Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 3/17/10

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday proposed the Consumer Recall Notification Act, which would require notices posted on shelves at food retailers where recalled foods are sold; require that recall notices are sent directly to grocery store members and "loyalty card" users; and ensure that Class I recall information is distributed to health workers.

"In America, in 2010, it is unconscionable that we don't have an effective way to communicate foodborne illness outbreaks to consumers and health departments," said Gillibrand in a statement. "It's spreading too many diseases and costing too many lives."

Under the proposed legislation, facilities that have distributed foods subject to a Class I recall would be required to notify stores and restaurants within 24 hours of the public announcement of the recall. Facilities that do not notify stores and restaurants would be subject to a $1,000 penalty per missed notification.

The stores that received products must then post a notice on the shelf unit or freezer case where the contaminated product was sold so that consumers are aware that they might have previously purchased a recalled product.

The bill also proposes stores that track purchases through customer loyalty cards or membership cards must use that information to notify customers when they have purchased a recalled product. Stores that do not notify customers of Class I recalls would be subject to a $100 penalty per customer.

Finally, the bill would instruct FDA to distribute advisories when there is a Class I recall to states, local health departments and frontline health professionals, such as emergency departments and pediatricians.

A spokeswoman for Gillibrand confirmed to Meatingplace the legislation would apply to USDA-regulated meat and poultry as well as FDA-regulated foods.

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