We only have a few more days to state our concerns to the USDA about the integrity of grass fed animals before the comment period closes and ruling begins.
"The Agriculture Department has proposed allowing animals to be labeled grass-fed even if they never saw a pasture and were fed antibiotics and hormones." We have to let our government know the importance of strict labeling standards on our food. We need a government we can trust; it's absolutely vital to our health. We need to let them know we will not tolerate hormone-induced animals, polluted water, and pesticide-laden, genetically modified produce labeled pure and natural for the sake of big business profit margins. If we don’t stand up now for our future, we will only have ourselves to blame.
Here’s a copy of the letter that recently went out to all Slow Food members, along with instructions and USDA email addresses...
Dear Members,Last week, The New York Times published an article about the controversy surrounding the imminent legislation of production and labeling standards for grass fed animals — and beef in particular.
Please help us defend the integrity of grass fed by signing (and personalizing) the following letter, and sending it to the email addresses below.
Please send your letter before August 10, when the comment period closes! The future integrity of the grass fed label is at stake.
Thank you for your timely and invaluable participation.
Slowest Regards,Erika Lesser
Executive Director
SEND TO: marketingclaim@usda.gov
CC: info@slowfoodusa.org
SUBJECT: Docket #LS-05-09
PERSONALIZE THE FOLLOWING LETTER & SEND IT TO:
marketingclaim@usda.gov
and leave comments @ www.regulations.gov
To read the docket: www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/stand/ls0509.txt
August 4, 2006To Whom It May Concern:
As a proud Slow Food member and “co-producer” (my buying choices impact agricultural policy and practice), I would like to provide my feedback on the USDA’s published-for-comment grass fed standards, Docket #LS-05-09.
[IF YOU WISH, INSERT YOUR MEAT BUYING STORY OR SHARE THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD, CLEAN & FAIR MEAT @ YOUR FAMILY’S TABLE]
I am pleased that the USDA has chosen to determine production and labeling standards for grass fed animals — beef in particular. I am however deeply concerned that the proposed standard neglects to specify that grass feeding take place outside, on pasture. The proposed rule currently makes no distinction between animals who eat grass on pasture, and animals who are fed harvested grass while in confinement or on a feedlot.
To me, the term grass fed is — and should continue to be — synonymous with animals having free access to pasture and/or range.
The term and label for grass fed should also mean no confinement.
Ultimately, I believe that grass fed should mean animals humanely raised in grass pastures from birth to harvest, the way nature intended.
Please do your part to ensure that the integrity of this definition survives the legislative process. This is absolutely necessary in order to preserve the value of the grass fed label and standard of quality for US consumers, and particularly for the health of my family and local community in City __________, State _______.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Name __________
Member of the ____________Convivium
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