Rosa's mission

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., is out to change the world, or at least the federal government's food safety systems. Here is what her office released today;

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) issued the following statement on the closure of Castleberry’s Food Company’s production facility in Augusta, GA, after cans of chili sauce tested positive for botulism over the weekend. This recall affects more than 8,500 retailers around the country, including Big Y stores in Connecticut.

“The expansion of this botulism recall highlights the critical need to overhaul our food safety system.

“That is why I am using my authority as chair of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee to take a close look at our food safety efforts and begin to making tangible changes at both USDA and FDA.

“We start by directing the FDA to create a multi-year, comprehensive performance plan, which includes measurable benchmarks for concrete improvements in the performances of its food safety mission. And continue by providing them with substantial resources – a $28 million increase – what we hope will be the first step in a fundamental transformation in the regulation of food safety at FDA.

“Additionally, under this legislation we ensure that funding levels for FDA’s field operations are not reduced and are fully funding the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), as well as directing funds to fill the vacancies in federal inspectors.

“This botulism outbreak is a reminder of our food safety goal: to prevent food-borne illness not just to react when outbreaks occur.”