Jared Huffman: “Thank you, Mr. Thompson. The Federal Government has a responsibility to ensure our food safety and to make sure that the…”

“Thank you, Mr. Thompson. The Federal Government has a responsibility to ensure our food safety and to make sure that the meat we barbecue this summer doesn't come with harmful diseases. It is the responsibility of the inspectors and the oversight agencies to stop unsafe practices from occurring in the first place and to proactively address problems before they require massive recalls. Unfortunately, it doesn't always happen that way. The facility in my district that is now experiencing a sweeping recall of 8.7 million pounds of meat does not represent a simple breakdown in the inspection process. The Office of the Inspector General has launched a criminal investigation into improper activities that include deceptive practices by the owners of the slaughterhouse. We know, from a CNN investigation, that misconduct may even include some of the very USDA inspectors that were charged with protecting the public. This incident clearly demands a serious investigation. The public has a right to know what happened, how the process broke down, and who will be held responsible for it. Unfortunately, to date, we have received virtually no information about this from USDA. This sweeping recall, coupled with a complete lack of information, not only shakes public confidence, it affects, in a very serious way, many of the ranchers in my district whose livelihoods have been harmed. They deserve answers from the USDA, too.…”