In a press release Wednesday U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, issued a statement about a meat recall.

 

The statement is posted here unedited:

 

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today on the news another 98,720 pounds ground beef from the Central Valley Meat Company has been recalled. This comes on top of the 58,000 pounds from the same company recalled last month. Both times the meat was destined for meals distributed in school lunchrooms under the National School Lunch Program.Last year the same company had their operations suspended by the Agriculture Department for humane handling violations.

“The initial recall was bad enough, but seeing it expand to this extent is beyond comprehension. And we are in the midst of a Republican Shutdown in which most of those responsible for setting policy at the Agriculture Department have been furloughed. This makes it impossible to work with the Department on what policies could potentially address this threat to public health. The Republicans need to end this shutdown and get back to work on the many challenges facing the nation."

As a result of the Republican Government Shutdown, the Meat and Poultry Hotline where Americans can report problems with their food has been closed. So in addition to hampering USDA’s ability to craft policies that will help us avoid recalls in the future, consumers’ ability to report problems now is dangerously limited.

DeLauro is a senior Democrat on, and former Chairwoman of, the subcommittee responsible for funding the Department of Agriculture.

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