Despite the efforts of public-health organizations, environmental groups and activist, by a vote of 283 to 139, the US House of Repressentatives last night passed HR 4167, the National Uniformity for Food Act of 2005. If the measure wins Senate approval and is signed by George Bush, it will in effect nullify any local or state food-safety law that is more stringent than federal regulations.
From the San Francisco Chronicle:
The vote was a victory for the food industry, which has lobbied for years for national standards for food labeling and contributed millions of dollars to lawmakers' campaigns. But consumer groups and state regulators warned that the bill would undo more than 200 state laws, including California's landmark Proposition 65, that protect public health.
"The purpose of this legislation is to keep the public from knowing about the harm they may be exposed to in food," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, a chief critic of the measure.
Several critics argued that the bill was rushed through the House without complete hearings as a favor to a specific industry — at the same time that members are talking about the evils of lobbying and proposing stricter ethical rules.
Under the bill, any state that wanted to keep its own tougher standards for food labeling would have to ask for approval from the Food and Drug Administration, which has been criticized by food safety groups as slow to issue consumer warnings.
The measure was approved after a debate in which House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco accused the Republican majority of "shredding the food safety net that we have built in this country."
Pelosi's accusation seems a bit specious to me. HR enjoyed bipartisan support from its introduction last year, numerous Democrats voted for it, and there was some Republican opposition to the legislation.
The resolution now moves to the US Senate, where it is expected to have a more difficult time.
California's two Democratic senators are threatening to block the bill from coming to the Senate floor. A group of 39 state attorneys general, including many Republicans, has warned of the consequences of the measure. State food and drug regulators and agricultural officials also are urging the Senate to reject the bill.
Let's hope the Senate has the sense to allow localities a say in protecting the health of their citizens.
In the meantime, there is time for action: I implore any Americans concerned about food safety and public health to contact senators via the Congressional Switchboard, 202-224-3121, and in writing (see the Contact Congress lookup service in All Facts and Opinions' Action Alert Center). Urge them to vote NO on the National Uniformity for Food Act.
Article comments
1 - Victor Plenty
More of us ought to be angry at our major food processing corporations who claim it would be too burdensome for them to know what goes into the food they sell, and too costly to openly identify the potentially dangerous genetically engineered ingredients on the label. Instead they have to spend their money paying off crooked legislators to protect corporations from the consequences of their carelessness with our health.
Thank your for your coverage of this legislation.
2 - Natalie Bennett
US food labelling already seems pretty bad to me. Out of curiousity, in the UK I bought an imported can of mashed pumpkin (it seemed to me a very odd thing to put in a can since the natural packing keeps for a very long time). The can said "100 % natural ingredients", but nowhere said what those ingredients were.
I'd made a recipe for a pumpkin-pie like slice before with pumpkin I'd cooked myself, and the outcome from the canned version convinced me there must have been some pretty odd ingredients in there - certainly it was nothing like 100% pumpkin, but who knows what?
3 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
"Why do I recommend Purim to everyone? It's an amazing day of family, community and unity: For one, we celebrate the resilience and survival of the Jewish people - undoubtedly a good thing. Additionally, the day's traditions include doing mitzvot - good deeds - for others: giving Matanot L'evyonim, food gifts to the poor; and sharing Mishlo'ach Manot - gifts of food to friends and family. All are wonderfully loving and humane Purim customs."
Ms. Davis, it felt very good to read this. I'll print up the recipe for my wife. There is one thing I wuld have added about Purim. It is one of two times during the year that we Jews are supposed to get drunk.
Now, to a more serious issue. I see you included a link to find senators to nag about this travesty of a food bill you congress has seen fit to pass.
Happy Purim! Yihyéh l'khém Hhag Purím Sameahh!
4 - NR Davis
That's the only reason I do allow myself to drink wine (and lots of it) that day - to free the senses so that I can celebrate fully and deeply without reservation. That point does bear mentioning, and I am pleased and grateful that you did. You'll love the vegan hamantaschen, which really is in line with Jewish dietary principles.
Re: the food-safety story. Yeah, the House decided to betray consumers, but the Senate has yet to consider it. The Contact Congress interface is on my site, but the direct link (one must include a postal or zip code to find specific senators) is here.
5 - Noam
People looking for vegan Purim recipes, including hamantaschen, should check out the compilation at JewishVeg:
The site is an incredible resource for anyone interested in Jewish vegetarianism.
6 - NR Davis
Cool! Thanks.