080305 Congress Wants More Info on Beef Recall

Washington - Lawmakers pressured Agriculture Department officials to disclose which retailers sold meat that was recently recalled in the nation's largest beef recall.

Richard Raymond, the department's undersecretary for food safety, told a House panel that the information is proprietary and can't be disclosed. He said that 10,000 consignees -- from producers to retail establishments -- received the potentially tainted meat, but he couldn't reveal which ones.

Democratic lawmakers said that was unacceptable.

The Agriculture Department proposed a rule change two years ago that would allow disclosure of retailers that receive recalled beef, but the rule still hasn't been finalized. Democratic lawmakers contended that the rule was being delayed by the Bush administration.

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