Supreme Beef Decision
                                           Release No. 0178.00.
Statement
                               by
          
             Secretary of Agriculture  Dan Glickman
                    on Supreme Beef Decision
                                
                          May 25, 2000


     "Today's decision threatens to turn back the clock on the significant
progress this Administration and many in industry have made to improve food
safety for all Americans.  

     "The Salmonella performance standard is a clear success.  It has helped
bring about reductions of up to 50 percent in Salmonella on raw meat and
poultry, reducing illnesses caused by this and other potentially dangerous
pathogens.  And virtually all plants have met the standards.  However, some in
the meat industry are using this case to avoid their obligation to produce
safe product.  

     "We will take whatever legal steps are necessary to overturn this wrong
decision.  We also fully intend to explore any additional regulatory measures
needed to continue our aggressive efforts to protect the safety of the
American food supply."

                                
                                
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