From remarks posted on the Alabama Democratic Party blog:
“All it takes is one harmful contaminant to change thousands and possibly even hundreds of thousands of lives. What if instead of our beloved pets, the tainted product was baby formula, or cereal? What is more important than the health of our kids? As parents, we would not take a chance with their health.
People have a right to know that what they are eating and what they are feeding their children and their pets is safe. That is one of the reasons Country of Origin Labeling was initiated last year as a pilot project for fresh vegetables and produce by the Alabama Grocer’s Association. We know where everything we buy comes from, whether it’s clothing, a big screen TV, or a car. With so many food products coming into our country from around the world, I believe people should have a choice when it comes to what they want to eat even in restaurants. Many food products from other countries are completely safe, but based on testing at our state food lab many products such as the Vietnamese seafood contains banned substances.”
So I ask: Why are we importing food from China anyway? Why, when we have plenty of catfish swimming in Alabama waters, are we even considering importing catfish from Vietnam?
I remember studying in elementary school that a major source of the United States’ strength was the fact that “we can feed ourselves.”
People talk about how important oil is to our national security, and that’s certainly true. But think how much more important it is to have a safe, reliable, and affordable food supply! Fortunately, we have an agriculture commissioner who understands that. I’m thrilled at the work Ron Sparks has done on food safety and promoting Alabama farm products.
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