The House passed a food safety bill (H.R. 2749) in July and the Senate is expected to consider a similar bill (S. 510) this fall. S. 510 would impose unnecessary, burdensome regulations on small farms and food processors – everyone from your local CSA to the small bakers, jam makers, and cheesemakers at the local farmers market.
Small local farms and food processors are fundamentally different from huge, industrial food suppliers that ship food all over the country. Congress can and should address the problems with the industrial food supply without harming the local food systems that provide an alternative for concerned consumers!
FARFA has joined with other grassroots farm, ranch, consumer, and holistic health organizations in a letter to the U.S. Senate with the basic message:
One size does not fit all when it comes to food safety. Please amend S. 510 so it does not harm small farms and local food processors.
1) Call and fax your Senators. You can find their contact information at www.congress.org or call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. And you can easily fax your Senators through the system set up at http://www.superhumanradio.com/core/2749.htm
1) Fresh, local foods give consumers an alternative to the huge industrial agribusinesses where foodborne pathogens have resulted in sickness, injuries and deaths. Federal legislation to address food safety should focus on the real problems and leave the local food sources alone!
2) FDA regulation of local food processors is unnecessary and burdensome. Federal regulations may be needed for industrial processing that source raw ingredients from multiple locations (sometimes imported from other countries) and ship their products across the country. But federal regulation is overkill for small local processors. State and local public health laws are enough for local food sources.
3) HACCP will not improve food safety and will harm small processors. S. 510 applies a complex and burdensome Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system to even the smallest local food processors. The HACCP system, with its requirements to develop and maintain extensive records, has proven to be an overwhelming burden for a significant number of small regional meat processors across the country. Applying a HACCP system to small, local foods processors could drive them out of business, reducing consumers’ options to buy fresh, local foods.
4) FDA does not belong on the farm. S. 510 calls for FDA regulation of how farms grow and harvest produce. Given the agency’s track record, it is likely that the regulations will discriminate against small, organic, and diversified farms. The House version of the bill directs FDA to consider the impact of its rulemaking on small-scale and diversified farms, but there are no enforceable limits or protections for small diversified and organic farms from inappropriate and burdensome federal rules.
We need your financial support and, just as importantly, the strength of our voice depends on our membership! We are frequently asked, by both legislators and staffers, how many members we have. The more members, the more they will listen. Please help us be a strong voice.
