DeGette Calls For Congressional Hearings On Genetically-altered Foods
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) preparesto release its risk assessment report on foods derived from clonedanimals, Energy and Commerce Committee Vice Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO)called on her subcommittee, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommitteeon Oversight and Investigations, to hold hearings into the potentialrisks and challenges of foods derived from cloned animals offered toAmerican consumers in the market place.
"Confidence in the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) ability toensure the safety of our food supply has seriously eroded. Its failureto react effectively to tainted foreign and domestic food productsentering our food supply resulted in skepticism and nervousness byconsumers in the FDA's ability to protect them. It is absolutelynecessary that consumers are confident with this new technology beforethese foods arrive on our store shelves," said DeGette. "The FDAcurrently does not have the authority to recall tainted foods and lacksa product tracing system for contamination in foods. It is not onlyimportant that the FDA assure Congress that they have the ability todeal with the potential risks of genetically-altered foods in the U.S.market place, but also develop a robust oversight program forconsumers.
"My subcommittee in Congress, the House Energy and CommerceSubcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, should conduct hearingsinto the risks and challenges associated with foods derived from clonedanimals allowed in to our food supply. I would like to invite the FDAand relevant third-parties to present their data and findings beforeCongress as we move forward. With the confidence in the FDA alreadyshaken, vigorous oversight is needed -- whether these foods willrequire special labeling, further third-party testing, or additionalinspection, all remains to be seen in order to ensure consumerconfidence."