DeLauro Fights for Better Food Safety Laws

Washington, DC –Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) released the following statement today in response to a report by the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council that found the Food and Drug Administration is too limited in its scope and funding to effectively protect our nation's food supply:

"This report reaffirms what we all know, and what I have been saying for years: our food safety system is not working. Given the current inadequate inspection schedule for processing facilities, typically consisting of one visit every few years, and the sheer number of food recalls, the situation is unacceptable. It is imperative that the Senate act during this work period on the food safety legislation already passed by the House of Representatives to strengthen the FDA's ability to prevent food-borne illness outbreaks.

"The FDA and 14 other agencies charged with keeping our food safe must become more proactive, rather than simply responding to new problems and disease outbreaks," said Congresswoman DeLauro. This report also illustrates the need for government to improve coordination with state food safety agencies and move toward creating a single food safety agency to combine all of those efforts. In the next few weeks, I will be re-introducing legislation that would establish a single food safety agency to more effectively protect our nation's vulnerable food supply. This is literally a matter of life or death, and Congress must act now."