Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 9/12/11

A U.S. Senator who last year vowed to put food safety at the top of her legislative agenda has introduced a bill that expands the definition of “adulterated” meat, poultry and egg products as part of a modernization of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The proposal from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) aims to improve federal oversight of food safety by setting a new focus on emerging pathogens, strengthening federal laws to protect public health and making food establishments responsible for maintaining new safety standards under the revamped Federal Meat Inspection Act. Gillibrand’s legislation, known as S.1529, calls for better oversight and protection from foodborne pathogens like E. coli and antibiotic-resistant salmonella, which would fall under the “adulterated” category for FSIS officials if the bill becomes law.

The junior senator from New York has a track record for criticizing what she has called antiquated food safety laws that haven’t been changed for a century. The current bill has been passed along to the Senate Agriculture Committee for further consideration. At press time, the text of the bill had not been filed with the Library of Congress, but should be available later this week.

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