Pistachio Scare Demands Food Traceability

WASHINGTON – As the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues an alert regarding certain pistachios that may have been contaminated with salmonella, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, today reaffirmed her commitment to giving the federal government mandatory recall authority and traceability powers.

"Once again, because we lack the ability to sufficiently trace food products along the supply chain, the FDA must issue a blanket warning that consumers avoid all pistachios," said DeGette. "This not only alarms consumers, it damages an entire industry under already difficult economic conditions. We must have the ability to quickly determine the source of the contamination, where the products were sent, and get them off the shelves quickly. The government needs the ability to recall tainted foods immediately."

Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General released a report, "Traceability in the Food Supply Chain," offering recommendations after a study found researchers were only able to track 13 percent [5 of 40] of selected food products through each stage of the food supply chain. The report further found that several factors prevented the tracing of specific products, including lack of lot-specific information and mixing of products from many farms. The report determined, "the traceability of food products and the ability of food facilities to provide information about their sources, recipients, and transporters are essential to ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply."

U.S. Rep. DeGette has introduced two key food safety priorities that would achieve the aim of the above report recommendations. The SAFER Food Act gives the federal government the authority to order a recall of tainted foods, and the TRACE Act requires the Food and Drug Administration and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a product tracing system to identify contaminated food. Earlier this month, Chairman Emeritus Dingell, introduced the Food and Drug Administration Globalization Act of 2009 along with Chairman Bart Stupak (D-MI) and Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ). The measure includes a mandatory recall provision built upon U.S. Rep. DeGette's legislation, as well as some traceability language; U.S. Rep. DeGette is working closely with Chairman Dingell to strengthen these provisions and pass comprehensive food safety as a priority for Congress this year.

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