Ag Secretary Vilsack wants mandatory recalls on contaminated foods

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently called for mandatory recalls on any contaminated foods.

This is the latest effort on the part of food safety regulators who are looking to take a firmer control of the public food supply from corporations which run screens around current laws.

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration can not mandate a recall on suspected tainted food.

Vilsack made his remarks during a speech at University of Minnesota.

The secretary told Minnesota Public Radio he will ask Congress to pass laws soon that would allow the FDA to issue mandatory recalls on tainted food.

Food poisoning sickens more than 75 million people each year, and that 5,000 people die from food-borne illnesses.