Bill sought to add new layer of bureaucracy

This is for “Steve from Sandpoint” who left a message on my answering machine on May 3.

Yes Steve, I read HR875. You may not have found any information regarding the definition of “food producers” because you had the bill number wrong. A food production facility is defined as “any farm, ranch, vineyard, etc.”

HR875 sought to create another taxpayer-funded bureaucracy authorized to trespass on such “producers’” property to “enhance food-borne illness surveillance systems to improve the collection, analysis, reporting, and usefulness of data on food-borne illnesses,” and to determine that it “has continuous preventive control systems, interventions, and processes in place to minimize or eliminate contaminants in food;” (Sec. 205 and 207). As contaminants are defined in this bill as anything that might cause food-borne illness, organic gardeners would be in deep trouble as our food is live.

This bill was sponsored by the same agribusinesses it claims to regulate, which brings its intent into doubt. You can find more information in the May/June 09 Co-op Country Round-up; March 09 Idaho Observer (www.idaho-observer.com) or at www.westonaprice.org.

Next time you call me with a question, please leave your number so I can call you back. Thank you.

ANNE WILDER CHAMBERLAIN

Priest River