DeLauro Continues to Fight for Food Safety Funding

Voices concern in wake of peanut butter recall

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3), Ranking Member on the Labor, Health, and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement today in response to the recall of two Skippy Brand Peanut Butter varieties.

Skippy® Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy® Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter Spread, produced by Unilever United States, Inc. and sold in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin., were recalled due to potential Salmonella contamination. No illnesses have been reported at this time.

“This recall demonstrates that Congress needs to resist attempts to slash funding for critical agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration. Food safety recalls continue to threaten American consumers, and we should be able to eat a household staple, and child favorite, like peanut butter without worrying about contracting a potentially deadly disease such as Salmonella. The new Republican majority’s proposed cuts would result in 2,000 fewer inspections of food manufacturing facilities, potentially crippling our ability to ensure our food is safe. Instead of cutting funding for important programs like FDA that provide basic public health protections, Congress should focus on creating jobs, getting the economy right, and reducing the deficit.”