The recent pet food poisoning disaster has provided agriculture with a GOLDEN opportunity!! Every farm organization should be monitoring the news reports and finding ways to plug in.
I am blown away by the fact it was the death of pets that broke the story! Major food recalls and human illness has NOT exploded into the media like this story has. Perhaps it has more to do with the fact that the company imported something they could have bought in North America, that started it all.
Certainly, the almost daily exposure of the widening product list that was tainted with melamine is part of the issue. Articles and news stories about the government and the CFIA are starting to hit the air ways as well. Just last week, CTV had a major story about the issue and touched on the CFIA , the lack of standards for imported product and the fact that Canadian farmers must adhere to a higher standard for domestic food than imports from other countries.
I am blown away by the fact it was the death of pets that broke the story! Major food recalls and human illness has NOT exploded into the media like this story has. Perhaps it has more to do with the fact that the company imported something they could have bought in North America, that started it all.
Certainly, the almost daily exposure of the widening product list that was tainted with melamine is part of the issue. Articles and news stories about the government and the CFIA are starting to hit the air ways as well. Just last week, CTV had a major story about the issue and touched on the CFIA , the lack of standards for imported product and the fact that Canadian farmers must adhere to a higher standard for domestic food than imports from other countries.
This issue has been upsetting farmers for a long time. Every time the government has been questioned about this glaring in-equity, responses have been luke warm, at best. "Equivalency standards" for imported food has never been good enough, in the view of farmers. The public, however, did NOT understand this part of the issue and agriculture never seemed to be able to or want get that message out there!
A quick check of news stories on the CTV site brings up a lot of stuff, including some 'Special Reports' in the works. The subject matter is Food Safety and Food Security!
Since Dairy Farmers of Canada has been discussing this issue and trying to focus the political interest on this important topic, they need to start talking to CTV asap!
Currently, CTV is focusing on the 'Local" food movement and one man's attempt to inform Canadians about this issue. More needs to be done with the groups that represent farmers and the importance of keeping Canadian farmers viable in Canada, the crisis in some industries, the problems with the border and imports like MCP.
Milk Protein Concentrate (MCP) is in a dry form and so was wheat gluten. Without confirmation of sources, labelling laws, appropriate tariffs and standards, no one can confirm what this stuff is, in ice cream, cheese and who knows what else. The issue could & should receive front and centre media coverage.
After all, the pet food mess is all about consumer education and understanding of the problems ultimately involved with free trade. The cheapest source can have a cost people are not willing to pay.
The government reacts to public pressure and anything that will raise that bar, right now, is critical.
For more articles about this important issue, see Dariblawg del.icio.us
A quick check of news stories on the CTV site brings up a lot of stuff, including some 'Special Reports' in the works. The subject matter is Food Safety and Food Security!
Since Dairy Farmers of Canada has been discussing this issue and trying to focus the political interest on this important topic, they need to start talking to CTV asap!
Currently, CTV is focusing on the 'Local" food movement and one man's attempt to inform Canadians about this issue. More needs to be done with the groups that represent farmers and the importance of keeping Canadian farmers viable in Canada, the crisis in some industries, the problems with the border and imports like MCP.
Milk Protein Concentrate (MCP) is in a dry form and so was wheat gluten. Without confirmation of sources, labelling laws, appropriate tariffs and standards, no one can confirm what this stuff is, in ice cream, cheese and who knows what else. The issue could & should receive front and centre media coverage.
After all, the pet food mess is all about consumer education and understanding of the problems ultimately involved with free trade. The cheapest source can have a cost people are not willing to pay.
The government reacts to public pressure and anything that will raise that bar, right now, is critical.
For more articles about this important issue, see Dariblawg del.icio.us
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