U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has officially introduced the Meat and Poultry Recall Notification Act to Congress after a PBS documentary on Salmonella aired earlier this week.
Gillibrand’s announcement follows FRONTLINE’s “The Trouble with Chicken” feature on the health risks associated with Salmonella. According to the documentary, approximately one quarter of raw chicken pieces are contaminated with the microbiological pathogen.
The bill would improve the recall process for meat and poultry products. Under this bill, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would have the authority to request a voluntary recall of contaminated meat, poultry and some egg products. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service would issue a mandatory recall for companies that do not comply with the initial recall request.
Another facet of the bill would involve retailers encouraging the use of membership cards to monitor consumer purchases and inform customers if they have purchased a recalled meat product. Also on the retail level, the bill calls for a single-page recall summary notice to be posted at retail cash registers, or on shelves to keep consumers informed.
Gillibrand’s proposal of the Meat and Poultry Recall Notification Act first made headlines in February. She is also a co-sponsor of the recently proposed Safe Food Act of 2015--a bill that proposes all food labeling, inspections and related enforcement be managed by a single agency.
PBS Documentary Paints Grim Picture of Salmonella in Chicken; Expedites Food Safety Bill
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