Make Sure Food Safety Legislation Does Not Shut Down Local Foods

The Senate will soon consider far reaching, new federal food safety legislation that threatens to overwhelm small direct market farms and processors. The legislation, spurred by dangerous foodborne pathogens in long industrial food chains that have proven difficult to trace and remedy, fails to take into account the inherent accountability of the existing local and state regulatory framework that governs local food producers.

Contact your Senators and ask them to vote for the Tester amendment to fix the FDA Federal Food Safety Modernization Act (S.510) so it does not take away one of the bright emerging spots in wholesome, healthy food and local jobs and income.

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Background

In August, a recall to prevent the spread of salmonella contaminated eggs involved over half a billion eggs pulled off supermarket shelves in over 12 states under at least 25 different labels, even though they originated on just two related farms in Iowa. The story is emblematic of a highly concentrated food system characterized by long and difficult to trace supply chains and distribution systems. This situation is what S. 510 is supposed to address.

Unfortunately, without Sen. Tester’s common sense amendment to S. 510, the bill threatens to undermine the resurgence of vibrant local food businesses supplying growing consumer desire to know their producers and buy fresh, wholesome local produce, meat and other products.

Pending food safety legislation in the U.S. Senate threatens to overwhelm small local foods businesses primarily engaged in direct marketing to their consumers. This healthy, fresh food alternative has been heartily embraced by Americans.

Longstanding state and local health and sanitation laws are in place and continue to provide oversight for the small processors and local farmers market vendors. The emergence of deadly pathogens that are difficult to trace are a function of a long and complex industrial food chain, which should be the focus of this legislation, not small local food.

Direct market sales are inherently transparent, accountable, and traceable and do not need a federal agency to enforce these values.

WORC fact sheet

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