Washington - From free hot dogs to tours of manufacturing plants, the nation's food industry is keeping its products - and its views - before members of Congress as lawmakers consider new proposals to ensure food safety.
Several well-publicized instances of contaminated food, from ground beef tainted by E. coli bacteria to imported strawberries carrying the hepatitis virus, prompted a series of Clinton administration initiatives now before Congress.
President Clinton has proposed spending $101 million to improve food inspection, research and education. The House agreed to spend $16.8 million, the Senate $68 million.
Industry lobbyists are opposing more federal regulation.
"It undermines 98 years of food policy, which puts food companies in the role of being responsible for the safety and integrity of their products," said Kelly Johnston, a lobbyist for the National Food Processors Association and a former secretary of the Senate.
One target of the food industry is an administration proposal to give the Agriculture Department authority to order recalls of contaminated meat and poultry. Others include an Agriculture Department effort to make juice go through the same safety procedures as meat, poultry and seafood, and a campaign by consumer groups to require warning labels to egg cartons.
Lawmakers who oppose the mandatory recalls say they don't know of any instance when a company has refused to voluntarily recall tainted food.
Food safety advocates also are peppering Congress with e-mail and phone calls. And people sickened by tainted food have come to town to talk to lawmakers.
The food industry has other ways to get its views across. The food processors run a laboratory two blocks from the White House, and their scientists often visit the Capitol to give classroom-style briefings on food safety for lawmakers and their aides.
Congressional staffers also are invited to tour food plants, where they can see firsthand how the industry handles safety issues.
And there are goodwill events, such as the annual hot dog lunch held in a congressional courtyard. Sponsored by the American Meat Institute, the event combined hot dogs and baseball: Four ballplayers, including former Red Sox Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, signed autographs for Congress members and their staffers.
Lawmakers who stopped by for a hot dog and soda were greeted by the meat institute's chief lobbyist, Sara Lilygren.
"It's hard to get visibility," Lilygren said. "We have the ability to put on a social event that puts us on the map. This is a wonderful opportunity to touch base."
The schmoozing and camaraderie will pay off later, predicted Charles Lewis, director of the Center for Public Integrity, an independent good-government advocacy group.
"It costs this trade association money to put this thing on and people don't spend money for no reason," Lewis said. "They are buying access."
Meat Industry Insights News Service
P.O. Box 553
Northport, NY 11768
Phone: 631-757-4010
Fax: 631-757-4060
E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com
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