Proposed FDA Regulations Threaten Small Farmers

Posted by Heartmind _Featured_, Health-Wellness Friday, October 15th, 2010

Small farmers in California are currently facing new food safety legislation that would bring them under the strict supervision of the Food and Drug Administration, which they say will make it harder for them to survive.

The proposed laws would mandate a range of programs intended to improve food safety, giving the FDA greater authority to regulate how products are grown, stored, transported, inspected, traced from farm to table, and recalled when needed.

Unlike big corporate farms, small farmers would be less able to handle the inevitable costs that the big-farm oriented regulations would impose, which is a concern that they feel is being ignored.

“The organic people are feeling that the regulations the FDA may promulgate will be so safety oriented, it’ll put them out of business”, said Rep. Sam Farr.

The new legislation comes on the heels of recent contaminations of salmonella, E. Coli, and other types, but according to some farmers, it doesn’t take into consideration the other probable causes of such contaminations.

Tom Willey, a California organic farmer, said the legislation “does not take on the industrial animal industry and the abuses going on. The really dangerous organisms we’re dealing with out here, and trying to protect our produce and other foodstuffs from, are coming out the rear end of domestic animals.”

Full article: http://www.sfgate.com/