TruthaboutPetFood.com

Dear Mrs. Anderson:

Thank you for contacting me to express your views on H.R. 2108, the "Human and Pet Food Safety Act of 2007."  I appreciate hearing from you on this issue.

H.R. 2108 was introduced by Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) on May 2, 2007.  This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to require mandatory recalls of tainted food or food products should the manufacturer not voluntarily engage in a recall. 

The current, well-publicized pet food recall was initiated on March 16, 2007, by a number of pet food companies once they had determined that certain pet foods contained the toxic ingredient melamine.  Once the recall commenced, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began investigating the incident and determined that the melamine-contaminated wheat gluten used in the pet foods came from China.  Currently, the FDA is requiring that 100 percent of all shipments of wheat gluten from China be tested prior to being used in the U.S.  Additionally, the FDA has dedicated each of its twenty district offices to investigating this incident, and is working with agriculture and health officials in all 50 states to inform them of the status of the situation and all further investigative efforts.  I believe that the FDA has taken prompt action on this issue and should be commended for its ability to work with private pet food companies to keep the public safe. 

Since the process of voluntary product recalls and close cooperation between federal, state, and private entities is working very well in this instance, I see no need for H.R. 2108.  Additionally, should another instance such as this occur in the future, I would expect that the FDA and the companies involved would respond similarly. 

Companies that engage in voluntary recalls are viewed favorably by the public for investigating potential problems and quickly dealing with the situation.  Conversely, a company which hides the need for a product recall will most certainly be punished by the public in the most effective way possible - with the public's refusal to purchase the company's product.  In this way, the safety of both people and animals can be safeguarded more effectively than arbitrary, mandatory government recalls.  As such, should H.R. 2108 come to the House floor for a vote, I would be inclined to oppose it.

Thank you again for contacting me.  If I may be of any further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call on me.