Congressman Jack Kingston - First District of Georgia

Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA), Chairman of the House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement in support the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) proposed modernization of poultry program:

“By focusing on the areas that pose the greatest threat, this shift will help increase food safety by ensuring resources are devoted to where they will be most effective.   That it will save taxpayer dollars at the same time is a welcome byproduct.

“I applaud Secretary Vilsack and Under Secretary Hagen for their efforts.  Employing science-based techniques to find efficiencies while increasing food safety is something that should be applied throughout our inspection processes.  In the coming appropriations cycle, I look forward to working with them and our committee to build on this important step.”

According to the USDA, the change could save taxpayers as much as $90 million over three years and lower production costs for poultry producers by at least $256.6 million per year.  In accordance with existing law, FSIS will continue to conduct carcass-by-carcass inspection but will no longer perform activities unrelated to food safety, such as identifying visual defects.

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