WASHINGTON – David Mackay, president and chief executive officer of the Kellogg Co., Battle Creek, Mich., was to call for an overhaul of the U.S. food safety system, including the establishment of a single food safety authority within the Department of Health and Human Services, when appearing before today’s House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation into the Salmonella outbreak. The action comes in the wake of the Peanut Corporation of America food borne illness outbreak, which led to the recall of Keebler and Austin brand peanut butter sandwich crackers.

According to a transcript of Mr. Mackay’s prepared remarks, he was to note the recent outbreak has illustrated that the U.S. food safety system must be strengthened.

"We believe the key is to focus on prevention, so that potential sources of contamination are identified and properly addressed before they become actual food safety problems," he was to tell the committee.

As part of that strengthening effort, Mr. Mackay was to call for the creation of a single food safety authority within the Department of Health and Human Services, the requirement that every food company be required to develop a risk and hazard analysis and critical control point-type plan that is subject to Food and Drug Administration review, annual inspections by the F.D.A. of facilities that process high-risk products, the development of a single food standard for evaluating facilities, and that the proper mix of intervention and enforcement powers be granted to the F.D.A.

"Kellogg is firmly committed to working together with Congress, industry and other stakeholders to evaluate and advance these recommendations," according to Mr. Mackay’s prepared remarks.