DeLauro Raises Concerns With USDA Over Food Safety IT System

Continued Problems Highlighted With Recent Shutdown Put Consumers At Risk

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today sent a letter to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elisabeth Hagen raising continued concerns with the ongoing problems with the Public Health Information System (PHIS) used by the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS).  The letter comes following a 2 day shutdown of the system that may have left consumers exposed to contaminated meat products.  DeLauro is a former Chairwoman and currently a senior member of the subcommittee responsible for funding USDA. 

"The report of a PHIS system-wide shutdown from August 8-10 suggesting that millions of pounds of meat products left plants before being tested for E. coli and other contaminants was undoubtedly disconcerting for consumers relying on FSIS to ensure the food they consume is safe," DeLauro wrote.  "This major incident is not surprising given the ongoing problems that exist with the PHIS, a system that aims to improve the process of testing meat products and identifying contaminated food before it is consumed by the public, but has been riddled with problems since its rollout over 2 years ago." 

DeLauro requested a response with the following:

1.    USDA's record of major incidents with the PHIS impacting multiple plants and steps taken to ensure similar incidents do not re-occur including with regard to the recent system-wide shutdown. 
2.    USDA's analysis of problems with the system, the impact on food safety and steps taken to remedy these problems, including those related to software and connectivity. 
3.    The parameters of the PHIS contract that ensure long-term solutions are made to issues that arise in the system and why major problems continue to occur. 
4.    The metrics included in the contract and an evaluation of those metrics to ensure the PHIS is meeting USDA's goal of providing real time sampling of meat products and analyses that identify any issues before an outbreak occurs. 

The full letter is as follows:

The Honorable Dr. Elisabeth Hagen
Under Secretary for Food Safety
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250-3700

Dear Dr. Hagen:

I write to express my continued concern with the information technology system used by inspectors at meatpacking and processing plants across the country.  I believe the multitude of ongoing problems with the Public Health Information System (PHIS) used by the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) is putting American consumers at risk.

The report of a PHIS system-wide shutdown from August 8-10 suggesting that millions of pounds of meat products left plants before being tested for E. coli and other contaminants was undoubtedly disconcerting for consumers relying on FSIS to ensure the food they consume is safe.  While your agency maintains that the only negative ramification to the shutdown were fewer samples taken and that sampling is but one technique used to monitor meat production, the fact that this incident led to shipped products that should have been inspected going without inspection is deeply troubling.

Moreover, this major incident is not surprising given the ongoing problems that exist with the PHIS, a system that aims to improve the process of testing meat products and identifying contaminated food before it is consumed by the public, but has been riddled with problems since its rollout over 2 years ago.  As you know, in July 2012 the Government Accountability Office identified the PHIS as one of the federal government's "troubled IT projects."

The multitude of problems with the PHIS include, among others, deficient software, system errors, outages, high maintenance needs, and loss of connectivity.  These issues are system-wide, occurring not just in certain rural areas, but all across the United States.  Most concerning, these issues lead to inspectors spending more time addressing PHIS problems then conducting inspections, as well as delays or cancellation of product sampling.  

Accordingly, I respectfully request you respond by providing the following:

1. USDA's record of major incidents with the PHIS impacting multiple plants and steps taken to ensure similar incidents do not re-occur including with regard to the recent system-wide shutdown. 
2. USDA's analysis of problems with the system, the impact on food safety and steps taken to remedy these problems, including those related to software and connectivity. 
3. The parameters of the PHIS contract that ensure long-term solutions are made to issues that arise in the system and why major problems continue to occur. 
4. Metrics included in the contract and an evaluation of those metrics to ensure the PHIS is meeting USDA's goal of providing real time sampling of meat products and analyses that identify any issues before an outbreak occurs. 

Putting in place a 21st century information technology system that improves USDA's food safety infrastructure and processes is a central component to properly protecting American consumers and one I fully support.  Yet, the PHIS still faces numerous challenges that after over 2 years should not be as prevalent as they clearly are.  It is imperative that addressing the problems throughout the system is made a top priority for USDA.

I look forward to your prompt response and to working with you on this critical matter.

Sincerely,

Rosa L. DeLauro
Member of Congress
 

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