DeGette Presses Food Chiefs On Safety Of Products

WASHINGTON – As questions remain about the safety ofour food supply, Energy and Commerce Committee Vice Chair Diana DeGette(D-CO) submitted the following opening statement into the record attoday's Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations subcommitteehearing entitled, ""Regulatory Failure: Must America Live with UnsafeFood?"

Below are Ms. DeGette's opening remarks submitted into the record:

"I want to applaud you, Mr. Chairman, for holdingthis hearing today, and for the comprehensive investigation into foodsafety throughout your tenure as Chair of this subcommittee. Nothingis more important than the safety of our food.

"Today we continue our efforts to see what theprivate sector can do to help ensure that the food we put on our tableseach day is as safe as it can possibly be. I think we all understandthat restoring the confidence of the American consumer is simply notsomething the government can do alone.

"Two weeks ago we heard from the CEOs of some of thelargest food processors in the country, some of whom were involved inoutbreaks of foodborne illnesses.

"Many of us were dismayed that these CEOs, as theyoften do, came before us and simply apologized for the outbreaks. Butour intent on this committee is not to receive apologies but to findout exactly what happened, why it happened, and what is being done tomake sure it doesn't happen again.

"Several witnesses updated us on their plans toimprove their internal processes for this or that product. But that'snot good enough. Some of these companies have cleaned up the mess andimplemented best practices following a recall, only to have yet anotheroutbreak in a completely different product line a few months later. And then another, and then another.

"Ladies and gentlemen what we need on food safety isdramatic overhaul, not tinkering around the edges, in both the publicand private sector.

"But while the testimony of these CEOs was far fromadequate, I do want to applaud them for testifying in the first place. Our witness today has not been as cooperative.

"One of the fundamental roles of Congress is toconduct oversight. That oversight hinges on the ability to gatherinformation on behalf of the American people, shine light on problems,and if necessary develop policy-based solutions.

"But, we cannot perform this function wheninformation is being withheld. Mr. Mendell, you were contacted by thiscommittee on numerous occasions to request that you appear before us.

"Just last month, your company was involved in thebiggest meat recall in the history of this nation, after shockingundercover video footage at your plant was released.

"Your company acted responsibly and ordered arecall, but that is not the end of the story. The American people havethe right to know what happened.

"As you know, this committee has been looking intocracks in the food safety system for quite some time now. I wouldthink that the biggest recall in history is something that we shouldinvestigate further.

"But when this committee tried to invite you totestify, we did not hear back. In fact after 15 phone calls, we didnot get a response from you, your counsel, or your company.

"We were forced to issue a subpoena to compel yourtestimony this morning. I hope you will be more cooperative with ustoday so we can get to the bottom of this.

"One of the things I hope you are forthcoming aboutis your company's system of tracing the meat products you sold. Wehave all heard the media reports that some of the recalled meat wassent to schools around the country, including to Jefferson CountySchools near my district in Colorado. There are also reports that meatwas sent to large wholesalers and retailers, who presumably distributeacross the country.

"The fact is, we can never really know where all ofthe meat was sent because there is no effective traceability system inplace in the United States.

"For years I have introduced legislation, H.R. 3485,to set up a system to trace food products from the farm to the fork. Right now there is no quick, reliable way to find out where food wasproduced and to where it has been sent.

"In the event of an outbreak of illness, or in thiscase, the introduction of sick cattle into the food supply, atraceability system would allow us to quickly identify the source,inform businesses along the supply chain, cease distribution of othertainted products, and notify potential consumers and business ownerswho may have this food in their homes, restaurants, and on their storeshelves.

"Some companies already have an effective tracingsystem; indeed advances in technology make it achievable and costeffective nationwide.

"In addition to traceback, I'd like to ask the USDAand FDA about another piece of legislation I've sponsored, that wouldgive them each the ability to recall tainted food, an authority theylack right now.

"In this case, it seems that Westland/Hallmarkissued a recall immediately upon seeing the video we witnessed today,showing irrefutable and sickening evidence of its employees not onlymistreating sick animals, but putting them into the nation's foodsupply.

"Would a voluntary recall have occurred without suchconvincing evidence? I think the government should have the authorityto act in the case that a company does not act quickly enough.

"Obviously we should focus our efforts on preventingcontamination in the first place, but we also need to have betterprocedures in place to deal with an outbreak, especially with regardsto recalling and tracing food products."