– OPINION –
The years of inspection reports (Here you will find the inspection reports in PDF.) leaves little doubt that the Boar’s Head factory’s food safety plan must have been non-existent. It is difficult to imagine how food can be produced under these conditions by this company and under the gaze of inspectors from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
It’s time for the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate committees to use their authority to get to the bottom of the Boar’s Head Listeria outbreak, which has sickened at least 57 people and killed nine so far to search.
The Federal Meat Inspection Act of 1906 is a United States law that makes it illegal to adulterate or misbrand meat and meat products sold as food, and ensures that meat and meat products are slaughtered and processed under strictly regulated hygienic conditions.
These House and Senate committees play a critical role in shaping food safety regulations, allocating funds for related programs, and overseeing the implementation of food safety measures within the USDA.
In the United States Congress, several committees oversee food safety and inspection services under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The main committees involved are:
US House of Representatives:
1. Committee on Agriculture: This committee has primary responsibility for legislation relating to agriculture, food and agriculture in general. It oversees issues related to food safety, including the inspection of meat, poultry and processed egg products.
2. Committee on Appropriations: Specifically, the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies oversees the funding of the USDA’s food safety programs.
3. Committee on Energy and Commerce: This committee, and specifically the Subcommittee on Health, has jurisdiction over food safety as it relates to public health and FDA-related matters.
US Senate:
1. Committee on Agriculture, Food and Forestry: Like its counterpart in the House of Representatives, this Senate committee oversees agricultural policy, including food safety and the USDA’s inspection services.
2. Committee on Appropriations: Specifically, the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies also oversees the USDA budget and funding related to food safety.
3. Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP): This committee addresses health issues, including food safety regulations and policies.
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