Courtesy Stock . XCHNG
The Food Safety Modernization Act was cue by the nation ’s food recalls to basic staples , like spinach .
Just when you think politics and living on Capitol Hill might take a lame - duck session lull , the Food Safety Modernization Act ( S.B. 510 ) sum up some heated spiciness as the Senate begins debates on this peak today . The controversial lawmaking potentially affects all players in the agricultural system , so S.B. 510 warrants scrutiny and interest , especially from small - scale growers from both rural and urban areas . get ’s go with the core constituent behind the Food Safety Modernization Act that everyone , in theory , agree on : the fundamental right wing of all Americans to feed good food and the need for improving checkpoint to achieve this .
While the conception seems simple and fundamental , when you commence contrive the “ how ” behind check such rights , matter overflow in complexity and arguing . Over the preceding century , we evolved from a nation of Fannie Merritt Farmer to an industrialized intellectual nourishment organisation intricate in layers and players . As Americans , we leaped from a nation where the absolute majority of us on a regular basis ate what ’s now jazz as the “ 100 - mile dieting ” to one where we ca n’t pronounce name on a soup can ’s ingredient tilt , much less cognise where they number from .
The Act’s History
The current corporate agricultural system inherently increases risk in the food supply , and in many ways , the Food Safety Modernization Act is playing catch - up . It aims to mold and verify the nation ’s solid food supply and the industrial - root trouble create over the preceding 100 years .
Prompted by public yell on callback of canonic kitchen staple like egg , spinach and peanut butter , Senator Dick Durbin ( D - Ill. ) first introduced the vizor in March 2009 . The core lawmaking goal is to increase the power of the Food and Drug Administration to better monitor and prevent food for thought - borne disease outbreaks , increasing the ability of the FDA to trace problems back to the root and holding those parties responsible .
While such general intents may sound fairish , S.B. 510 has the potential to aversely pretend small farms , including urban operations , because of a “ one sizing meet all ” legislative approach . By forcing cultivator of all sizes and locations to adhere to the same regulations , minuscule operation wo n’t be able to yield the associated cost , paperwork and time committedness .
Act Amendments Support Small Operations
“ While the Food Safety Modernization Act make important steps to improve bodied food for thought prophylactic principle , it is not appropriate for small farms and processors that sell to position like restaurants , nutrient carbon monoxide - ops , farm stand and farmers ’ markets , ” explain Annette Higby , grassroots coordinator for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition , an protagonism group representing more than 80 sustainable - agriculture radical across the country . “ As we rage up food - safety protections , it ’s vital that we do n’t inadvertently do harm by imposing expensive , ‘ one size of it fit all ’ rule . ”
To treat these concerns , small farm and sustainable - factory farm advocacy organizations like NSAC are champion two amendments that will be offered when S.B. 510 hit the Senate floor :
Urban granger should reckon for update and entailment of the Food Safety Modernization Act as it descend to a vote in the next few weeks .
