DeLauro plans FDA import hearings
PETER URBAN [email protected]
Article Last Updated: 04/13/2007 10:21:13 PM EDT
WASHINGTON — With the FDA singling out wheat gluten from China as the culprit behind a mass recall of contaminated pet food, Rep. Rosa DeLauro plans to hold a congressional hearing to examine how the agency inspects imported foods.
"We are all aware of the disturbing statistics related to imported foods. The U.S. now imports far more foods than it exports, but there are fewer inspectors for imported foods," said DeLauro, D-3.
The Food and Drug Administration does not require exporting countries to have the same food safety standards as the United States. And the agency inspects less than 1 percent of food imports, DeLauro said.
"Given that the contaminated pet food appears to be connected to wheat gluten imported from China only heightens my concern about the agency's ability to inspect imported products. It is this aspect of the pet food recall crisis that I am particularly troubled about and intend to examine further in a follow-up hearing," she said.
DeLauro, chairwoman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture, announced her plans in written testimony delivered Thursday to the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture. That panel held a hearing Thursday on the pet food recall.
PETER URBAN [email protected]
Article Last Updated: 04/13/2007 10:21:13 PM EDT
WASHINGTON — With the FDA singling out wheat gluten from China as the culprit behind a mass recall of contaminated pet food, Rep. Rosa DeLauro plans to hold a congressional hearing to examine how the agency inspects imported foods.
"We are all aware of the disturbing statistics related to imported foods. The U.S. now imports far more foods than it exports, but there are fewer inspectors for imported foods," said DeLauro, D-3.
The Food and Drug Administration does not require exporting countries to have the same food safety standards as the United States. And the agency inspects less than 1 percent of food imports, DeLauro said.
"Given that the contaminated pet food appears to be connected to wheat gluten imported from China only heightens my concern about the agency's ability to inspect imported products. It is this aspect of the pet food recall crisis that I am particularly troubled about and intend to examine further in a follow-up hearing," she said.
DeLauro, chairwoman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture, announced her plans in written testimony delivered Thursday to the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture. That panel held a hearing Thursday on the pet food recall.