LOS ANGELES — A lawmaker is pushing to strip the federal Department of Agriculture of its responsibility for food safety in the wake of the nation's largest-ever meat recall.

Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro said Tuesday the agency's twin mandates of promoting the nation's agriculture and monitoring it for safety have become blurred.

The Connecticut Democrat chairs the House Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Subcommittee, which is responsible for the USDA's funding.

She made her remarks during a conference call with reporters about the recall of some 143 million pounds of beef products from Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co.