Food-origin law is back from oblivion
Food-origin law is back from oblivion
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-060710label-story,1,6159286.story?coll=chi-news-hed
After we have a serious scare with imported poison additives from China into our pet foods, we find that some of the imported poisonous additives from China have been added to the food suppy of our food animals such as the feed for cattle, chickens, and others. There have been other tainted items such as tooth paste imported from China that have also scared Americans.
Just when you think Congress does not have a law on the books to require marking the country of origin on food items, you find out we are wrong.
"The short answer: There is. And there has been since 2002.The more complicated answer is that what Congress passes, Congress can take away. The requirement for "country-of-origin labeling"—or COOL, as Washington knows it—for food products was postponed a year after its adoption, due to heavy lobbying from food groups saying the law was unnecessary and expensive.Recent fears over imported foods, however, have given new momentum to reviving the law."
It was a very good idea, but the collective lobby of big business caused our congress to postpone enabling it.
Well, now we are promised by many elected officials that we will see the COOL (country of origin label) bill brought out from hibernationwithin 2 years.
I want to know where my food is coming from. I want to make sure it is healthy from quality sources. I want it fresh and probably not frozen. I want all additives listed.
It seems that there are exceptions to the COOL law even today such as restaurants and prepared food items. I think restaurant foods should be labeled as well as prepared foods, also.
Some business groups say that the cost to label overseas products would cost about $1,500 in each American food store. I think the American consume would benefit from better quality and better prices to know where the food came from. If American seafood prices are generally higher than Asian seafood, for example, we should benefit from lower prices. Maybe the American consumer should learn the pros and cons between Australian lamb and American lamb. I'll stand corrected but I think that many farmers in America are suffering from foreign competition with unfair prices and also the unfair belief that most items are equal in taste, freshness, quality, purity, safety, ingredients, nutrition, and other yardsticks. I think that labeling and additional consumer educations would benefit America.
It seems that other countries can enforce inspection standards and refuse American food imports, while America does not even inspect food imports. There should be a level playing field for American food exporters where currently they cannot compete fairly on their stock. And the American consumer has to be fairly treated as to price, quality, safety, taste and all other food yardsticks.
Why Congress has to wait until COOL's suspension is due to end in September 2008 is beyond me. I think the suspension should be suspended immediately. What do you think? Contact your Senators and Congressperson immediately.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-060710label-story,1,6159286.story?coll=chi-news-hed
After we have a serious scare with imported poison additives from China into our pet foods, we find that some of the imported poisonous additives from China have been added to the food suppy of our food animals such as the feed for cattle, chickens, and others. There have been other tainted items such as tooth paste imported from China that have also scared Americans.
Just when you think Congress does not have a law on the books to require marking the country of origin on food items, you find out we are wrong.
"The short answer: There is. And there has been since 2002.The more complicated answer is that what Congress passes, Congress can take away. The requirement for "country-of-origin labeling"—or COOL, as Washington knows it—for food products was postponed a year after its adoption, due to heavy lobbying from food groups saying the law was unnecessary and expensive.Recent fears over imported foods, however, have given new momentum to reviving the law."
It was a very good idea, but the collective lobby of big business caused our congress to postpone enabling it.
Well, now we are promised by many elected officials that we will see the COOL (country of origin label) bill brought out from hibernationwithin 2 years.
I want to know where my food is coming from. I want to make sure it is healthy from quality sources. I want it fresh and probably not frozen. I want all additives listed.
It seems that there are exceptions to the COOL law even today such as restaurants and prepared food items. I think restaurant foods should be labeled as well as prepared foods, also.
Some business groups say that the cost to label overseas products would cost about $1,500 in each American food store. I think the American consume would benefit from better quality and better prices to know where the food came from. If American seafood prices are generally higher than Asian seafood, for example, we should benefit from lower prices. Maybe the American consumer should learn the pros and cons between Australian lamb and American lamb. I'll stand corrected but I think that many farmers in America are suffering from foreign competition with unfair prices and also the unfair belief that most items are equal in taste, freshness, quality, purity, safety, ingredients, nutrition, and other yardsticks. I think that labeling and additional consumer educations would benefit America.
It seems that other countries can enforce inspection standards and refuse American food imports, while America does not even inspect food imports. There should be a level playing field for American food exporters where currently they cannot compete fairly on their stock. And the American consumer has to be fairly treated as to price, quality, safety, taste and all other food yardsticks.
Why Congress has to wait until COOL's suspension is due to end in September 2008 is beyond me. I think the suspension should be suspended immediately. What do you think? Contact your Senators and Congressperson immediately.
posted by God Bless America - Bob at 12:59 PM
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