Dingell, Stupak Praise Tyson Foods for Ceasing Sale of Meat Treated with Carbon Monoxide
Press Release
Dingell, Stupak Praise Tyson Foods for Ceasing Sale of Meat Treated with Carbon Monoxide
Reps. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Bart Stupak (D-MI), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, today commended Tyson Foods, Inc., the world's largest processor of beef, chicken and pork, for its decision to discontinue selling hamburger and muscle meats packed in carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide artificially colors the product and disguises spoilage.
"Americans place a great deal of trust in the hands of grocers and retailers to sell them meat that is safe and healthy," said Dingell. "The supply of meat at the grocer's will indeed be safer and consumers will clearly benefit from the action this company is taking. Tyson's is to be congratulated on this voluntary decision."
"Unfortunately, neither the FDA nor the USDA regulators have demonstrated the same concern for consumers and the public health that Safeway and Tyson's demonstrated by withdrawing deceptively packaged meat," said Stupak. "Firms like Hormel and Cargill that believe it is acceptable to endanger consumers if it helps the companies' bottom lines will soon learn that this Congress will not tolerate their deceptive practices. I intend to continue to pressure the FDA to repeal this dangerous and deceptive practice. The European Union bans this deceptive practice of adding carbon monoxide to meat, and I do not understand the FDA's reluctance to protect America's food supply."
Tyson Foods, Inc. announced its new policy on Friday in a letter to Dingell and Stupak. The company was responding to a June 26 letter from the Committee leaders. Tyson Foods' notification comes on the heels of a July 16, 2007, announcement by Safeway Stores that it would discontinue the sale of meat packed in an air tight atmosphere containing carbon monoxide. Hormel Foods and Cargill Foods have also received letters from the Committee, but have so far refused to discontinue this practice.
Read the August 9, 2007 letter from Tyson Foods, Inc.
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