RESOURCES: HR 875 - Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 & S 425
| YouTube - this video was apparently distributed to Rep. Ron Paul's supporters |
THE CONTROVERSY
Confusion surrounds both the intent and the consequences of the proposed House Bill 875, the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009. Some people are concerned by the paperwork burden on small growers. Others see a worrisome connection to Monsanto and GMO foods because the husband of the bill's sponsor lists the company as one of his clients.
Our goal with this expanding page is to gather information so that you can discuss and debate the merits of the bill (and its Senate version 425) knowing the facts.
Much of the concern surrounds the creation of a new food safety agency that could define what is and is not a safe growing practice. However, it is a leap from there to suggest this is a backdoor way for Monsanto to force growers to use their seed and chemical products. The impetus for the bill stemmed from the food safety disasters of the past few years. The bill's supporters say their main concern is food safety incidents such as the recent problem with peanuts. They want a separate agency with sufficient funding to protect consumers.
Yet the devil is often in the details, and growers should remain vigilant to ensure the interpretation of any new rules honors a commitment to organic, sustainable and natural practices and the concerns of small growers.
COMMENT BELOW: Please take a moment to comment at the bottom of this page
READ THE BILLS YOURSELF
- HR 875 - The text of the proposed Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 as a PDF
- S 425 - Text of the Senate bill (no PDF available yet).
FARM ORGANIZATION COMMENTS & POSITIONS
- Food & Water Watch - Excellent analysis of the what bill does and doesn't do. Bottom line is don't panic but pay attention.
- Slow Food USA - Urges that people avoid scaremongering but remain vigilant.
- Organic Consumers Association - They issued an alert asking the bill's sponsors to take a stand against factory farming (click here to read the alert). They also issued an update saying "The Biotech Companies Are Destroying Traditional Farming - Just Not in This Bill" (click here).
- Leopold Center - No comments yet in their policy section.
- American Farmland Trust - No comments yet in their Action Section.
OPINION PIECES & BLOGS
- Crooks and Liars - This new blog by Nonny Mouse corrects the record after a previous post included incendiary allegations floating around the Internet that are unproven or incorrect. Includes a statement from Monsanto.
- OEN - OpEd News - Linn Cohen-Coles finds the Monsanto connection with DeLauro's husband particularly troubling for growers who fear GMO contamination and corporate control. (Progressive-Liberal point of view)
- Shepard on Politics - One of his concerns is the burden that would be placed on small farmers to develop a farm food safety plan that the government would accept. (Conservative point of view)
QUESTIONS? Maybe some answers?
- Does the husband of Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) who introduced the bill work for Monsanto? Her husband is Stanley Greenburg is the Democratic pollster you often see on TV. His bio says that Monsanto is one of his clients.
- We will add information as it becomes available. Please email us resources and questions.