Environmental Toxins: Congress Looks at Food Safety Cases

The families of those who were sickened by tainted spinach and peanut butter are asking that lawmakers strengthen federal oversight of the nation's food supply. Michael Armstrong, whose daughters became sick after eating salad made with spinach tainted with E. coli, told lawmakers: "I can't protect them from spinach — only you guys can."

Congress Examines Food Safety Cases

Recent problems with food contamination have led to questions about whether the U.S. food supply is adequately protected against foodbourne toxins. A nationwide E. coli outbreak was traced to spinach last September, and more recently, peanut butter and pet food have been tainted. Representative Diana DeGette, D- Colorado, said that she doesn't see the outbreaks as being an exception. "It's become a systemic problem," she said, "and it calls for systemic solutions."