Safe Food News Bulletin
Volume 1, Number 4
September 1, 1993
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HEADLINES:
- PR FIRMS SAYS BGH WON'T BENEFIT CONSUMERS
- CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL PASSES LABELING ORDINANCE
- AUSTRALIAN FOOD INSPECTORS WANT HORMONE DETECTION
SYSTEM OVERHAULED
- SENATOR AUTHORS FOOD SAFETY AGENCY BILL
- MALAYSIAN CONSUMER GROUP LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN AGAINST
SUGAR
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News Summaries
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PR FIRMS SAYS BGH WON'T BENEFIT CONSUMERS
According to a study by the Washington public relations firm Patton,
Boggs & Blow, consumers will not be better off after the approval of
bovine somatotropin (BST), or BGH as it is also known. "They will
enjoy little or no reduction in the prices of dairy products and will
have no choice but to purchase dairy products derived from BST-
treated cows, despite a preference for milk from untreated cows." In
addition, "producers will end up directly funding the cost of BST-
induced surpluses -- effectively reducing the price they receive for
milk by over 10%," the study concludes.
Wisconsin state Representative Al Baldus has introduced legislation
that will prevent the free distribution of BGH samples and establish a
system of labeling for BGH products. The Wisconsin Rural
Development Center (WRDC) says that the labeling proposal faces
stiff opposition in the Wisconsin legislature amidst fears that the
federal government could preempt state laws governing the labeling
of genetically engineered products.
Source: "BGH's Life Support System," WISCONSIN RURAL
DEVELOPMENT CENTER, August-September 1993.
CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL PASSES LABELING ORDINANCE
The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance recently that will
require genetically engineered foods and food products to bear the
words: "This food is genetically engineered." Punishment for not
using the label ranges from $25 for a first offense to $500 for a third
offense. Alderman John Madrzyk who authored the proposal said,
"I've been getting a lot of calls from my constituents who say they
would simply like to know when a product has been genetically
altered." Alderman Eugene Schulter expressed his full support for
the proposal, stating, "People have the right to know what they're
buying."
Reaction from industry groups has been predictably negative.
"They're regulating the business to death," said David Vite of the
Illinois Retail Merchants Association. "Posting 'warning' signs that
focus on the process by which a food was produced will be confusing
to consumers, who could well be misled into thinking there are
dangers connected with these products or that their nutritional value
has been diminished," said Laurel Nelson of the National Food
Processors Association. "In reality, these signs will provide no useful
health or safety information whatsoever to consumers."
Source: "NFPA Decries Chicago Ordinance Requiring Sign for
Biotechnology Foods," PR NEWSWIRE, August 26, 1993; Robert Davis,
"Watch Out for the Velociradishes, and Beware the Brontocelery,"
CHICAGO TRIBUNE, August 4, 1993.
AUSTRALIAN FOOD INSPECTORS WANT HORMONE DETECTION
SYSTEM OVERHAULED
Today, Australian Food Inspectors called for an overhaul of the
system used to detect the presence of Growth Promoting Hormones
(HGP) in meat products for export. The food inspectors, which are
represented by the Public Sector Union, criticize the current system
for the following reasons: the lack of a direct test for the presence of
HGP; the failure of a control program used to separate HGP meat from
non-HGP meat supplies for export to countries that do not accept
hormone-tainted products; the lack of a certification system that
requires farmers to certify their animals HGP-free; budget cuts that
will reduce the number of inspectors and quality of inspections; and
the reliance on hormone implant capsules to detect HGP (only one of
the nine hormones used in Australia can be detected by the
capsules).
As a result of the charges, the Union's demands include: the
development of a simple, cost-effective test for detection; the
accurate labeling of meat products from animals treated with HGP; a
complete review and overhaul of the current inspection system; and
an end to ensuring a safe meat supply to European consumers while
permitting the export of HGP-treated products to other consumers in
Asia and North America. HGPs include bovine somatotropin (BST) or
BGH.
Source: "Australian Growth Promotant (HGP) Testing Program:
Defective," AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC SECTOR UNION PRESS RELEASE,
September 1, 1993.
SENATOR AUTHORS FOOD SAFETY AGENCY BILL
As a result of the uncertainty surrounding the nation's system of
food inspection, Minnesota Senator Dave Durenberger sponsored
legislation earlier this summer that seeks to correct the problem.
The Food Safety and Inspection Agency Act of 1993 would create a
uniform, risk-based program for food inspection. Specifically, the act
would: create an independent agency to handle food inspection and
regulation, similar to the Environmental Protection Agency; preside
over all regulations and laws pertaining to food safety; establish
uniform food inspection regulations; and create an education
program for the purpose of disseminating information about the safe
handling of food to consumers. The legislation has been referred to
the Senate Committee on Government Affairs, chaired by John Glenn
(D-OH). This fall, the committee will decide whether or not to hold
hearings on the act and refer it to a floor vote if necessary.
Source: "Food Safety and Inspection Agency Act of 1993," UNITED
STATES SENATE MEMORANDUM, June 1993; Telephone
communication, Donna Knight, Senator Durenberger's Office,
September 1, 1993.
MALAYSIAN CONSUMER GROUP LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN
AGAINST SUGAR
With statistics showing that the average Malaysian consumes 21
teaspoons of sugar a day, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)
has launched a campaign to combat the excessive intake of sugar.
Diabetes, heart problems, obesity and periodontal disease are also
becoming more prominent in Malaysian society. The group is
seeking to combat advertising aimed at children which promotes
sweets as normal daily dietary requirements. S.M. Mohamed Idris,
president of CAP, questioned why Malaysians are increasing their
intake when Americans and Europeans are being cautioned to reduce
theirs. Idris said the focus of the campaign will be on educating
young people and that the public's response thus far had been
encouraging.
Source: "Sweetness and Sickness," UTUSAN KONSUMER, August 1993.
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Resources
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CRACKING THE CODEX: AN ANALYSIS OF WHO SETS
WORLD FOOD STANDARDS is a recent publication by the National
Food Alliance (NFA), based in the U.K. It examines the plan to
harmonize world food standards by a body called the Codex
Alimentarius under the current text of the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The report is critical of the lack of citizen
input and the over-representation of industry interests in the Codex.
The report is available for #35.00 (discounts available for nonprofit
organizations) from NFA, 5-11 Worship Street, 3rd Floor, London
EC2A 2BH, U.K., Tel: (44) 071-628-7261, Fax: (44) 071-628-7902.
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Conferences/Events
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FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE, September 8-12,
1993, El Escorial, Spain. FFI, call: (44) 244 831531, Fax: (44) 244
814305.
ANTISENSE SYMPOSIUM, September 9-10, 1993, Ames, IA.
sponsored by Pioneer Hi-Bred, ICI Seeds, American Cyanamid and
Procter & Gamble. FFI, contact: Cecil Stewart, Tel: (515) 294-1337.
ISSUES IN AGRICULTURAL BIOETHICS, September 13-17, 1993,
Nottingham, U.K. FFI, contact: Ben Mepham, University of
Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, tel: (44 -060) 251-6303, fax:
(44-060) 251-602.
INTERNATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY, September 14, 1993,
Washington D.C. FFI, contact: Richard Okiuye, Biotechnology
Industry Organization, Tel: (202) 857-0244, Fax: (202) 857-0237.
THE STATE OF THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY, September 14,
1993, Washington D.C. Presentation by Greg Simon, domestic policy
advisor in the office of the Vice President. Sponsored by the
Biotechnology Industry Organization. FFI, contact Tel: (202) 234-
3330, Fax: (202) 234-3565.
ORGANIC FARMING RESEARCH FOUNDATION CONFERENCE,
October 1-2, 1993, Oakland, CA. FFI, contact: Bob Scowcroft, OFRF,
P.O. Box 440, Santa Cruz, CA 95061, Tel: (408) 426-6606.
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Produced by: Michelle Thom, Institute for Agriculture and Trade
Policy, 1313 5th Street SE Suite 303, Minneapolis, MN 55414, Tel:
(612) 379-5980 Fax: (612) 379-5982 EMail: mthom@igc.org or
mmthom@alex.stkate.edu. In addition to this news bulletin, the
Institute publishes a variety of news bulletins on agriculture, the
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