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Congressional Black Caucus chairman talks Biden campaign’s efforts to appeal to Black voters
The Biden campaign is looking to gain ground with Black voters — and has tapped Vice President Kamala Harris to get the message out about the administration’s efforts on economic growth, as Harris has taken a leading role on outreach on abortion access and reproductive rights in recent months.
Rep. Steven Horsford, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, joined the vice president as she spoke with Black business owners and entrepreneurs about their endeavors and the administration’s efforts Monday, an outreach effort that came as CBS News polling shows support for the administration has dipped about 11 points among Black voters, a key demographic, since 2020. He told CBS News 24/7 he’s not worried about weakening poll numbers.
“This is an important time for all of America, but particularly Black America when it comes to our economic opportunities,” said Horsford. “Polls may say one thing today, but I know the record of the Biden-Harris administration, I know the work that we’ve done as Democrats in Congress by putting people over politics, and I know that in the end of this the American people will elect decency over chaos.”
The Nevada Democrat also discussed Harris’ role in the reelection campaign, saying she is “someone who understands the challenges that all Americans but again, particularly Black Americans, face in this unique time.” Harris, both the first person of color and the first woman to hold the office, has in recent months stepped up her role, including appearances in Horsford’s home state, which is projected to be a heated battleground contest in November’s presidential election.
“I’m in my district constantly listening to voters and what they tell me is, look, I’m going to vote my interest, not the interest of the powerful or special interest. They want people who are elected who are going to make sure that they are laser focused on reducing costs, on making our community safer, on creating more opportunity. And that’s what Vice President Harris and this tour on economic opportunities is all about,” Horsford said.
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A food company known for popular grocery store condiments has recalled a package of tortilla strips that may be contaminated with wheat, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday. The product is meant to be gluten-free.
Sugar Foods, a manufacturing and distribution corporation focused mainly on various toppings, artificial sweeteners and snacks, issued the recall for the “Santa Fe Style” version of tortilla strips sold by the brand Fresh Gourmet.
“People who have a wheat allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the product,” said Sugar Foods in an announcement posted by the FDA.
Packages of these tortilla strips with an expiration date as late as June 20, 2025, could contain undeclared wheat, meaning the allergen is not listed as an ingredient on the label. The Fresh Gourmet product is marketed as gluten-free.
Sugar Foods said a customer informed the company on Nov. 19 that packages of the tortilla strips actually contained crispy onions, another Fresh Gourmet product normally sold in a similar container. The brand’s crispy onion product does contain wheat, and that allergen is noted on the label.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
No illnesses tied to the packaging mistake have been reported, according to the announcement from Sugar Foods. However, the company is still recalling the tortilla strips as a precaution. The contamination issue may have affected products distributed between Sept. 30 and Nov. 11 in 22 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
Sugar Foods has advised anyone with questions about the recall to contact the company’s consumer care department by email or phone.
CBS News reached out to Sugar Foods for more information but did not receive an immediate reply.
This is the latest in a series of food product recalls affected because of contamination issues, although the others involved harmful bacteria. Some recent, high-profile incidents include an E. coli outbreak from organic carrots that killed at least one person in California, and a listeria outbreak that left an infant dead in California and nine people hospitalized across four different states, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The E. coli outbreak is linked to multiple different food brands while the listeria outbreak stemmed from a line of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products sold by Yu-Shang Foods.