The farm bill opens a loophole that could allow processors to sell you tainted meat.

[marmar]

from TomPaine.com:



At Stake: Safe Steak
Carol Tucker-Foreman and Michael J. Wilson, TomPaine.com
October 01, 2007


Carol Tucker-Foreman is distinguished fellow at the Consumer Federation of America's Food Policy Institute. Michael J. Wilson is international vice president of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.


Buyers beware. The farm bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives is dangerous to your health. It includes a provision that may, literally, make you sick to your stomach.

The provision certainly increases your risk of contracting food-borne illness from contaminated meat or poultry because it ends the requirement that meat or poultry cannot be sold across state lines unless a federal inspector, sworn to protect public health, has determined the product is safe, wholesome, and accurately labeled. Forty years of uniform federal safety standards are thrown out in favor of allowing meat and poultry inspected by state governments to be sold anywhere in the U.S. or abroad. The bill does not, however, permit states to set higher health standards.

Congress passed the Federal Meat Inspection Act in 1967, setting national safety standards for meat because the quality of state programs varied widely. The act included a compromise, permitting states to continue their meat inspection programs if the state set standards "equal to" the new federal requirements. However, Congress clearly recognized that multiple state programs jeopardized the goal of high uniform safety standards. They also prohibited state-inspected meat from crossing state lines. The Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the restriction.

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture relies on science to protect public health. Inspectors test products for pathogens and USDA's sophisticated laboratories assess the results. USDA has warned Congress that many states don't have the laboratory facilities and recordkeeping capacity to support science-based food safety programs. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/10/01/at_stake_safe_steak.php

[nebenaube]

1. more tax cuts at work.... n/t

[mainegreen]

2. Yet another reason I'm glad I've abandoned the mainstream food industry.

Almost all my food now comes from within 20 miles of where I live, and I've met most of the people in person who grow/raise my food.

It's more of a pain in the ass, but it's not more expensive, you cut out the middle man (fuck the middle man!!) and my food is of a much higher quality.

It does mean I have to eat what's in season though. Sadly, winter is coming, which means root-cellar produce (damned kohlrabi).

[depakid]

3. No doubt supported by the same "moderate" Dems who tried to kill off food labelling laws

in order to pander to the large packers, distributors and supermarket conglomerates.

[WilyWondr]

4. They don't even want to tell you what country

your meat comes from.

Country of Origin Labeling
http://www.ams.usda.gov/COOL/

On May 13, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, more commonly known as the 2002 Farm Bill. One of its many initiatives requires country of origin labeling for beef, lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural commodities and peanuts. On January 27, 2004, President Bush signed Public Law 108-199 which delays the implementation of mandatory COOL for all covered commodities except wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish until September 30, 2006. On November 10, 2005, President Bush signed Public Law 109-97, which delays the implementation for all covered commodities except wild and farm-raised and shellfish until September 30, 2008.

Thank you corporate meat producers(that also like to hire illegal workers) and their friends at the USDA.

I am sure if anything gets too strict here in the states they will just move more meat production out of the country where they don't do inspections.
How much of your meat already comes from foreign meat producers?