The 283 Congressmen who voted for the National Uniformity for Food Act, H.R. 4167, have been, in the words of the Organic Consumers Association, "bought and sold." $367 million in agribusiness contributions since 1990 have finally paid off. This is a sweetheart of a deal for big ag and big food producers, and it was passed without a single public hearing.
Sponsored by Republicans, naturally, the party of "states' rights" when it suits them to strike that pose, the bill is opposed by environmental and consumer groups, as well as 39 (!) state attorneys general. It will knock 200 consumer-protecting state laws off the books and cost taxpayers an extra $100 million over the next five years (according the Congressional Budget Office).
"The House is trampling crucial health safeguards in every state without so much as a single public hearing," said Erik Olson, senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council. "This just proves the old adage money talks. The food industry spared no expense to assure its passage."
A new report released Tuesday by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Center for Science in the Public Interest, "Shredding the Food Safety Net," finds that the the proposed bill would preempt shellfish safety standard laws in at least 16 states, milk safety laws in all 50 states, and, restaurant and food service establishment safety laws in 50 states.
"The bill also targets a law limiting levels of toxic lead in candies, a law requiring warnings to consumers about excessive levels of toxic chemicals in foods that cause cancer, birth defects, or developmental problems, and laws requiring labeling of fish as farm-raised or wild," the report states. "Shredding the Food Safety Net" can be found at:
Links
http://www.nrdc.org/legislation/factsheets/leg_06030701a.pdf.
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