Guest guest Posted March 17, 2003 Report Share Posted March 17, 2003 HEALTH Who Cares About Bad Meat? Apparently intent on demonstrating its undying loyalty to the meat industry, the White House will oppose any upcoming legislation that would force meat companies to reveal which stores carry recalled -- and potentially contaminated -- meat. According to Emily Gersema of the Associated Press, Elsa A. Murano, the USDA's undersecretary for food safety, announced enigmatically that such knowledge wouldn't help consumers anyhow, as meat is routinely sold to places other than restaurants and grocery stores. Murano's statement comes as lawmakers, such as Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), consider legislation to prevent further food-poisoning outbreaks, Gersema reports. DeLauro hasn't been afraid to suggest that a law telling consumers where bad meat is sold would protect the public. ''This is not about a company's bottom line,'' suggests DeLauro. ''This is about the public's safety.'' As it now stands, the USDA obtains lists of those businesses which purchase meat before announcing any recalls, but the department is barred from publicizing those lists, as they are considered " proprietary trade information. " The logically-challenged Murano observes that, if those lists are made public, distributors will be less cooperative in delivering them to the USDA. Consumer Federation of America's Food Policy Institute (which has more information on the issue) head Carol Tucker Foreman remarks that, ''If even one person took action based on having the information and therefore avoided getting sick, it would be worth having that information available...I think that USDA has decided once again to protect its political contributors in the meat industry, rather than to protect public health. " Gettingwell- / Vitamins, Herbs, Aminos, etc. To , e-mail to: Gettingwell- Or, go to our group site: Gettingwell Web Hosting - establish your business online Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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