E. coli in Boehner’s district draws Dem calls for tougher food-safety measures

A leading Democrat is blasting Republicans for scaling back food-safety precautions after four children living in the district of House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) were sickened by contaminated beef.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said the episode “should serve as a wake-up call” for Boehner and other GOP leaders that Congress must take greater steps to prevent foodborne illness. DeLauro is ranking member of the House Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies.

“The safety of American consumers should be a priority, and I urge my Republican colleagues to recognize the seriousness of the issue and ensure that the [Agriculture Department] and FDA have the support they need to protect our food supply,” DeLauro said Wednesday in a news release.

“It is literally a matter of life and death.”

On Monday, the Ohio Department of Health reported that four Butler County children were stricken earlier this month with E. coli traced back to ground beef products produced by Kansas-based Tyson Fresh Meats Inc., according to the USDA.

Butler County lies in Boehner’s district.

In response, Tyson is recalling more than 131,000 pounds of beef products, the USDA announced.

As part of their 2012 Agriculture appropriations bill, House Republicans voted in June to slash millions of dollars from food-safety programs, including $46 million from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and $209 million from the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

The cuts would have prevented the agency from enforcing tougher food-safety laws installed by Democrats in December, including measures to ensure the safety of meat products.

The bill passed the House 217-203, with all Democrats and 19 Republicans voting against it.

DeLauro said the issue draws a clear line of distinction between the parties’ priorities. 

“Republicans have chosen to put Americans at risk by recklessly slashing funding critical to our food safety system while preserving billions of dollars in oil subsidies and tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas,” she charged.

“This latest recall should serve as a wake-up call for Speaker Boehner, and all Republicans, that food safety is an issue that affects all Americans, and we must take action.”

Boehner’s office did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment.

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