DeGette Comments On Recent Salmonella Outbreak

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of theCommittee on Energy and Commerce, today commented on the recentsalmonella outbreak in peanuts and peanut butter.

"Last summer's outbreak of salmonella in jalapenos and the recentoutbreak in peanut butter, are sobering reminders that our nation'sfood safety system is broken," said DeGette. "Because of our 21stCentury food distribution system, if even one facility fails tomaintain adequate safety standards, consumers all over the country areat risk. We need strong food safety laws that will not only allow thegovernment to issue a mandatory recall, but also give it the ability totrack the contamination along the supply chain.

U.S. Rep. DeGette will be reintroducing key food safety legislationthat grants the federal government that ability to quickly force arecall of unsafe food and track products from farm to the fork. Bothpieces of legislation have been endorsed by the Washington Post and the New York Times.