Food Safety?

Increasing numbers of our legislators are questioning the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), but others claim it’s a food safety measure. During my numerous meetings with senior congressional staff in recent months, food safety came up more than any other issue. For some politicians this issue overshadows all arguments against NAIS: the lack of scientific basis, the costs and intrusion on privacy, the coercive measures being used to implement it.

In a sad commentary on our political system, emotional appeals to food safety outweigh the plain fact that NAI S will not improve food safety. Most food-borne illnesses come from bacterial or viral contamination of food at slaughterhouses, food processing, or food-handling facilities, which means tracking live animals is of little or no use. Moreover, NAI S would harm local small-scale farmers who truly do provide traceable food for increasing numbers of consumers.

I explained these facts to the congressional staff I met with, trying to counter the pro-NAIS propaganda. But legislators are most concerned with what their constituents think—that means you and your neighbors. If you want to retain your right to raise food safely and sustainably, you need to remain informed and active in fighting against NAIS.

Please continue to spread the word. At www. farmandranchfreedom.org you can sign up for free email alerts, and download materials to educate people in your community. Also check out the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund at www.farmtoconsumer.org. The Fund is working on a court challenge to stop NAIS, which could be a critical turning point in protecting grass-based farms from this intrusive and burdensome program.

Judith McGeary
Austin, TX