H.R. 875 would establish the Food Safety Administration within the Department of Health and Human Services to protect the public health by preventing food-borne illness, ensuring the safety of food, improving research on contaminants leading to food-borne illness, and improving security of food from intentional contamination.
Detailed Summary
Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 - Establishes in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the Food Safety Administration. Assigns all the authorities and responsibilities of the Secretary of Health and Human Services related to food safety to the Administrator of Food Safety.
Transfers to the Administration all functions of specified federal agencies that relate to the administration or enforcement of food safety laws. Renames the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the Federal Drug and Device Administration.
Directs the Administrator to: (1) administer a national food safety program; and (2) ensure that persons who produce, process, or distribute food prevent or minimize food safety hazards. Sets forth requirements for the Administrator to carry out such duties, including: (1) requiring food establishments to adopt preventive process controls; (2) enforcing performance standards for food safety; (3) establishing an inspection program; (4) strengthening and expanding foodborne illness surveillance systems; (5) requiring imported food to meet the same standards as U.S. food; and (6) establishing a national traceability system for food.
Requires the Administrator to: (1) identify priorities for food safety research and data collection; (2) maintain a DNA matching system and epidemiological system for foodborne illness identification, outbreaks, and containment; (3) establish guidelines for a sampling system; (4) establish a national public education program on food safety; (5) conduct research on food safety; and (6) establish a working group on foodborne illness surveillance.
Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to develop the Food-Borne Illness Health Registry.
Directs the Comptroller General to report on the federal resources being dedicated to foodborne illness and food safety research.
Sets forth provisions regarding prohibited acts, recalls, penalties for violations of food safety laws, whistleblower protections, and civil actions.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 4/23/2009: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
Points in Favor
(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)
Points Against
1) The definition of a "FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITY" (as found in the bill's "DEFINITIONS" section, SECTION 3, PARAGRAPH 14) is far too vague and it can quite easilly (and unintentionally?) include the backyard vegetable garden that my grandmother grows. It says: "(14) FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITY- The term `food production facility' means any farm, ranch, orchard, vineyard, aquaculture facility, or confined animal-feeding operation." And there are NO exclusions whatsoever to that vague and far-reaching definition.
Visitor Comments
Marguerite
February 19, 2009, 1:40pm (report abuse)We don't need this and we don't need Rosa DeLauro either. This will put small farming out of business. We need our small farmers more than ever now.
Deb61
February 24, 2009, 10:30pm (report abuse)It's monsanto, they dont want the competition of organic farms. Did I wake up in America? As is their GE crops are dangerous to the environment and our health, and wont allow the foods to be labled, now they have to go after the honest farming? Pretty soon, no one will be able to buy natural seeds.
Concerned
February 26, 2009, 12:05pm (report abuse)Small farms and organic farms need protection, not harrassment! Support small farms and STOP the big bullies like Monsanto. This bill (HR 875) needs an addendum that small family farms (that make less than $500,000 a year) will NOT come under this terrifying law. This bill threatens small farmers...it creates by a back door for monopoly at the most extreme degree - not just unfair competition but total control of every aspect of the small farm competition to the degree of making them laborers for the monopoly. Monsanto must NOT be allowed to effectively control ALL our food seeds, farming efforts – now organic farmers even - and the very existence of all of us. A corporation, through bills like this, should NOT be given this much control over people. We need seed/animal diversity for the future and not greed. Monsanto is already ruining small farmer’s lives and this will eventually ruin all of our lives. Local small farms must be protected, not subjugated!
carrie
March 1, 2009, 9:17am (report abuse)organic food and health for all mankind. this evil has to be stopped
Laurie Kish
March 2, 2009, 10:18pm (report abuse)We need more constitutionalists to run for office under the constitution party http://www.consitutionparty.com
james
March 3, 2009, 8:38pm (report abuse)sound like monsanto has bought a few politicians. This is a bill that should bring us to the street with our guns or pitch forks. make calls to your Rep right now.
Ben
(logged in user) March 4, 2009, 1:58pm (report abuse)Can someone actually explain to me how this is going to affect small farming? Does anyone here actually understand this bill? I'm extremely worried about it, but I'm not going to start screaming until I know that it isn't just a way to make farmers register and be legal according to goverment regulations. I don't really see how that hurts any farmer.
Brent
March 6, 2009, 6:11am (report abuse)I agree with Ben above. I don't think anyone in their right mind could actually read this entire bill in one sitting. Can someone please explain exactly how this works? If it as dangerous as claimed, someone should "translate" it and put it on YouTube or where ever they can gain exposure with it.
mm
March 6, 2009, 12:38pm (report abuse)I too, need an explanation of what this bill says in non-legal jargon. And yes it does need to be posted near and far on the internet if it is truly as controlling as it might seem.
WashingtonWatchCat
(logged in user) March 6, 2009, 6:28pm (report abuse)Here is a blog from a small farmer who read ther bill in its entirety. He gives a pretty fair assessment of why this is such a bad bill.
http://shepardpolitics.blogspot.com/2009/03/hr-875-would-essentially-ou...
WashingtonWatchCat
(logged in user) March 6, 2009, 6:30pm (report abuse)Hmm ... the link broke. Let me try and post the link again. I am pasting the link below in TWO parts, so you need to glue both parts together to make it work.
http://shepardpolitics.blogspot.com/2009/03/
hr-875-would-essentially-outlaw-family.html
out of control politicians
March 6, 2009, 11:31pm (report abuse)I just read the bill. It's not that long. A bald and aggressive grab of authority.
It gives the federal govt the power to require all food establishments to register, and keep records of all food--origin, movement and handling. Inspectors can access facilities on presentation of credentials, copy records and publish them, and seize food on suspicion (just suspicion) of contamination (undefined by the law), and bill the proprietor for hauling away the suspicious food. NAIS is promoted in the bill. Federal agents can deputize state and local officials and gain access to data systems. Education programs, inspection facilities, media, DNA tracking of all food are in the bill...Up to a million dollar fine for "violation of any food law". It's the Patriot Act with a food theme.
Andrew
March 7, 2009, 5:46pm (report abuse)Basically the bill places small farms throughout the country under federal jurisdiction. The feds would have the authority to make small farmers jump through as many hoops as they please and to run them out of business if they refuse to do so.
Here's a good summary of the bill:
http://www.ftcldf.org/news/news-02mar2009.htm
Amy
March 7, 2009, 8:23pm (report abuse)This is tremendously bad. There are currently 39 cosponsors and Rosa DeLauro (the sponsor) is buddies with Rahm Emanuel (he stayed in their house for free when he went to DC, there's a little tax scandal surrounding that, but I digress.)
1. DeLauro's husband has Monsanto as a client.
2. DeLauro receives large contributions from agribusiness.
Follow the money. She has practically a direct line to DC, this law may very well pass unless we seriously do something about it.
Barbara Lamar
March 8, 2009, 12:50pm (report abuse)The worst aspects of the bill are the broad, vague definitions. As it is written, it could be applied to small farmers who sell their produce locally, and even to backyard gardeners and people who keep a couple of hens for eggs. The term "contamination" is also overly broad and vague, and could be used to prevent organic farming, on the grounds that organic produce sometimes contains insects.
Even if one were to agree that government regulation of large producers is a good thing, we do not NEED government regulation of small local farmers whose customers know them personally.
I hate the bill in its entirety, because I do not believe that government regulation ever works well. I would much prefer to see privately owned independent certification boards and let the consumer decide whether or not to purchase certified food.
But if the majority of Americans feel the need for more government regulation, AT LEAST exempt small farmers.
Lon
March 9, 2009, 12:02am (report abuse)To better understand HR 875 please research Codex Alimentarius. Take time to read this UN proposal. At least skim since it it is so long.
conservatress
March 10, 2009, 1:15am (report abuse)We don't need more laws. We just need someone to enforce the ones we have.
Amanda
March 10, 2009, 5:19pm (report abuse)Take action and contact your local CSA farmers (many of whom are unaware of this bill):
http://www.localharvest.org/
This is NAIS on steroids!
FactsNews
March 10, 2009, 5:50pm (report abuse)This is the first step to causing mass food shortages in America. In years passed, we seen the amounts of scares put forth by the FDA and other government agencies forcing the disposal large amounts of food. Having complete control over the food supply, imagine what how much power they'll have.... factsnews.wordpress.com
jeanruss
March 11, 2009, 4:14pm (report abuse)watch youtube \"criminalizing organic farming\" to understand the terrible effects of this bill. Obama\'s (Mr. Monsanto) Vilsack is showing his allegiance to corporations and not the American people. Obama is a phony.
pissedOff
March 12, 2009, 3:13am (report abuse)Talk about taking bad times and making them worse. In an economic collapse like the one we are smack dab in the middle of, the last thing we need is to have our right to grow a garden taken away. An ORGANIC garden at that! GMO ANYTHING is the DEVIL's food. I want to be able to survive off the land that our ancestor's fought and died for. I'm sick and tired of reading about our Constitutional rights and FREEDOMS being at risk of disappearing. Every new bill that is brought forward is another form of ATTACK of the freedom loving liberty driven American citizen. IMPEACH OBAMA!!!!!!!!
homegrower
March 12, 2009, 9:29am (report abuse)Actually, as bad as it is, the fangs could be filed by inserting 'commercial' regarding the various establishments, with a definition of commercial to specify a certain revenue level. Yes, as written (and as typically applied in a draconian manner), this would have terrible repercussions on the small farmer or private grower, just as NAIS would.
Reverend Josh Taylor
March 12, 2009, 9:36am (report abuse)I may oppose this bill, but it doesn't matter. They may harm my body, but they can't harm my spirit. You can fight this bill all you want, but the question is: Where will you go when you die?
Survival of the fittest is a made-up and deceptive term that will send you to the Lake of Fire. Don't fight this bill. Instead, ask Jesus into your heart. He's the way. The Constitution is a decree of sin, death and Hades.
Lord Jesus, I'm coming home.
AgainstNAIS
March 12, 2009, 11:17am (report abuse)Call the cosponsors of this bill and ask if they have actually read this bill.
If so, have them explain why they are targeting even the smallest of farms. Be sure to have a copy of the bill handy.
pete
(logged in user) March 13, 2009, 9:00pm (report abuse)This bill violates our rights to life, property, privacy, secure from unreasonable searches, and more. The feds have zero authority to pass bills like this.
This bill represents the enslavement of farmers.
Resist tyranny, fight slavery!
LoriSm
March 14, 2009, 5:08pm (report abuse)This is communism and is against our 10th Amendment. Can those who wrote and co-sponsored this bill be impeached for violating their oath of office to protect the consitution???? I am sick to death of these evil people trying to limit our God-given rights. I am writing my senator and ask all of you to do the same.
M
March 15, 2009, 12:28am (report abuse)Could this be the worst bill ever written?
swirling1
March 15, 2009, 11:53pm (report abuse)This legislation contains enforcement language that should be carefully studied. The vague, stilted language seems deliberate to allow an administrator wide latitude to enforce the $1,000,000 daily fines, with help from recruited assistant enforcers such as interns. Everything is defined as affecting interstate commerce. Judicial review is not allowed. Confiscations before findings are allowed, a sure way to hurt people where freshness is important. This is a classic set-up for discriminatory enforcement of vague rules. This is an interesting example of legislation with fine print for the Bad Golden Rule. They can\'t enforce this evenly. They would target very carefully I would think.
EnoughIsEnough
March 16, 2009, 12:05pm (report abuse)How many abuses must we endure before we begin to truly ACT? As an organic farmer myself, I am appalled at the audacity and arrogance of our Nazi leaders. Like Hitler, they introduce laws under the guise of "safety." We live in a plastic world; look beyond the plastic cover and you see the real intent. In this case it is to put the small, local organic farmer out of business and force the American people to buy their foods ... even SEEDS to grow, from the genetically modified big business food producers. What a power and greed grab!!! This would be a good project for the912project.com to get behind and fight!!! May God help us all.
Nathan Knecht
March 16, 2009, 12:16pm (report abuse)ensure the growth of local produce from small farms, please reject this bill.
ct
March 16, 2009, 10:07pm (report abuse)Rosa DeLauro's husband Stan Greenberg, has MONSANTO as a client and she received $180k in donations from agribusiness PAC's. Nothing like trying to strip us of our rights..one by one... This is only the beginning.
Robert Lee
March 17, 2009, 3:57am (report abuse)Regarding the two posters, Ben and Brent, here on March 4th and March 6, 2009, what I can tell you is to visit www.cofcc.org and go down to "Previous entries" and click on that until you reach March 9, 2009. There are two videos and a News article about the bill HR-875.
This bill will make Organic, and Family Farms, as well as back yard gardening of vegetables, Illegal. This is to control all the food U.S. Citizes have to buy and eat.
If you want another look at what Socialism has done in the past for farming, watch a You Tube video about the Ukrainian Famine, where over two million people were starved to death by Josef Stalin.
dmarti
(logged in user) March 17, 2009, 2:43pm (report abuse)We shouldn't punish small, high-quality farmers just because a few huge companies can't keep their food products from being tainted.
Some Guy
March 18, 2009, 8:17am (report abuse)Since nobody's mentioned it yet, I guess I have to. This bill is wrong not just because of the appalling effects it will have on further consolidating farming into the hands of mega-corporations, but also because it's unconstitutional in the first place.
There is NO constitutional authority for the federal government to regulate agriculture, PERIOD. The commerce clause exists to keep the states from setting up barriers to trade, not to give the federal government the power to interfere with anything and everything that is ever bought or sold in the United Sates.
gemma
March 18, 2009, 9:04am (report abuse)I think the point of this IS to put small farms out of business...get rid of guns, shorten the food supply, riots in the street due to hunger....marshall law...President for Life Obama will heal us.
Sarah Natividad
March 18, 2009, 11:23am (report abuse)Don't let Congress do to our food supply what they did to children's products with CPSIA! Since Feb. 10 when CPSIA came into full effect, there are losses of nearly $2 BILLION worth of children's products-- and that's just the stuff we know about from news reports. The projected losses from CPSIA are around $25 BILLION. And only children use children's products, and they can survive without them. Can you imagine what these people are going to do to our FOOD and how it will affect us?
Don't lay down and figure this bill is so irrational it won't stand a chance! Spread the word and call your Congressmen! Don't let the camel get its nose in this tent!
Philip
March 18, 2009, 11:45am (report abuse)The feds can get any information that they need from state health departments. This is just politicians giving jobs to their buddies.
Rork
March 18, 2009, 12:22pm (report abuse)We must close the Farmers' Market loophole. Any gathering of more than two people for the purpose of selling or exchanging agricultural goods...
Reverend Kevin Howard
March 18, 2009, 7:07pm (report abuse)This bill, however difficult to understand (very much intentional by the way), would harm Organic Farming and small farmers. We must speak out and tell our representatives what we think. Call, & email them. Tell your friends. The Main backer and lobbyist is (guess who) Monsanto - so contact them too. We have the power as a group. Use it or lose it.
caitlyn
March 19, 2009, 12:14pm (report abuse)here's a petition
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/568/t/1128/campaign.jsp?campaign_K...
Reverend Damian
March 20, 2009, 12:38pm (report abuse)Dear Reverend Josh:
"You can fight this bill all you want, but the question is: Where will you go when you die?"
Into a hole in the ground, where I will fertilize some plants, unless they outlaw that too.
"Don't fight this bill. Instead, ask Jesus into your heart. He's the way."
Are you so blinded by your faith that you can't see the coming world government predicted in your book of Revelations? Keeping leading your sheep to their doom. I will stand and fight.
"The Constitution is a decree of sin, death and Hades."
Sounds like you're in the wrong country. Don't like constitutional government? Prefer to live under religious law? May I suggest: Iran?
"Lord Jesus, I'm coming home."
The sooner, the better...
incproductions.org
March 20, 2009, 4:37pm (report abuse)Allowing this bill to pass would be criminal.
Faustina
March 21, 2009, 5:27pm (report abuse)Kill this evil bill ASAP!!!
Bitterclinger
March 21, 2009, 11:57pm (report abuse)WAKE UP AMERICA! We are heading for socialism under Obama. Questions about Monsanto? Google; India farmer suicides - youtube, and see what you dig up. It aint good. Monsanto wants to regulate world food and kill us too. Stop this insanity. The Obama camp wants to make Americans all helpless victims, take away guns, regulate food. I think that's kinda like slavery or communism. Sure isn't America. The "food safety act" is just an evil plot, Don't believe them, Write your state legislators now. Tell everyone you can.
lori
March 22, 2009, 10:05am (report abuse)Thank You Reverend Damian
JahinIinI
March 24, 2009, 5:37pm (report abuse)nutrients and vitamins illegal!!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5266884912495233634
Jah bigger than the spirit of doubt.
Enough
March 24, 2009, 7:06pm (report abuse)Maybe they would like a call?
Contact Information
Monsanto Company
800 N. Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63167
General Inquiries:
(314) 694-1000
Media Inquiries:
(314) 694-6000
Doug
March 24, 2009, 7:20pm (report abuse)There are so many reasons to be opposed to this legislation. It proves yet again that our politicians don't care about what is best for Americans, only what is best for their own bank accounts!
It's a very, very, very bad idea.
Rebecca Powers
March 24, 2009, 9:57pm (report abuse)As a consumer and holistic health advocate, we have a right to organic produce. Furthermore, the nation that gives up its private rights to food production to oversight and ownership by chemical and ag companies, will lose its health, not gain it. By rushing a bill to fruition without our representatives and senators full knowledge and consent reinforces my fears stated above. Something is surely amok.
TAKE ACTION
March 25, 2009, 10:41am (report abuse)As a healthcare practitioner I recognize how the government already controlls the way America consumes food; it is very economically motivated. They want to keep us at a minimum standard of healthy to help our health care services prosper. Having the right to nutritious, varied and organic food is important for our internal systems as well as our enviroment. PLEASE TAKE ACTION AND VOTE FOR THIS BILL!
Not surprised!
March 25, 2009, 11:57am (report abuse)We have been natural health advocates and practitioners for over 40 years and have had the pleasure, and health, of consuming wholesome, organic home grown and small farm grown products. It looks like the long arm of corporate America is pulling on the strings of congress for more control, more chemicals, more GMO products. Not surprising looking at the trends the past decaded, BUT enough is enough. This bill has to be fully discussed by informed members of congress and defeated.
Just a Sec
March 25, 2009, 7:55pm (report abuse)I'd be surprised if this bill will supress backyard gardeners and small farmers. After all, our first lady, who advocates healthy local produce, made front page news last week for planting the first White House garden since FDR.
Stephen Markham
March 25, 2009, 10:58pm (report abuse)Don't vote for this Bill!
Sue
(logged in user) March 26, 2009, 10:50am (report abuse)I read the bill and it is very ambiguous. However, at my local farmer's market which is all organic, very few people said they'd heard of it. I'll some more checking around, but I would think they should know as well as alerting Alice Waters who successfully got an organic garden going at the White House last week, the godmother of organic gardening for local consumption. Something doesn't add up.
kwicker
March 26, 2009, 2:12pm (report abuse)Do not allow this bill to pass!
joanna
March 26, 2009, 2:49pm (report abuse)I just got off the phone with a lady in the office of Energy & Commerce. That is where the legislation is now. She said that this bill only affects produce sold in grocery stores. Her story is that organic farming is regulated by USDA and this legislation only affects FDA regulation. I don't think another law is going to make anybody any safer!! But the government is certain that they need to babysit us.
alextiller
March 26, 2009, 5:54pm (report abuse)Here is an online petition you can sign to help stop HR 875: http://www.LeaveMyFoodAlone.org
Spread the word!
Karen A. F. S.
March 27, 2009, 12:32am (report abuse)This bill will create an unregulated tyrannical bureaucratic agency the actions of which will have tremendous unintended disastrous consequences. Bracketed with language such as "food safety" and "precautions" which no one can argue with, is Patriot Act powers that will do nothing to make us safer, cost a lot, and actually do tremendous damage. VETO!
Donna Reese
March 28, 2009, 5:51pm (report abuse)This is absolutely outragous it is unconstitutional and stupid. Who do these people think they are??? Something has to stop this attitude in our government and soon.
Deborah Burnside
March 29, 2009, 10:29am (report abuse)I will grow my tomatoes and whatever else I need to eat. Arrest me I\'ll probably starve anyway\'
Benn
March 29, 2009, 8:34pm (report abuse)NOTE: This is just one more step toward complete control of our lives by the wealthy elite which consists of the banking cartel (Fed Res, etc) and our corporately controlled federal government. When will we take to the streets in massive numbers, like they're doing in other countries, and demand control of our country back? Or is it just too late. Let's see: The wealthy elite control the banks, corporations and the government, and the government controls law enforcement and the military. What chance do we have? It's time to get out. No, its past time! If you don't think so, you just haven't been paying attention. Have you noticed that the banks, made stupid business decisions, and instead of letting their owners suffer the consequences, our government saved them with taxpayer money, while claiming to us that it had to be done to save the economy. That's B.S. It was good for the wealthy elite, and that's all.
Christine Waddell
March 30, 2009, 1:23pm (report abuse)Taking away the right to natural healthy food, damaging food supply around the planet is a heinous act of terrorism.
Diana Stevens
March 31, 2009, 12:09pm (report abuse)It is hard to believe that we have come to a place in the 21st century where citizens are not allowed to choose or even grow food in a natural and healthful way. What would Hitler do? Just what is being done to us.
Sunny1
March 31, 2009, 12:37pm (report abuse)Awesome! First they take away my job, then take away my money to bail out the banks and give millions of $ bonuses to the thieves, then they take away my ability to get a loan, then destroy my kids\' future, and now I can\'t even grow vegies in my own backyard? And here I am thinking, \"the land of the free and...\".
Michael Frankel
March 31, 2009, 12:45pm (report abuse)The folks in Washington, DC can do whatever they want, because I'll eat what I want, from whoever I want, whenever I want. The government has not shown its ability to protect the food sources we already have, so what makes them think they can do better with organic foods?
Chris Hansen
April 1, 2009, 11:22am (report abuse)What a shame to think that Monsanto and other large corporations would sink that low to take another freedom away form our people and cause another source of income to thousands go away to help protect themselves. This is a bad bill and should not be supported.
Mark Szczepanski
April 1, 2009, 11:22am (report abuse)The government has not shown its ability to protect the food sources we already have, so what makes them think they can do better with organic foods?
This is absolutely outragous it is unconstitutional and stupid. Who do these people think they are??? Something has to stop this attitude in our government and soon.
SallyJeanHarris
April 1, 2009, 11:40am (report abuse)Ther HR875,S425 bills are an outrageous assault on our freedom to buy and eat healthy foods!! Please write to your senators telling them NOT to vote for it.
Liz
April 1, 2009, 12:41pm (report abuse)Yes, a RUCKUS needs to be raised over this ball - AND the NAIS bill, big time. Once they pass, it'll be hard to do much about them!
The Columbia Chapter Campaign for Liberty is fighting these, and in numbers. If you're not a member, become one in your local area and make sure they're actively going after these bills! They still listen - at least on the state level - when we make enough of a stink, believe me.
Latala Cofield
April 1, 2009, 4:45pm (report abuse)Thomas Jefferson stated it best; He, who governs least, governs best. A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
I voted for Obama because I thought he would have brought us "changed that the American people believe it" but Obama has sold us out as a people and is just a puppet on a string. As we all know from the Stimulus proposal, Obama is the YES man. Whatever the illumniti wants, he makes it happen. I wish everyone would open there eyes! We have been deceived not just Americans but the world. The elite have us in a choke hold right now and unless we all wake us as a nation under GOD and not just referring to America, we are doom to repeat history...SLAVERY for everyone. This goes way beyond this bill. Educate yourself...it's the only way!
Jill Osborne
April 1, 2009, 8:12pm (report abuse)I am horrified at the idea of Bill HR 875 being passed (outlawing organic farming), and the far-reaching impact of this bill. Our rights and freedom of health choices will be totally removed and I believe that everyone has the right to choose between chemicals or no chemicals. There are still people who believe that there are already quite enough chemicals in our foods. Monsanto wants to push their chemicals on every consumer and it will be catastrophic if this bill passes into law.
Mike Robinson
April 1, 2009, 9:01pm (report abuse)Did Joseph Stalin help write this bill.
Litopunkin
April 2, 2009, 5:51pm (report abuse)Has ANYONE here actually READ the bill? Because I have, and I don't see any mention of forcing farmers to use specific anything. What I see this bill's intention is to ensure that there is more regulation to what farmers can do to the food they are selling and we consumers are buying assuming it is safe. Which would actually help prevent such incidences as the problem with the peanut butter right now.
There are parts that need to be rewritten, yes,but likely what is actually going on is that Monsanto, is worried about having increased regulations so they imply there's a threat to organic farming. Now, even if they are getting negative attention, it deters people from their actual intentions of getting this bill dropped because you'll all do it for them and then they can go on with their unsafe and UNREGULATED practices. Hello Salmonella, Cancer and Mutated Babies!
Cathy Zarkou
April 2, 2009, 5:57pm (report abuse)I have read this bill and I am very concerned about the implications of what this would do to organic farming. I am a nutritionist and strongly disagree with this bill.
Hanne
April 2, 2009, 8:04pm (report abuse)I haven't had the time to read all the comments as I just got these news on this and it's frightening. Coming from Europe, I just can not understand how the people in the US will allow this greed to continue. Now is the time to stop it. I think this should be given to a good respected news reporter ASAP from someone who knows the details very well... anyone up for the challenge?
Enoch
April 2, 2009, 8:17pm (report abuse)Growing organic food is an inalienable right, like being able to stay warm next a wood fired stove, guaranteed in the constitution of the United States of America. The same constitution that gives all government in the United States of America the legal right to create and enforce laws. By doing this kind of action the government relinquishes its power back to the people. It is action like this that pushes peace-loving people over the edge. The government will be paying restitution to the people in a class action if this is not rescinded soon. Government needs to back off NOW!
Enoch
April 2, 2009, 8:41pm (report abuse)Government needs to back off NOW!
Growing organic food is an inalienable right, like being able to stay warm next a wood fired stove, guaranteed in the constitution of the United States of America. The same constitution that gives all government in the United States of America the legal right to create and enforce laws. By doing this kind of action the government relinquishes its power back to the people. It is action like this that pushes peace-loving people over the edge. The government will be paying restitution to the people in a class action if this is not rescinded soon.
I want to be able to sell healthy food to supermarkets from a large backyard family garden this bill says I can not! This is the wrong direction for our country! 10s of thousands of farmers have committed suicide in India fighting this kind of government controls over small farms. They don’t need it there and we don’t need it here.
Aaron
April 3, 2009, 9:41am (report abuse)they r going to far. this must be stopped
Andrea Whitmore
April 3, 2009, 8:18pm (report abuse)I have suffered for 4 years from immune system disorders, and CANNOT tolerate pestisides of ANY KIND! This is totally outrageous! This must be stopped NOW!
Maggie
April 3, 2009, 11:03pm (report abuse)I read this bill tonight and it is difficult, at times, to follow. The problem I am having with this bill is that in typical fashion, it overreats to the various food borne illness problems we have experienced over the past year but especially the peanut butter contamination. Why do we need another layer of government, and the associated expenses for it that will NEVER end? If the government had had enough impartial, qualified food inspectors in the field, with the authority to close a production plant that was in blatant violation of health and safety laws we would not, I believe, be at this juncture.
I think this bill needs alot of public comment.