Most importantly, we have fundamentally improved our meat and poultry inspection system by focusing on prevention and by incorporating scientific testing directly targeted at bacteria like E. coli and salmonella. We need new enforcement tools to ensure that this new system is as effective as possible. The legislation will provide to USDA the authority to fine companies that violate food safety laws. It will require prompt government notification when contaminated meat or poultry may have entered the market, and it allows for mandatory recalls when voluntary means fail to remove all potentially unsafe product from the market. It is time to treat food safety as seriously as we do any other threat to people's safety.
Food safety is just as important.
Once again, I thank these Senators and their colleagues for bringing this legislation forward, and I look forward to working with them on what we hope will be a successful attempt to turn this bill into law.