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Kohl Calls on USDA to Get Tougher on Enforcing Food Safety
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 02/29/2008

U.S. Senator Herb Kohl is calling on the USDA to enforce tougher standards, continuous surveillance and stiffer penalties at meat processing plants in order to prevent all downer cattle from entering the food supply. During a hearing on the issue Thursday, the Milwaukee Democrat--who chairs the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee--told Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer that the recent beef recall from a California-based company could have been avoided if the Department had greater vigilance in maintaining food safety.

"We do not want another Westland/Hallmark situation anywhere in the country," Kohl said. "We cannot allow a single downer cow to enter our food supply under any circumstances. We must have tougher standards, round-the-clock surveillance and stiffer penalties to ensure our meat inspection system protects Americans."

Kohl said he was particularly troubled by the implications this incident has for the national school lunch program and children. He also outlined a plan to prevent recurrence of future incidents similar to the Westland/Hallmark recall, in which 143 million pounds of beef were recalled, after undercover video surfaced of animals too sick to stand being dragged, fork-lifted, kicked, jabbed and dumped into America's food supply.

The Senator is calling for an audit all 900 meat processing plants that slaughter cattle to make sure they have language-appropriate materials for their workers and that those employees receive sufficient training; audit the 23 plants that supply meat and poultry to the USDA nutrition programs is completed in no more than 30 days; and install camera monitors on every slaughter line at meat processing plants.

"Here is an opportunity for USDA to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem," Kohl said. "This is a very, very serious issue. It affects food safety, it affects our children, it affects our trade partners and it affects our markets. We must fulfill our fundamental responsibility in fixing this problem, strengthening our laws and protecting our children."

The recent food recall at Westland/Hallmark is currently the largest in history.


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