--- title: Food Safety Attorney Bill Marler calls on Congress to investigate both the cause of the Deadly Boar’s Head Listeria outbreak and why USDA/FSIS inspectors allowed the conditions to exist for years date: 2024-08-30T16:30:00-07:00 author: Julie Dueck canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/food-safety-attorney-bill-marler-calls-on-congress-to-investigate-both-the-cause-of-the-deadly-boars-head-listeria-outbreak-and-why-usda-fsis-inspectors-allowed-the-conditions-to-exist-for-years" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Press Releases](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/press-releases) / # Food Safety Attorney Bill Marler calls on Congress to investigate both the cause of the Deadly Boar’s Head Listeria outbreak and why USDA/FSIS inspectors allowed the conditions to exist for years “The years of inspection reports ([**here**](https://www.marlerblog.com/files/2024/08/2024-08-27.pdf)) leave little doubt that the Boar’s Head plant’s food safety plan must have been nonexistent,“ said food safety attorney Bill Marler. “It is hard to wrap my head around how food could be produced in these conditions by this company and under the gaze of FSIS inspectors." It is time for the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate committees to use their authority to get to the bottom of the Boar’s Head Listeria outbreak that has sickened at least 57, killing nine to date. The Federal Meat Inspection Act of 1906 is an American law that makes it illegal to adulterate or misbrand meat and meat products being sold as food and ensures that meat and meat products are slaughtered and processed under strictly regulated sanitary conditions. These House and Senate committees play crucial roles in shaping food safety regulations, appropriating funds for related programs, and overseeing the implementation of food safety measures within the USDA. In the U.S. Congress, several committees oversee food safety and inspection services under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The primary committees involved are listed below. **The U.S. House of Representatives:** 1\. Committee on Agriculture: This committee has primary responsibility for legislation related to farming, nutrition, and agriculture in general. It oversees issues related to food safety, including the inspection of meat, poultry, and processed egg products. 2\. Committee on Appropriations: Specifically, the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies oversees funding for the USDA’s food safety programs. 3\. Committee on Energy and Commerce: This committee, particularly its subcommittee on health, has jurisdiction over food safety as it relates to public health and FDA-related matters. **U.S. Senate:** 1\. Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Like its House counterpart, this Senate committee oversees agricultural policies, including food safety and the USDA’s inspection services. 2\. Committee on Appropriations: Specifically, the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies also has oversight of the USDA’s budget and funding related to food safety. 3\. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP): This committee addresses health issues, including food safety regulations and policies. [](http://www.billmarler.com/) [Bill Marler ](http://www.billmarler.com/)has been a food safety lawyer and advocate since the 1993 Jack-in-the-Box *E. coli* O157:H7 outbreak which was chronicled in the book [“Poisoned: The True Story of the Deadly E. Coli Outbreak That Changed the Way Americans Eat”](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4225647-1&h=1020790832&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D4034776-2%26h%3D1725078326%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.amazon.com%252FPoisoned-Deadly-Outbreak-Changed-Americans%252Fdp%252F098495435X%26a%3D%2522Poisoned%2522&a=%22Poisoned%22) and in the recent Emmy Award-winning [Netflix documentary, "Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food."](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4225647-1&h=2811251747&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D4034776-2%26h%3D3559152489%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.netflix.com%252Ftitle%252F81460481%2523%253A%257E%253Atext%253D2023%252520%25257C%252520Maturity%252520Rating%25253ATV%25252D%252Cfoodborne%252520illness%252520in%252520the%252520US.%26a%3DNetflix%2Bdocumentary&a=Netflix+documentary) Bill’s work has been profiled in The New Yorker, [“A Bug in the System;”](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4225647-1&h=3494984181&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D4034776-2%26h%3D225575945%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.newyorker.com%252Fmagazine%252F2015%252F02%252F02%252Fbug-system%26a%3D%2522A%2BBug%2Bin%2Bthe%2BSystem%253B%2522&a=%22A+Bug+in+the+System%3B%22) The Seattle Times, [“30 years after the deadly *E. coli* outbreak, a Seattle attorney still fights for food safety;”](https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/30-years-after-the-deadly-e-coli-outbreak-a-seattle-attorney-still-fights-for-food-safety/) The Washington Post, [“He helped make burgers safer. Now he is fighting food poisoning again;”](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4225647-1&h=4007553127&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D4034776-2%26h%3D3259035492%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.washingtonpost.com%252Fnational%252Fhe-helped-make-burgers-safer-now-hes-fighting-food-poisoning-again%252F2020%252F01%252F18%252F5b979cf8-38ad-11ea-9541-9107303481a4_story.html%26a%3D%2522He%2Bhelped%2Bmake%2Bburgers%2Bsafer%252C%2BNow%2Bhe%2Bis%2Bfighting%2Bfood%2Bpoisoning%2Bagain%253B%2522&a=%22He+helped+make+burgers+safer%2C+Now+he+is+fighting+food+poisoning+again%3B%22) and [several others](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4225647-1&h=3545986551&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D4034776-2%26h%3D2749355817%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fbillmarler.com%252Fbiography%26a%3Dseveral%2Bothers&a=several+others). Bill regularly speaks about the importance of preventing foodborne illness to industry and government throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, China, and Australia. He is a frequent commentator on food litigation and food safety to [Marler Blog](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4225647-1&h=1230212809&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marlerblog.com%2F&a=Marler+Blog). Bill is also the publisher of [Food Safety News](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4225647-1&h=4125170773&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D2447639-1%26h%3D3589830031%26u%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.foodsafetynews.com%252F%26a%3DFood%2BSafety%2BNews&a=Food+Safety+News). For all media inquiries, please contact Julie Dueck at (206) 930-4220 or jdueck@marlerclark.com. ### Other Listeria Lawsuits [Clover Hill Dairy Cheese sickens 12 with Listeria - 1 Death](https://marlerclark.com/clover-hill-dairy-cheese-sickens-8-with-listeria) [70 Sickened by Salmonella Cantaloupe](https://marlerclark.com/70-sickened-by-salmonella-cantaloupe) [Headcheese linked to Listeria illnesses in Illinois](https://marlerclark.com/headcheese-linked-to-listeria-illnesses-in-illinois) [Kroger and Walmart Pasta Listeria Outbreak](https://marlerclark.com/kroger-and-walmart-pasta-listeria-outbreak) [Listeria Outbreak linked to Kroger and Walmart Chicken Fettuccine](https://marlerclark.com/listeria-outbreak-linked-to-kroger-and-walmart-chicken-fettuccine) [Fresh & Ready Foods linked to California and Nevada Listeria Outbreak](https://marlerclark.com/fresh-ready-foods-linked-to-california-and-nevida-listeria-outbreak) [14 Listeria Deaths tied to Lyons ReadyCare or Sysco Shakes](https://marlerclark.com/11-listeria-deaths-tied-to-lyons-readycare-or-sysco) [Boar's Head Deli Meat Sickens 61 in 19 States with Deadly Listeria - 10 deaths](https://marlerclark.com/deli-meat-hits-28-in-12-states-with-deadly-listeria) [Rizo-López Foods recalls cheese after deadly Listeria Outbreak](https://marlerclark.com/rizo-l%C3%B3pez-foods-recalls-cheese-after-deadly-listeria-outbreak) [Listeria Outbreak linked to Peaches - 11 Sick with 1 Death](https://marlerclark.com/listeria-outbreak-linked-to-peaches-11-sick) [Listeria Outbreak linked to Frugals | Marler Clark by retained three victims](https://marlerclark.com/listeria-outbreak-announced-in-washington) [Six States Report 16 Victims of Listeria Linked to Deli Meat and Cheeses](https://marlerclark.com/six-states-report-victims-of-listeria-outbreak-linked-to-deli-meat-and-cheeses) ### Lawsuit updates about foodborne illnesses [Reactive Arthritis Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=reactive-arthritis&year=all) 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The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more. [ Get a free consultation ](https://marlerclark.com/contact) ##### Related Resources ###### [Listeria Food Poisoning](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/about-listeria) What is Listeria and how does it cause food poisoning? Listeria is a gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium that is ubiquitous and can grow under either anaerobic (without oxygen) or aerobic (with... ###### [The Incidence of Listeria Infections](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/the-incidence-of-listeria-infections) How common are Listeria infections? Listeria bacteria are found widely in the environment in soil, including in decaying vegetation and water, and may be part of the fecal flora of... ###### [The Prevalence of Listeria in Food and the Environment](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/listeria-prevalence) Listeria bacteria are common in nature. Listeria monocytogenes is omnipresent in nature; it is found widely in such places as water, soil, infected animals, human and animal feces, raw and... ###### [Transmission of and Infection with Listeria](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/transmission-of-and-infection-with-listeria) Listeria typically spreads to people through contaminated food or water, but can also be transmitted from mother to fetus. 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