DeLauro Questions USDA's Role in Promoting Food Products

Argues that dual missions of food safety and promotion compromise public health

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Chairwoman of the FDA and Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement today in response to the New York Times reporting on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's involvement with Domino's Pizza and the marketing of their products.

"The USDA's role in Dairy Management is a perfect example of how the department's conflicting missions could be detrimental to protecting public health. The USDA should not be providing approval for food companies to promote products that are contributing to the obesity epidemic, while also being responsible for overseeing the nutritional quality of these products.

"This obvious conflict of interest harms efforts to reduce skyrocketing obesity rates, and increase the availability of nutritious foods. While I support efforts to assist dairy farmers, USDA should not be involved in assisting a large corporation like Domino's so that it can promote a new line of unhealthy pizzas.

"For years, I have expressed concern over USDA's conflicting mission on food safety – the department should not be responsible for promoting a product that it also is responsible for regulating. This recent revelation about Dairy Management clearly demonstrates that concerns over USDA's conflicting missions also should extend to nutrition. Only an independent, science-based USDA can help reduce the obesity epidemic and ensure the safety of our food supply."