DeLauro Statement on the Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Dole

WASHINGTON, DC (January 22, 2016) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement regarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's investigation into a multistate outbreak of Listeriosis.

"The months long investigation into a Listeria-contaminated salad outbreak is the most recent example of why we must reform our nation's food safety system. Even though the investigation began last September, the source was not known until this month, leaving consumers across the country vulnerable to the outbreak. From the E.coli and norovirus outbreaks at Chipotle, to this latest incident with Dole, American consumers are being sickened, hospitalized, and sometimes killed by deficiencies in our food safety system.

"Congress should immediately provide full funding for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), especially given the new produce safety rule that FDA finalized in November. Under this latest rule, the FDA will provide guidance for a wide variety of produce farms to minimize the risk of serious illness or death from the consumption of contaminated produce. I fought to ensure FSMA received robust funding this year and I was pleased that we included a $104.5 million boost for food safety in the FY 16 Omnibus. However, with this increase, FSMA funding is less than half of the original estimate for what enacting the law would cost.

"Additionally, Congress should move to establish a single food safety agency to enhance the food safety efforts of companies by assisting them in identifying potential issues sooner and avoiding major problems later. The Safe Food Act, which I have introduced, would establish a Food Safety Administration and give this single agency mandatory recall authority for all foods, closing a serious gap in the system. Further, a single food safety agency would provide a single point of contact where families harmed by food borne illness can turn for answers. I will continue to fight for this legislation and I urge my colleagues to support it."

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