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For Immediate Release: May 1, 2007
Sutton Introduces Bill to Keep Our Food Safe
Congresswoman Betty Sutton introduces the Protect Consumers Act to give the FDA mandatory recall authority on all products it oversees
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Betty Sutton introduced the
Protect Consumers Act, legislation granting the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) much-needed mandatory recall authority. This
legislation will allow the FDA to issue an immediate, mandatory recall
on any product the agency oversees, such as tainted pet food or
spinach, both of which have recently led to illness and death.
"It is common sense that the agency responsible for keeping our
families safe should have the ability to require contaminated or
tainted products to be immediately taken off the shelves in our
supermarkets and grocery stores," Sutton said. "The FDA regulates 80
percent of our nation's food supply, and we need to give the FDA every
tool possible to ensure our food is safe."
Under current law, the FDA has the authority to investigate food
complaints, but must rely on industry to recall the affected products.
Currently, the FDA does not have the authority to issue an immediate,
mandatory recall on products it determines pose a threat to human or
pet safety. The Protect Consumers Act will allow the Secretary of
Health and Human Services and the FDA to issue an immediate recall and
require manufacturers, importers, distributors or retailers to
immediately cease distribution, manufacture or sale of any product
deemed unsafe for consumption. The bill also requires the Secretary
and the FDA to immediately notify individuals subject to the risks
associated with the recalled product.
"The FDA is charged with ensuring that our food is safe to eat. This
agency must have the authority to get unsafe products off the shelves.
It is simply unacceptable to rely solely on the producers and sellers
of tainted products to determine if or when they will implement a
recall," Sutton said. "The Protect Consumers Act will stop the sale of
unsafe products as soon as officials discover health concerns and
determine a recall is necessary. This legislation will make our
families and our pets safer."
The Protect Consumers Act also directs the Secretary of Health and
Human Services (HHS), who oversees the FDA, to conduct a study in
collaboration with manufacturers, distributors, retailers, public
health groups, consumer groups and other affected organizations to
identify ways to improve mandatory and voluntary recalls. The
legislation directs the HHS Secretary to then issue new regulations
based on the report recommendations no later than one year after
enactment of the law.
"After giving the FDA mandatory recall authority, directing federal
officials to work with companies, food safety advocates and consumer
groups is the most responsible thing we can do. Together, I hope they
will engage in a constructive dialogue to identify the steps we can
take to make our food even safer," Sutton said. "The Protect Consumers
Act will do a great deal to protect our families from tainted and
contaminated food, but the FDA, private companies and consumer groups
must continue to be vigilant in testing products, identifying problems
and enforcing the law."
Late last year, nearly 200 people fell ill and at least three died
after eating spinach contaminated with E. coli. In recent months, pets
across the country died needlessly after eating products containing
wheat gluten contaminated with a plastic compound banned for use as a
fertilizer in the United States. Last week, federal health officials
disclosed that salvaged pet food contaminated with this compound made
its way to hog farms across the country, where it may have entered the
food supply for humans. And yet, the FDA remains without authority to
issue mandatory recalls. The Protect Consumers Act will make human and
pet safety the top priority when a food emergency is identified.
"I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House to protect
food safety for humans, as well as pets. We cannot wait for more
emergencies to occur to take action. The time to implement the common
sense reforms in the Protect Consumers Act is now," Sutton said.
Contact: Ian Mandel at 202-225-3401
Jan. 9 - Ryan & Sutton become advocates for Mt. McKinley (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
Jan. 9 - 'OUR VIEW' EDITORIAL: Local congressional raises put to good use (Lorain Morning Journal)
Dec. 9 - Most Ohio lawmakers behind wheels of domestic cars (Columbus Dispatch)
Dec. 11 - Automaker bailout survives House vote (Akron Beacon Journal)
Dec. 10 - Sutton moves to Energy and Commerce Committee (Cleveland Plain Dealer)