From the Office of Senator Kerry

Thursday, October 19, 2000

Washington -- U.S. Representative John Olver (D-1st District) and Senators Edward Kennedy and John Kerry worked together to secure $278,000 in the FY '01 Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations bill for the Safe Seafood Project at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. The legislation was passed by the House today, and is expected to pass the Senate later this week

Congressman Olver and Senators Kennedy and Kerry worked to make sure the funding was included in the final version of the bill. This is the second year that the project has received federal funding.

"Spending money on the science and research behind food safety not only protects consumers' health, it will also save money in inspection costs down the road," Olver said. "The UMass program is a great example of collaboration between the government and university researchers, with the goal of improving public health."

The Safe Seafood Project plans to combine food microbiology, chemistry and computer models into a research system that will examine issues of seafood safety.

"These funds will lead to more effective ways to provide up-to-date scientific data and greater protection for consumers," Senator Kennedy said. "Food safety is an increasingly urgent priority, and we need to do all we can to guarantee it. I commend UMass-Amherst for its leadership on this significant public health issue."

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," said Senator John F. Kerry. "This funding will unleash the enormous capacity of UMass to conduct research in the name of public safety. I am glad that we were able to come together and provide the resources necessary to conduct the Safe Seafood Project at UMass Amherst."

For more information on the Safe Seafood Project, contact Dr. Fergus Clydesdale, Professor of Food Science at 413-545-2275 or Dr. Robert Levin, Professor of Food Science at 413-545-0187.

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