The S510 Food Safety Act Smells Funny

Posted on Dec 1 2010 - 3:49am by Mike Lieberman

One of the biggest stories and bills that’s out there right now is the S510 Food Safety Modernization Act that recently passed Senate.

There is lots of speculation and to do about this bill because it can have a huge impact on growers both large and small. It’s written in legalese and has a bunch of amendments and additions to it that it’s confusing to follow and understand what’s going on. Grist.org has been covering the bill in more detail.

With all of that being said, there is one thing that I definitely don’t like about it with no question. The fact that former Monsanto Vice President, Michael Taylor is the Food Czar that would be overseeing the act and oversees the FDA.

That’s like appointing Charles Manson in charge of the prison system or a assigning a pedophile the role as principal. It’s just ridiculous and makes absolutely no sense. So much for the “change” that Obama was offering.

It’s just the same ol crap with politicians appointing people that have ties to be large corporations in authoritative positions. They don’t really have the best interest of people in mind. They have the best interest of their wallets and friends in mind.

This act is under the guise of food safety, but it’s just another way to control the people even more by giving more control to corporations (such as Monsanto).

In the jargon, the “Tester Amendment” has been included, which I think excludes individuals and small growers from all of the expensive measures that need to be taken to ensure “safety” of the food.

The larger issue is that they would even think about enacting something like this on all growers. It’s wrong on many levels.

Yes the small farmer and individuals have been spared, but like Public Enemy sang “Can’t Trust It.”

I think that this was done to get under the rug and something else is going on. Maybe I’m just being pessimistic and could be totally wrong. Hopefully I am, but I don’t feel good about this.

I’m all for celebrating the small victories, but this just smells worse than Staten Island in the 1990s.

We all need to continue to stand up start to grow our own food. Just one plant will show that you don’t want these huge corporations to control us and to control our food.

Knowing what is going on and being able to grow our own food is our given right. Exercise it!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSpteG6WJXo

8 Comments so far. Feel free to join this conversation.

  1. Marilisa December 10, 2010 at 2:16 pm -

    Thank you for sharing the information about S510. It’s a big help to me as I write about parenting and health. Your urban garden inspires me to get my rear in gear with organic gardening. I love your emphasis on repurposed planters. Your ideas remind me of my hillbilly stepfather who has been diy gardener since long before ‘green’, ‘diy’ became part of our urban dictionary. Now those people know how to improvise.

  2. Fusgeyer December 10, 2010 at 5:49 pm -

    Monsanto already controls the soybean production in the U.S. and most of the corn too. This will give them control over the entire food supply, is that what we really want?

  3. Alisa December 10, 2010 at 7:00 pm -

    i’m pretty upset about it too. it bugs me that groceries are soo high. i’d rather grow my own food if i can so i’m learning about growing indoors like an apartment where i live. i want to grow good lettuce and bell peppers and green beans because that’s what i buy. well, there’s more but i want to start small.

  4. veggiesbos December 17, 2010 at 12:00 am -

    holy crap- you’re right

  5. Anonynmous January 9, 2011 at 11:25 pm -

    Growing our own food is a God given RIGHT not just a privelege. This act is wrong on sooo many levels. If you control the food, you control the people. So much for liberty

  6. Mike Lieberman January 9, 2011 at 11:33 pm -

    Very well said.

  7. Gloria April 9, 2011 at 5:54 am -

    What ever happened with this bill I can’t find anything current on it! Was it passed?

  8. Mike Lieberman April 9, 2011 at 5:40 pm -

    It was passed.

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