Developments in Hudson Foods E. coli Outbreak

                                              Release No. 0284.97


Remarks
                               of
                     Secretary Dan Glickman
         Developments in Hudson Foods E. Coli Outbreak
              USDA Headquarters -- August 20, 1997

     Thank you all for coming here on such short notice. I have some
developments in the Hudson Foods investigation that I would like to share
with you. But first I'd like to make one thing clear that most of you who've
followed us for a while already know: At the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
there is nothing we take more seriously than the safety of America's food.

     Since the beginning of the Hudson outbreak, public safety has been our
#1 concern. We immediately asked for a recall. We had a SWAT team from our
Food Safety and Inspection Service and our Office of the Inspector General
on the ground quickly at both the Nebraska plant and Hudson's headquarters
in Arkansas.

     They're still there, pouring over records and interviewing people,
looking into both the plant's food safety procedures and the degree to which
Hudson has been forthcoming in providing timely, accurate information to
USDA.

     While their investigation is ongoing, enough new information has come
to light that I am ready to take action. I'd like to point out that our
people worked through the night, so we could move quickly and responsibly.
This morning, I met with my Inspector General and our top food safety
people. We have a committee -- as many of you know -- made up of our FSIS
folks, as well as experts from the Centers for Disease Control.

     Today, we presented Hudson with a specific proposal which they have
accepted. As a result, Hudson will recall all product that originated at the
Columbus, Nebraska plant, destroy all product they have on hand at that
plant and immediately cease operations there until they've adopted far more
stringent safety standards that we have specifically laid out for them --
based on what we've found in our investigation.

     These are non-negotiable proposals. The plant will not reopen until
they are all met.

     I'm well aware that I do not have the authority to order these
recommendations. But I do have the authority to withdraw federal inspectors.
If necessary, I will do that to halt operations -- until I'm comfortable
telling the American people that this food is safe.

     This is a big step that we're taking today. We continue to monitor the
situation very closely, but all the evidence at this point indicates that we
have contained the outbreak.

     That is a remarkable achievement. Given the quantities of food, it
certainly could have been far worse. The 1993 E. coli outbreak in the
Pacific Northwest involved 700 cases of illness. We're talking about under
20 this time around. That's 20 too many, as far as I'm concerned, but it
does show that our stronger safeguards are working, and that we're doing a
better job of containing outbreaks, and separating good people from bad food
a lot more quickly than we've been able to in the past.

     I've got nothing but praise for the quick, top-flight work of our SWAT
team.

     I give 2 thumbs up to FoodNet -- our national food-borne illness
monitoring system -- which was modernized and upgraded as part of the White
House Food Safety Initiative. The new FoodNet can track outbreaks across the
country, and help us quickly trace what's causing them.

     I'd also like to say a few words about HACCP. We're right now in the
process of putting our new meat and poultry inspection system in place.
We're not fully there yet, but when we are -- it will be a significant
milestone for the public health.

     HACCP will take us from -- literally -- a poke-and-sniff inspection
system, to one in which we use state-of-the-art technology to -- for the
first time -- go after hidden contaminants -- like E. coli.
This is a revolution in food safety that will save lives and prevent
countless illnesses. We should not judge it based on an outbreak that occurs
before its fully in place.

     Will HACCP make a difference? Absolutely. Is it the last thing we'll
ever do on food safety? No way.

     I'll tell you right now that I agree wholeheartedly with the consumer
groups who feel that one of the biggest loopholes out there is the fact that
I do not have the authority to order a recall. I would doubt most Americans
are even aware of this. I think that most folks would be shocked to know
that industry -- and not federal food safety experts -- ultimately make the
decision as to whether or not food is recalled when the public's safety is
compromised.

     When Congress comes back from recess, I will have ready for them
legislation that gives me the authority to order recalls and impose civil
fines. This Administration asked for it in 1994, and again in 1996. I'm
hopeful that the third time's the charm. I think the public's much more
focused on the problem, and there's really no question that the American
people want government doing everything it can to ensure the food they put
on their table is safe.

     Today, America has the safest food in the world. These actions --
while tough -- are designed to keep it that way.

     I'd be glad to take your questions.

                                #

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