Fw: DELAURO RENEWS CALLS FOR A SINGLE FOOD SAFETY AGENCY

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-----Original Message-----
From: "Richards, Kaelan" <Kaelan.Richards@mail.house.gov>
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2010 13:37:52
To: Richards, Kaelan<Kaelan.Richards@mail.house.gov>
Subject: DELAURO RENEWS CALLS FOR A SINGLE FOOD SAFETY AGENCY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Kaelan Richards
December 11, 2010 (202) 225-3661

DELAURO RENEWS CALLS FOR A SINGLE FOOD SAFETY AGENCY

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Chairwoman of the FDA and Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement today in response to the Washington Post's analysis of the food safety recall of over half a billion eggs over the summer.

"The massive recall of contaminated eggs earlier this year highlighted how the fragmented food safety regulatory structure delays important reforms and slows the government's response to outbreaks.

Just this week, the House of Representatives passed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, which represents a good first step forward in reforming our food safety system and protecting American consumers from food-borne illnesses. It gives the FDA greater authority to inspect food safety records relating to recalls, creates a better registry of food facilities, increases inspection of high-risk facilities, and improves traceability of food history in the event of an illness outbreak.

But this is not enough. We must do more, and I plan to re-introduce legislation next week and in the next Congress that would create a single food safety agency. Currently, there are 15 federal agencies that share jurisdiction in protecting our food supply—and I believe that is 14 too many. A single food safety agency would provide a regulatory structure that would utilize the advances in food safety, prevent jurisdictional confusion, and reduce the potential for future outbreaks. One agency focused exclusively focused on protecting our food supply would help to ensure that the food in our stores, restaurants, and on our tables is safe."

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DeLauro.House.Gov