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Response from Senator Mitch McConnell
- 12-1-2008
- Categorized in: Pets
November 20,2008
Mrs. Susan McFadden
XXXXXX
XXXXXX
Dear Mrs. McFadden,
Thank you for contacting me regarding your concern over pet food safety. I appreciate your taking the time to share your views with me.
As you are aware, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates and inspects pet food ingredients and processing facilities, was notified in March 2007 that certain pet foods were contaminated and sickening cats and dogs. Accordingly, manufacturers began recalling affected products, and soon after, the FDA discovered that a tainted batch of wheat gluten from China was used as an ingredient in the recalled products. In response, the FDA restricted imports of wheat gluten from the suspected manufacturer and increased the inspections for all Chines wheat gluten shipments.
The pet food contamination has raised concerns about the adequacy of the U.S. food safety system, and Congress is taking additional steps to ensure U.S. food supplies are safe. During consideration of the FDA Revitalization Act (S. 1082), I supported an amendment that would establish an early warning system for human and pet food contamination, improve inspections and monitoring of imports, and provide uniform pet food safety standards. It may interest you to know that Congress passed a compromise version of S. 1082, which contained these provisions. I was pleased when President Bush signed this legislation into law in September 2007.
Furthermore, the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Public Law 110-161) was signed into law in December 2007. Within this measure, $28 million is provided for a comprehensive overhaul of FDA's food safety operations and over $18 million is made available to hire additional domestic and import inspectors.
As the Senate considers additional legislation aimed at protecting the nation's pet food supply, please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind. Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I hope you will continue to keep me informed of your comments and concerns.
Sincerely,
Mitch McConnell
United States Senator
MM/ek
Mrs. Susan McFadden
XXXXXX
XXXXXX
Dear Mrs. McFadden,
Thank you for contacting me regarding your concern over pet food safety. I appreciate your taking the time to share your views with me.
As you are aware, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates and inspects pet food ingredients and processing facilities, was notified in March 2007 that certain pet foods were contaminated and sickening cats and dogs. Accordingly, manufacturers began recalling affected products, and soon after, the FDA discovered that a tainted batch of wheat gluten from China was used as an ingredient in the recalled products. In response, the FDA restricted imports of wheat gluten from the suspected manufacturer and increased the inspections for all Chines wheat gluten shipments.
The pet food contamination has raised concerns about the adequacy of the U.S. food safety system, and Congress is taking additional steps to ensure U.S. food supplies are safe. During consideration of the FDA Revitalization Act (S. 1082), I supported an amendment that would establish an early warning system for human and pet food contamination, improve inspections and monitoring of imports, and provide uniform pet food safety standards. It may interest you to know that Congress passed a compromise version of S. 1082, which contained these provisions. I was pleased when President Bush signed this legislation into law in September 2007.
Furthermore, the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Public Law 110-161) was signed into law in December 2007. Within this measure, $28 million is provided for a comprehensive overhaul of FDA's food safety operations and over $18 million is made available to hire additional domestic and import inspectors.
As the Senate considers additional legislation aimed at protecting the nation's pet food supply, please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind. Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I hope you will continue to keep me informed of your comments and concerns.
Sincerely,
Mitch McConnell
United States Senator
MM/ek
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