa from California. Faleomavaega said, “I have received complaints from local residents in American Samoa concerning kegs of beef being shipped to American Samoa from California. These complaints consistently say that the main portions of the beef are total fat and veins, and that the beef is black or dark brown in color.” The Congressman continued, “Having personally inspected the meat, I can attest to the poor quality of this product. Quite frankly, I want to say that this is meat of the lowest possible quality. I would challenge US Department of Agriculture officials living in California who inspected these kegs of beef to feed this food item to their families to see if they enjoy it.” Faleomavaega met last week with Ms. Marilyn Marsh, the local USDA import inspector assigned into American Samoa to discuss his concerns about the low quality kegs of beef. She informed the Congressman that once USDA officials approve the meat in the United States, she has absolutely no authority to inspect the product when it enters American Samoa. Faleomavaega concluded saying,” I want to strongly urge our local community when they open their kegs of beef and they do not like what they will find in there, please call my office at 633-1372 and a member of my staff will arrange to pick up the meat and will monitor this matter.”

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