Political Quotes

“today I am joining Senator Harkin in introducing legislation that will clarify the United States Department of Agriculture's, USDA, authority to enforce pathogen reduction standards in meat and poultry products. I am pleased to join in this very important effort. Make no mistake, our country has been blessed with one of the safest and most abundant food supplies in the world. However, we can do better. While food may never be completely free of risk, we must strive to make our food as safe as possible. Foodborne illnesses and hazards are still a significant problem that cannot be passively dismissed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, estimate that as many as 76 million people suffer from foodborne illnesses each year. Of those individuals, approximately 325,000 will be hospitalized, and more than 5,000 will die. Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable. In terms of medical costs and productivity losses, foodborne illnesses cost the nation billions of dollars annually, and the situation is not likely to improve without decisive action. In fact, the Department of Health and Human Services predicts that foodborne illnesses and deaths will increase 10-15 percent over the next decade.”