Food Safety

When ordering off a menu, do you know where food is coming from?

Most people don’t.

And we don’t believe swapping safety for commerce is ever a fair trade.

The U.S. Congress passed a law in June of 2008 requiring all imported catfish and related species be inspected by the USDA before being sold to American consumers. Congress wanted to ensure that catfish would be treated to the same USDA protections for safety as beef and poultry.

While we’re waiting, only 2 percent of the 5.2 billion pounds of imported seafood – including catfish and catfish-like products — is being inspected for U.S. health and safety standards.

Congress did not intend to make Americans wait for health and safety protection. Americans need to be guaranteed that imported catfish and related fish are held to the same tough health and safety standards as imported meat and poultry.

Background on unsafe imports
Associated Press article, “Ala.: Unapproved Substance Found in Fish Imports”
Intrafish article, “Catfish Ads Aimed at Politicians”
Food Safety News article, “Catfish Farmers Attempt to Hook USDA”
Mississippi Business Journal article, “Catfish Industry Launches Campaign”
Mid-South Farmer article, “Catfish Farmers Want Imports Inspected”
Delta Farm Press article, “Catfish Farmers: USDA delay harmful”
Associated Press article, “Catfish Farmers seek inclusion”
Delta Democrat Times article, Catfish Farmers seek inclusion”

All Catfish should be treated equally
View the latest print ad featured in The Hill. (JPG)
View CFA “Thank You” advertisements to members of U.S. Congress. (PDF)
View the latest print ads featured in Politico — here(PDF) and here (PDF)
View the latest print ad featured in Roll Call. (PDF)
View the latest print ad featured in Politico and the Washington Post. (PDF)
View the latest web ad featured in Politico, National Journal and Roll Call. (Flash)
View the latest color ad featured in Politico. (PDF)

News & Opinion
Asian imports devastating catfish industry in Texas and across the South The Star-Telegram, March 27, 2010
Seeding a safer world Guardian (UK), October 16, 2009
Food Safety Website Launched Congress Daily, September 10, 2009
Measure to Overhaul Food-Safety Laws Fails in House Bloomberg, July 30, 2009
USDA should reform meat import approvals: lawmaker Reuters, July 30,2009
Conference Scehduled for Food Safety Next Year Farm Futures, July 30, 2009
House Rejects Food Bill July 29, 2009
Kicking Around Chinese Chickens by DeLauro July 29, 2009
Chew on Food Safety Reform Monterey County Herald, July 26, 2009
The High Cost of Cheap Food Denver Post, July 19, 2009
The Food Fight Denver Post, July 12, 2009
Whats Behind the Way We Eat National Catholic Reporter, June 22, 2009
Mississippi catfish farmers say Vietnam is sinking their business LA Times, June 16, 2009
Industrialized Farming Endangers World Food Supply June 11, 2009
Are Genetically Midified Foods Safe? May 16, 2009
Diseased Animals Tracking System in Need of Repair Time, May 07, 2009

Films
Food Inc Robert Kenner 2009
Fresh The Way We Are Eating 2009
Fast Food Nation Richard Linklater 2006