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Farm World reader worried about potential food safety bills
I am writing as a concerned citizen about the various bills that are being introduced in Congress regarding “food safety,” namely HR 875, as well as HR 814, HR 425 and HR 759.

Due to serious health problems with our children, our family has researched and proven the benefits of organic whole foods for over 10 years.

We know many other families that are healthy because they choose meats, vegetables, fruits and dairy products that have not been devalued of nutrition by processes like irradiation, or tainted by antibiotics, vaccinations, pesticides, fungicides and genetic modification. We have grown as much of our own food as possible, which by the way is how most survivors of the Great Depression were able to get by.

HR 875 crushes the rights of U.S. citizens to grow their own food and mandates government control over every food source. The complexity of rules, inspections, licensing fees and million-dollar penalties are tyrannical and inappropriate, and appear to be designed to put the small farmers and organic agricultural entrepreneurs out of business in a hurry.

In addition, they will strip away the choice of citizens to pursue health, which can only be obtained by the availability of unaltered, nutritious foods. We are aware of the conflict of interests between those who introduced this bill with Monsanto, among other major food corporations.

Where are the checks and balances?

With the obliteration of farmers’ markets, the family goat or cow, victory gardens and healthy meats and dairy products, where will you get your food?

Sincerely,
Mrs. Deborah Osborne
Shirley, Ind.
4/15/2009