Senate will hold an oversight hearing on pet food recall

As officials announced an expanded pet food recall today, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said that the Senate will hold an oversight hearing on the investigation and regulatory mechanisms that govern the pet food industry.During a press conference today in Wicker Park, Durbin (D-Ill.) said the role of the Food and Drug Administration needs to be expanded to prevent future threats to humans and animals, and to penalize companies that delay reporting health issues."The FDA is like a fire department that is only called after the house is burned down," Durbin said. "We have to change that system."Durbin added that the FDA needs to establish a standardized set of regulations and inspection requirements to replace the patchwork of state inspection systems currently in place. Durbin also said a centralized Web site needs to be created to allow better communication between consumers, veterinarians and the federal government.

Read the rest of the story in the Chicago Tribune.