HR 875

I've been bombarded the past few weeks with the same forwarded hysterical email about HR875, (introduced by Rep. Rosa DeLauro), which states that the bill will put small organic farmers out of business and is being pushed by Monsanto (and DeLauro's Monsanto lobbyist husband). Guess what? These statements are NOT true and the bill does have good elements.

I talked to Organic Consumers Association, a leader in the sustainable food movement, to get some clarification. Staff from the reputable group allayed my fears and told me they "supports aspects of HR875 that call for mandatory recalls of tainted food, increased scrutiny of large slaughterhouses and food manufacturers, and hefty fines against companies that send poisonous food to market."

And, more importantly, agribusiness companies like Monsanto, not this bill, are a bigger threat to organic farmers. It would be better if our hysteria was directed at the serious, real threats to organic farming such as Genetically Modified Organisms that are pushed by these companies. Get involved with the Organic Consumers Association to protect organics.

(photo: Mark Tighe, flickr, Creative Commons)