USDA Launches Consumer-Friendly Food Safety Web Site
Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Steven Cohen
WASHINGTON, April 20, 2004 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today launched its newly designed, customer-focused Web site to help make finding information about food safety easier and faster.
"It is our goal to be more efficient and responsive to the needs of our customers," said USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elsa Murano. "This new Web site certainly moves us in the right direction by providing continuous, uninterrupted global capabilities around the clock."
In January, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced an aggressive program to enhance USDA's electronic government capabilities as part of President Bush's Management agenda. The initiative began with a new design of the USDA home page as a first step to upgrade USDA's web presence and to be more responsive to its customers. The redesigned FSIS web site will help improve the USDA customer's access to vital information about food safety.
The revamped web site provides the latest information about food safety with an innovative twist. Consumers can speak with "Karen," the FSIS virtual hotline representative. "Karen" can answer questions about safely storing, preparing and handling meat, poultry and egg products. "Karen" instantly can respond to questions originating from anywhere in the world. Consumers still can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline, 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) with questions.
"As a public health agency, it is our goal to empower consumers with knowledge as we continue to drive down the incidence of food-borne illness in America," said FSIS Acting Administrator Dr. Barbara Masters. "This web site will give consumers immediate access to the information that will help them protect themselves and their families."
In just one click, consumers, scientists, businesses, consumer groups and USDA employees can find the information they need. Finding the latest updates such as FSIS recall releases, policies and regulations will be simple. The FSIS Web site remains http://www.fsis.usda.gov.
