The "Monsanto Protection Act" has been removed from the Senate Continuing Resolution appropriations bill, which funds the government for another three months past September 30, 2013. The U.S. House added the rider to the version they sent to the Senate. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) said in a statement, "The Monsanto Protection Act is bad policy for the country and the State of Hawaii. The Senate version of the Continuing Resolution Act does not include this provision. This provision took the ability of the Secretary of Agriculture to fully exercise his regulatory power over GMOs, and compromised the role of our courts as a check on the legislative and executive systems, making it significantly more difficult for concerned citizens to present their case." He continued, "I strongly … [Read more...]
Senator Mikulski Introduces Bill to Repeal Monsanto Protection Act
Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) is introducing an alternative short term government funding bill today that would repeal the so-called "Monsanto Protection Act." Last week the House passed a Continuing Resolution that would fund the government for three months beyond the deadline of September 30, 2013, and also extended a rider that guarantees agrichemical companies can sell GMO and genetically engineered seeds even if a federal court declares them unlawful. Mikulski's bill would strip that provision before sending the bill back to the House. Center for Food Safety is asking interested consumers to call their senators and ask them to support Senator Mikulski's bill. Colin O'Neil, director of government affairs for the Center for food Safety said in a statement, "Chairwoman Mikulski's … [Read more...]
House Extends “Monsanto Protection Act”
Last week the U.S. House voted to extend the so-called "Monsanto Protection Act" in the short-term three month appropriations bill. The rider "undermines federal courts’ ability to safeguard farmers and the environment from potentially hazardous genetically engineered (GE) crops," according to the Center for Food Safety. Colin O'Neil, director of Government affairs for the Center for Food Safety said in a statement, "it is extremely disappointing to see the damaging 'Monsanto Protection Act" policy rider extended in the House spending bill. Hundreds of thousands of Americans called their elected officials to voice their frustration and disappointment over the inclusion of the Act this past spring. Its inclusion is a slap in the face to the American public and to our justice … [Read more...]
Humane Society Says Ag-Gag Bills Hide Animal Cruelty
The Humane Society of the United States is asking consumers to sign their pledge to fight anti-whistleblower "ag-gag" bills being passed in states around the country. These bills are often sponsored by the agricultural industry, and try to criminalize undercover investigations that have exposed animal cruelty and food safety violations in the past. The pledge asks people to share information with family and friends about this issue. This year, eleven states have tried to pass these laws that make it a crime to report a crime; they were defeated in legislatures or vetoed by governors in all states. Since 1990, six states, including Iowa, Montana, and Kansas have adopted these laws. Undercover videos have exposed cruelty in farms in many states, and in 2008 a Humane Society expose … [Read more...]
Consumers Union Endorses Dietary Supplement Labeling Act
Consumers Union is endorsing the Dietary Supplement Labeling Act sponsored by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). The Act would force manufacturers to register their supplements with the FDA and make sure that companies don't evade stricter safety rules by re-categorizing their products. A study conducted at St. Michael's Hospital last spring found that dietary supplements were responsible for more than half of the Class 1 drugs recalled by the FDA from 2004 to 2012. Almost one-fourth of the recalled supplements are manufactured outside the United States. Between 2007 and mid-April 2012, there were more than 6,300 reports of serious adverse events associated with dietary supplements reported to the FDA. Issues included heart problems, allergic reactions, liver … [Read more...]
Dianne Feinstein Introduces Legislation to Protect Antibiotics
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has introduced legislation to combat antibiotic resistant superbugs that develop when farm animals are given non-theapeutic doses of the drugs. The Preventing Antibiotic Resistance Act of 2013 directs the FDA to prohibit the use of human antibiotics given to healthy animals if doing so jeopardizes human health. The measure is also sponsored by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Jack Reed (D-RI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA). The bill would require agriculture producers and drug companies to demonstrate that antibiotics are used to terat "clinically diagnosable diseases", not just to make animals gain weight or compensate for poor growing conditions. Feinstein said in a statement, "antibiotics are the closest thing … [Read more...]
Humane Society Opposes Farm Bill
Note: On June 20, 2013, the House failed to pass the Farm Bill 195-234. Of the 273 votes against the bill, 172 were from Democrats and 62 were from Republicans. The current Farm Bill expires in September 2013. The Humane Society is opposing the Farm Bill proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives because of the "King Amendment", proposed by Steve King (R-IA) that may let states repeal laws on farm confinement, horse slaughter, and shark finning. The amendment is titled the "Protect Interstate Commerce Act". In addition, House Republican leadership is refusing to add any animal welfare-related amendments to the Bill. Humane Society advocates say that the King amendment "undermines the longstanding Constitutional rights of states to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their … [Read more...]
White House Threatens Veto of House Agriculture Appropriations Bill
In a Statement of Administration Policy issued June 25, 2013, the White House stated it strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 2410, making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2014. The Statement reads "it imposes harmful cuts in rural economic development, renewable energy development, nutrition programs, food safety, agricultural research, and international food aid. If the President were presented with H.R. 2410, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill." The deadline for action on this issue passed more than two months ago. Congress has still not appointed conferees and agreed on a budget resolution. The White House said they are "deeply concerned that the WIC funding level … [Read more...]
Two House Amendments Threaten Food Safety Modernization Act
The U.S. House of Representatives is considering two amendments to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) that will undermine rules protecting America's food supply. The House has taken up the Farm Bill after it, along with few amendments, was passed by the Senate this week. Update: The House just voted down the Farm Bill on Thursday afternoon. The current Farm Bill will expire in September, and a new one must be in place by then. Amendment 214, sponsored by Rep. Dan Benishek (R-MI) would stop the FDA from enforcing regulations until the government submits scientific and economic analysis of those regulations to Congress. That inhibits enforcement of FSMA regulations and undermines rules already in place. In addition, it would delay FDA's new rules on produce standards, import safety … [Read more...]
Florida Passes Bill Prohibiting Required Paid Employee Sick Leave
In a blow to food safety in restaurants, Florida Republican Governor Rick Scott signed HB 655 that takes effect July 1, 2013. The law bans local governments from requiring that companies give employees paid sick time. As Food Poisoning Bulletin has told you before, lack of paid sick leave can cause food poisoning outbreaks. While states do have laws requiring that sick employees do not handle food, many workers will come to work anyway because they need the money. Restaurant employees are usually paid low wages and receive almost no benefits. And a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that ill food handlers are to blame for most norovirus outbreaks in this country and 65% of the food poisoning outbreaks at restaurants. In just the last month, foodborne illness … [Read more...]
