legislationwatch
increase farm income and to meet con-
sumer demand—such as turning fruit
into jam or maple sap into syrup, Libby
New FOOD
explains. “We are concerned that a
flat, rather than graduated, fee will cre-
ate a disincentive for farmers to pursue
SAFETY
value-added processing.” Small-farm
advocates object to this registration fee
for facilities, which is not in the Senate
legISlATION
bill.
Another concern is that neither the
House nor Senate bill instructs the FDA
COUld helP
to coordinate with the U.S. Department
OR hARm lOCAl
of Agriculture’s current National Or-
ANd ORgANIC
ganic Program, which already requires
food safety measures for certified or-
SUPPlIeRS
ganic producers. Others point out that
there is not enough distinction drawn
by Aimee witteman
between the food chain activities that
are most risky.
Keeping Food Safety
C
ongress has at last begun con- duce safety regulations have focused on
sidering reforming the nation’s after-harvest processing and handling
in Perspective
food safety laws. But family farm steps, because of their comparative
Some argue that, in the midst of the de-
and local food advocates oppose parts risk. The new proposals would impose
bate over details, we should not forget
of the current proposed legislation, mandatory standards that extend all the
critical threats to the health and safety
especially its one-size-fits-all approach. way back to the farm.
of our food system that is at the heart of
They argue that the Food Safety En- Provisions would also increase the
the problem—the industrialized, global
hancement Act of 2009 (H.R. 2749), authority of the Food and Drug Admin-
food system. “I’m concerned that the
passed by the House of Representatives istration to regulate the production,
food safety debate is being limited by
in July, could impact Americans’ access processing and importation of fresh
the parameters of the proposed legisla-
to natural and organic foods. produce. While family farm and local
tion,” remarks Jim Goodman, a dairy
The House bill, critics say, puts food advocates agree that many of the
farmer and a food and society policy
unreasonable burdens on small family steps are necessary and overdue, they
fellow with the Institute for Agriculture
farms, jeopardizes local also say the devil rests in
and Trade Policy.
food system initiatives
Recent outbreaks
the details.
For example, says Goodman,
and fails to focus on the ronger
“The number one source of E. coli is
riskiest sectors of the
of illness caused by
“We welcome st
food safety regulations
grain-fed cattle. If we want to prevent
food system. The Sen-
food contamination
and were glad to see the
spinach from being contaminated by E.
ate will be discussing
associated with both
final House bill provide
coli, we need to increase regulations
its own version of the peanuts and spinach the FDA mandatory recall
to stop the factory-like conditions in
food safety bill this fall,
indicate the U.S.
authority when particular
which livestock are raised. We need to
the Food Safety Mod-
food safety system
foods and food products
increase incentives for farmers to move
ernization Act of 2009 are identified as causing
their livestock onto grass, not simply
(S. 510). There will be
is in need of serious
health problems,” says
put the onus on produce growers to
an opportunity to make
improvement.
Russell Libby, executive
keep manure from neighbors’ farms out
further changes when director for the Maine
of their fields.”
these bills move on to a Organic Farmers and
conference committee this fall. Gardeners Association. “But there are
Call members of Congress through the
some nuances that the bill gets wrong.
Pros and Cons
Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121
For instance, it imposes a flat $500 an-
to tell them to support a food safety bill
E. coli in bagged, ready-to-eat spinach nual fee for all farms that process their
that does not harm family farmers. Visit
in 2006 and Salmonella linked to chili product and sell to wholesale and retail
mofga.org for discussion and updates
peppers in 2008 are among the recent, markets.” Thus, small-farm operations
on the issue.
highly publicized outbreaks of illness would pay the same fee per facility as
that have prompted Congress to take large multinational corporations.
Aimee Witteman is executive director
a more thorough look at the safety of Many small producers also per-
of the National Sustainable Agriculture
fresh produce. Until now, fresh pro- form value-added processing to
Coalition (SustainableAgriculture.net).
October 2009 1
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64