United call-in

I missed it this morning, as I had a short interview with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (watch for coverage in The Packer). In any case, what was the takeaway or gist of the teleconference? Any impressions out there, from United staff or members?

Speaking of DeLauro, she has put out a statement about the new USDA policy in regard to releasing names of retailers involved in a recall. The bottom line: not good enough. From the office of Rep. DeLauro:


Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) issued the following statement regarding the announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that the list of retail stores and school districts that received food products subject to a USDA recall would only be available for the recalls that pose the highest risks. Because the rule would only apply to class I recalls, this information would not have been made available during the Hallmark/Westland recall of 143 million pounds of beef.

DeLauro has fought for consumer access to this information – introducing The Food Safety Recall Information Act, which would require the USDA to list all the retail stores and school districts that have received food products that were subjected to a USDA recall. Additionally, when the previous rule, which would have applied to all recalls, was stalled by the USDA and the Office of Management and Budget she pressed for the rule to move forward (to view the 2/21/08 letter to USDA click here, to view the 3/12/08 letter to OMB click here, to view DeLauro’s statement when USDA testified before the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, which she chairs, click here, and to view the 3/17/08 letters to USDA and OMB click here).

“I am very disappointed that this new rule would apply only to Class I recalls. This rule would not have applied to the historic recall of beef products from the Hallmark-Westland plant earlier this year, which was the largest meat recall in our history. If we are serious about protecting consumers from unsafe foods, it is critical that this information be provided for all recalls.

“Listing the retail stores that may be selling beef or poultry subject to a Class I recall, which involve products that pose the highest risk for foodborne illness, should be viewed as only the beginning. The next step should be to apply this rule to all recalls, as well as requiring the department to list the school districts that may have received products subject to a recall.

“I commend Dr. Raymond for his efforts in moving this initiative forward despite resistance from within the Department and the Administration.”