20 Aug 2006
FDA OKs putting viruses on hot dogs, cold cuts

Ya know, they're probably right about there being little danger to the public from eating these bacteriophages. But what appalls me about this is the fact that, despite the massive use of antibiotics in the food supply, despite the overwhelming use of antiseptics and cleaning regimes, despite Federal and State inspections, they still feel obligated to take this step, because the food supply is still contaminated at a basic level, and these little buggers will help clean it up.

And that says more about our current agricultural/industrial complex than any virus ever could.

A mix of bacteria-killing viruses can be safely sprayed on cold cuts, hot dogs and sausages to combat common microbes that kill hundreds of people a year, federal health officials said Friday in granting the first-ever approval of viruses as a food additive.

(link) [CNN.com]

19:29 /Agriculture | 0 comments | permanent link

Bill targets state food label warnings

The label law in California is draconian to the point of absurdity - this tiff over vinegar illustrates it perfectly. But ... (you knew that was coming, right?)

As far as the Constitution of the United States is concerned, California has a perfect right to set whatever labeling standards for products sold within it's borders that it so chooses. The place to challenge and defeat this bit of nonsense is Sacramento, not Washington. The Federal government already controls all labels on products sold interstate - this is simply an extension of that power to the state level.

Of course, I suppose that in a world where the law can be stretched to the point where growing tomatoes in your back yard for your own use is "interstate commerce", anything goes.

AP - California importer Frank Lettieri is being sued for not warning his customers that his balsamic vinegar contains lead. True enough, he says. But you would have to drink more than a pint of the vinegar every day to reach the government limit for safe exposure to lead. Most people just sprinkle a few drops onto salads or bread.

(link) [Yahoo! News: Top Stories]

19:24 /Politics | 0 comments | permanent link