Save Local Food Sources!
Today on Democracy Now they had a whole show on Factory Farming and the dangers to our health from these mega "animal farms" which are real, the Salmonella egg recall has now grown to 1/2 Billion eggs!But Food and Water Watch is promoting "The Food Safety Modernization Act, S 510", and as written it might do real harm to the small farmers who are not part of this massive tainted food problem! BEWARE! You know the Corporations never waste a good crisis to increase their own power and profit! Please read what the organizations for the little farms are saying about this bill, from the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance and the very honorable Organic Consumers Association;
http://farmandranchfreedom.org/food_safety_bills_09
Food Safety Bills in Congress
Tell Congress: One size does not fit all when considering food safety bills! Small local farms and food processors are fundamentally different from huge, industrial food suppliers that ship food all over the country. Congress can and should address the problems with the industrial food supply without harming the local food systems that provide an alternative for concerned consumers!
The U.S. Senate is considering a bill, S. 510, to reform the food safety system. Although reform of the industrial food supply is clearly needed, this bill threatens to create more problems than it will solve. S. 510 would undermine the rapidly growing local foods movement by imposing unnecessary, burdensome regulations on small farms and food processors everyone from your local CSA to the small bakers, jam makers, and people making fermented vegetables to sell at the local farmers market.
AUGUST 20, 2010: The Senate has released a revised version of S. 510. Read our analysis here. In brief, while provisions have been added to try to address the concerns of small and sustainable farms, they are almost entirely left to FDA's discretion. The Tester-Hagan Amendments have not been included in the new version of S. 510. Please call your Senators today and urge them to support the Tester-Hagan amendments if & when the bill comes to the floor.
You can read our earlier action alert, which includes contact information and talking points for talking with your Senators, here. The list of organizations urging Senators tosupport the Tester-Hagan amendment toexempt small-scale and direct-marketing producers from the most burdensome portions of the bill is now 157 strong! Read our letter here
***NEW*** Several members have received responses from their Senators extolling provisions in the bill that allegedly help or exempt local food producers. It's very important that we continue to educate these Senators about the real impacts of the bill. Check out our FAQ for more information.
Q&A Get the facts about the Tester-Hagan amendment to protect local foods. And then call your Senators to urge them toco-sponsor theamendments!
Briefing on the requirement for "facilities" under S. 510
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
