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Blumenthal calls on Congress to enact stalled food safety legislation
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Aug 24, 2010 - 4:22 PM

HARTFORD, CT – Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today called on the Congress to make passage of food safety legislation a priority when it reconvenes after Labor Day, to strengthen the Food and Drug Administration’s ability to protect our food supply.

Blumenthal’s call comes amid reports that at least 2,000 incidences of illness across ten states have been traced to salmonella between May and July, and two Iowa farms have initiated a recall of over one-half billion eggs nationwide.

“The current salmonella outbreak is a clear demonstration of how our national food safety system falls short,” said Blumenthal, who has a long record fighting to protect Connecticut consumers from dangers in the food supply. “The Senate must act to pass food safety reform legislation approved by the House with broad bipartisan support more than one year ago. Clearly, Congress must improve food safety and oversight.”

Blumenthal praised Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), who has been one of Congress’s foremost leaders on this issue, for her efforts to enact comprehensive legislation.

Blumenthal expressed optimism that the Senate would move quickly to pass food safety legislation, citing reports that Senate negotiators had reached bipartisan agreement on legislation to bring to the Senate floor. Blumenthal noted that to be effective, the final law must include:

- Enhanced FDA Authority, including the ability to order mandatory recalls, to detain tainted food, and to subpoena records associated with possible violations.

- Strengthened Controls on Foreign Imports, including certification that all imported food meets U.S. safety requirements, country-of-origin labeling for all processed food and produce, and an up-to-date registry of all food importers.

- Preventive Measures, including increased inspections, improved FDA capabilities to trace outbreaks to their sources, and safety plans for foreign and domestic food facilities, fresh produce, and other raw agricultural commodities.

Blumenthal also expressed support for Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) effort to ban Bisphenol A from children’s food and drink containers, noting that Connecticut passed a similar ban in 2009 after his efforts to get the chemical removed voluntarily from plastic baby bottles.

“Effective reform of the food safety system requires enhancing the FDA’s authority over tainted food, strengthening controls on foreign imports, and preventive efforts to reduce the risk of an outbreak and to help contain one when it occurs,” Blumenthal said. “I hope that the current salmonella outbreak will at least motivate Congress to finally do the right thing and enact comprehensive food safety reform legislation.”

Blumenthal’s food safety record as Attorney General includes:

- Fighting for State Protections: Blumenthal joined with 38 other Attorneys General to oppose national legislation that would have blocked states from being able to address food-borne hazards, leaving all regulatory authority with the federal government. [NY Times, 7/5/2006; Connecticut Attorney General’s Office, Press Release, 3/3/2006]

- Expired Food: Blumenthal filed suit against CVS in 2009 after investigators found more than 20 stores in Connecticut selling expired food and non-prescription drugs. The case remains ongoing. [Norwalk Citizen News, 12/4/2009]

- Mercury in Cereal Boxes: Under pressure from Blumenthal, Kellogg Co. agreed to stop shipping cereal boxes to Connecticut containing a toy with a mercury battery that violated state environmental laws. [AP, 7/3/2004]

- Reducing Pesticides: Blumenthal joined with 13 other Attorneys General in pressing the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce the amount of pesticide residue allowed on common fruits and vegetables. [AP, 12/17/2004]

- Toxic Chemicals: Blumenthal joined with two other Attorneys General to convince major manufacturers of baby bottles to remove the toxic chemical Bisphenol A from their products. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/7/2009]

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