DeLauro on Recall of 98 Tons of Frozen Food

Possibly Contaminated With E. coli

NEW HAVEN, CT -- Congresswoman DeLauro (D-CT) released thefollowing statement in response to the recall of more than 190,000 pounds offrozen food products. These products may be contaminated with a strainof E. coli and were distributed across the United States. At least 24 people in 15 states have become ill from a strain E.coli that was also found in an open package of one of the foodproducts.

"I urge consumers to check their freezer to make surethey do not have these products in their home," said DeLauro. "And this situation highlights the need to maintain our investmentsin our nation's public health infrastructure. This outbreak wasidentified because of the strong leadership of state and federal public healthofficials and a robust PulseNet. Without adequate resources we are askingthose same officials to protect us with one hand tied behind their back. We should not let the deeply harmful, across the board cuts known assequestration result in less funding for their work."

Additional information on the recall may be found at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_025_2013_Release/index.aspInformation on the outbreak may be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2013/O121-03-13/index.html.Individuals are encouraged to confirm that no recalled products are in theirhousehold freezer.

Advice for consumers from the Centers for Disease Controland Prevention may be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2013/O121-03-13/advice-consumers.html.

DeLauro is a senior member, and former Chair, of thesubcommittee responsible for funding the US Department of Agriculture.