Consumer Groups Blame Bush for Meat Recalls
Mon Oct 14, 4:34 PM ET
story.news.yahoo.com By Randy Fabi
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer groups blamed a "business-friendly"
Bush administration for lax food safety policies on Monday, in the wake of the
largest U.S. meat recall ever that prompted a 34 percent drop in shares of
Pilgrim's Pride Corp .
Pilgrim's Pride, the second largest U.S. poultry
producer, on Sunday recalled 27.4 million pounds of
fresh and frozen ready-to-eat turkey and chicken
products under its Wampler brand, after pulling
295,000 pounds of turkey and chicken products from
the market last week due to listeria concerns.
The recall surpasses the previous record of 25 million
pounds of ground beef set by Hudson Foods in 1997.
The company said the recall occurred after
environmental tests at its Franconia, Pennsylvania, plant found a strain of
listeria similar to the one identified in an outbreak in the U.S. Northeast that has
caused at least 23 deaths and 120 illnesses.
The company halted production at its Pennsylvania plant and recalled meat
products it made between May 1 and Oct. 11.
U.S. consumer advocates blamed the Bush administration for the massive
recalls, saying hundreds have fallen ill because Washington eased food safety
standards.
The No. 2 U.S. poultry producer joins ConAgra Foods Inc., Smithfield Foods
Inc. and privately held Cargill in withdrawing massive amounts of meat in recent
months because of fears they may be tainted with harmful bacteria.
The Pittsburgh, Texas-based company's stock tumbled $2.36, or 34 percent, to
$4.65 in mid-afternoon trading at the New York Stock Exchange (news - web
sites). They ended the day's trading at $5.28.
Pilgrim's Pride said on Monday, however, that it did not expect the recall to
have a material adverse effect on its financial condition.
CONSUMER GROUPS BLAME BUSH ADMINISTRATION
Consumer groups blamed the Bush administration for not putting stricter
food-testing regulations in place.
"There are proposed listeria regulations dating back to the Clinton
administration that may have prevented this, but the Bush administration is
sitting on it," said Karen Mitchell, executive director of Safe Tables Our Priority.
Last year, the USDA proposed rules, written by the Clinton administration, to
require makers of ready-to-eat meats to test for listeria in their plants. The
comment period ended in May 2001, but the Bush administration has yet to act
on it.
"There is no excuse for the Bush administration to hold back needed
improvements in food safety," said Caroline Smith DeWaal of the Center for
Science in the Public Interest.
The USDA routinely tests products at meat plants for listeria, but separate
industry testing is voluntary.
LISTERIA OUTBREAK
The Pilgrim's Pride recall was discovered by USDA while investigating a listeria
outbreak that has caused at least 23 deaths, three miscarriages and 120
illnesses in the U.S. Northeast. The company and USDA have said no illnesses
could be linked to the recalled poultry.
The USDA and the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention have been
unable to pinpoint the source of the Northeast listeria outbreak in Pennsylvania,
New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Connecticut, Michigan and
Massachusetts.
The CDC has suspected turkey deli meat as one likely source. Despite more
than 400 tests on lunch meats and deli products, USDA has not been able to
find the cause.
Eating food contaminated with listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis,
leading to miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as potentially deadly infections in
those with weak immune systems.
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live cattle futures prices were mixed due
to concerns the huge recall may hurt consumer demand for meat. Live cattle
contracts for October delivery closed on Monday off 0.325 at 68.150 cents per
pound.
It has voluntarily closed its meat processing plant about 25 miles north of
Philadelphia, but hopes to reopen it on Tuesday. USDA said its inspectors
must recertify the plant met federal food safety standards before it can return to
operation.
About 2,500 cases of listeriosis occur each year in the United States. Listeria
can be destroyed by cooking meat to a temperature of at least 160 degrees
Fahrenheit (71 C).
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