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While I normally try to avoid anything political like the plague, this issue has me very worried.
I am talking about H.R. 875, also known as the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009. With all of the recent incidents of salmonella contaminated produce and tainted peanut butter, it is no wonder that something like this is being introduced into legislation.
On the surface, this bill is supposed to help “protect the public health by preventing food-borne illness, ensuring the safety of food, etc.” That sounds good and logical, doesn’t it? Of course it does…at least until you actually read the full text of the bill and it’s definitions.
(Read the full text here )
Two of the stated purposes of this bill are: “To regulate food safety and labeling” and “ensure that food establishments fulfill their responsibility to process, store, hold and transport food in a manner that protects public health…” While all of that sounds great, the particular fly in this ointment comes in the form of the bill’s definitions.
This bill lists the following definition for food establishments:
“ (A) IN GENERAL- The term ‘food establishment’ means a slaughterhouse (except those regulated under the Federal Meat Inspection Act or the Poultry Products Inspection Act), factory, warehouse, or facility owned or operated by a person located in any State that processes food or a facility that holds, stores, or transports food or food ingredients.“
The bill also states “(14) Food Production Facility — The term ‘food production facility’ means any farm, ranch, orchard, vineyard, aquaculture facility, or confined animal feeding operation.”
And this bill would require all ‘food establishments’ to register annually with the Food Safety Administration.
So, basically, any place where food is grown or cooked (like your back yard garden and your home kitchen) will have to be registered with the government and can expect to be fined up to $1,000,000 if you don’t comply with the regulations. Oh, and you can completely forget about trying to earn a couple of dollars by letting your neighbors buy up your extra zucchinis and tomatoes.
If this bill gets made into law…where is that going to leave farmer’s markets, home gardeners, the Amish (and other religious groups), the eco-friendly Green movement, etc.? The only people that will benefit from this bill becoming law will be the big AgriBusinesses (like Monsanto & Cargill). And where will this end?
Okay, maybe I am overreacting a bit, but I honestly don’t think it’s too much of a stretch of imagination to foresee this type of legislation leading to a George Orwellian/Big Brother future. It’s already within reach, what with so many people not knowing where their food comes from and the introduction of genetically modified foods on the market (anyone remember the movie, ‘Attack of the Killer Tomatoes’? ). And am I the only one that wonders why it is that food allergies are seen *only* in developed countries?
Regardless of this legislation, I am going to continue to grow as much food as I can. If that means that I will be breaking the law, so be it. I come from a long line of rebellious Scots-Irish hillbillies and thumbing my nose at the government is practically a genetic imperative.
Maybe I should go ahead and have a t-shirt made, with a picture of a farmer holding a pitchfork, that says “Public Health Menace” . Now, where did I leave my copy of Judas Priest singing “Breakin’ the Law”?
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In a state that goes crazy over March Madness basketball, a phenomenon has been building steam and is threatening to take over! That phenomenon is none other than the craze known as Kilt Rock!
Kilt Rock , in a nutshell, is an energetic mix of traditional Irish/Celtic music fused with modern rock-n-roll, with a little bit of folk, blues and bagpipes thrown in for good measure. Try to imagine that ’80′s dance classic “I’ll Stop the World and Melt with You” , originally by Modern English, done with bagpipes. It’s out of this world!
And at the forefront of Kilt Rock is the local band Mother Grove. This band has been around for over six years and their following keeps growing and growing. With five super talented and award winning musicians, it’s no wonder that they have taken the Indy music scene by storm. Unlike most “bar bands” Mother Grove play mostly their own original songs and their shows are so energetic that it is quite common for members of the barstaff and members of the crowd to get up and dance on the bar.
Since this is supposed to be a food blog, I suppose I should mention the food at Fionn MacCool’s, Mother Grove’s home away from home. Fionn MacCool’s menu has a good mix of traditional British/Irish fare and some modern American favorites. Some of my personal favorite dishes are the Shepherd’s Pie, the Full Irish Breakfast (black pudding included) and the Cashel Blue Cheese soup. Probably the most popular dishes however are the Fish & Chips and the Guinness Beef Stew.
If you are ever in the Indianapolis area, be sure to check out either Fionn MacCool’s or Mother Grove…or better yet, check out Mother Grove *at* Fionn MacCool’s!
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