Oregon scare leads to new food safety law


After Jacob Hurley of Wilsonville fell severely ill from eating tainted peanut butter crackers, he helped lobby congress to pass the Food Safety Modernization Act.

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After Jacob Hurley of Wilsonville fell severely ill from eating tainted peanut butter crackers, his family helped lobby congress to pass the Food Safety Modernization Act.

Hurley was just 3 years old when he traveled to Washington, D.C. with his dad four times.

“He had a substantial impact,” said Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., who played a key role in  the bill. “He put a face on the need to restructure our food safety system.”

The act, which was stalled for months as the Senate wrangled over health and financial reform, passed 73-25.

Jacob’s father, Peter Hurley, was pleased to hear the news that his family has anticipated for months.

“It’s my belief and hope that we’ll see a much more modernized food safety system in the U.S.,” said Hurley, a Portland policeman. “We’ll see a lot fewer people becoming ill and even dying due to food-borne illness.”

Read more at OregonLive.com.

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