Press Releases
Committee Investigates Government Response to Melamine Tainted Animal Feed
Washington, DC,
May 9, 2007
The Committee heard testimony from representatives of both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Both departments are involved in an in-depth, on-going investigation to determine the facts and circumstances involved in the importation of contaminated products. The witnesses also detailed the government's multi-agency risk assessment that determined there was minimal risk to human health from products from animals that ate the tainted feed. "These imported Chinese products may have been intentionally adulterated with melamine. This raises serious concerns about the ability of our import inspection system to monitor the quality and safety of imports that enter our food supply," Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson said. "The next time tainted food or feed products slip through the very large cracks in our import inspection system, we may be forced to confront an even more serious situation in terms of animal or human health." "I look forward to learning the conclusions of the FDA and USDA's investigation once the entire process is complete. In the meantime, I applaud the FDA's recent decision to detain all vegetable protein products imported from Witness testimony is available on the Committee website. A full transcript of the hearing will be posted on the Committee website in 4-6 weeks. Witness List Dr. Kenneth E. Petersen, Food Safety Inspection Dr. David Acheson, M.D., F.R.C.P., Assistant Commissioner for Food Protection, http://republicans-agriculture.house.gov ### |