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U.S. military purchases Gulf of Mexico seafood, boosting an industry battered by oil spill
Washington Post ^ | 6 February 2011 | Mary Foster

Posted on 02/06/2011 8:20:05 PM PST by Racehorse

Sales of Gulf of Mexico seafood are getting a boost from the military after being hammered by last year's BP oil spill, which left consumers fearing that the water's bounty had been tainted.

Ten products, including fish, shrimp, oysters, crab cakes, and packaged Cajun dishes such as jambalaya and shrimp etouffee are being promoted at 72 base commissaries along the East Coast, said Milt Ackerman, president of Military Solutions Inc., which is supplying seafood to the businesses.

Gulf seafood sales fell sharply after a BP gulf well blew out in April, spewing millions of gallons of oil into the sea. Consumers have long feared that fish, oysters and other products could be tainted by oil and chemicals used to fight the spill, although extensive testing has indicated the food is safe. The perception has lingered - along with the poor sales.

SNIP

The Defense Department-run Defense Commissary Agency - known as DeCa - sells groceries to military personnel, reservists, retirees and their families at cost plus a 5 percent surcharge. The stores have emphasized healthy diets as part of first lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" fitness and health campaign.

"What fits in with that better than seafood?" Ackerman said.

SNIP

The commissaries deal was brokered by Ready 4 Takeoff, a group that has worked since Hurricane Katrina to help the Gulf Coast, and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus. Mabus was appointed by President Barack Obama in June to oversee the Gulf's recovery from BP's massive oil spill, which began in April.

DeCa spokesman Kevin Robinson said the agency viewed promoting Gulf seafood as an opportunity to expand its focus on domestic seafood and broaden choices for commissary shoppers.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government
KEYWORDS: military; obama; oilspill; seafood
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1 posted on 02/06/2011 8:20:11 PM PST by Racehorse
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To: Racehorse

An intreprid reporter would do well to explore how the purchases were made and if any of the vendors are connected to the D party in Mississippi.


2 posted on 02/06/2011 8:31:01 PM PST by flying Elvis ("In...War, the errors which proceed from a spirit of benevolence are the worst" Clausewitz.)
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To: Racehorse

“Mabus was appointed by President Barack Obama in June to oversee the Gulf’s recovery”.

Kinda like Michael Taylor—former Vice Prez of Monsanto; Ladyboy appointed him “Safety” Food Czar.

Barry Soetoro poisons our military men and women, after bankrupting the hard working fishermen of the Gulf.

FUBarry


3 posted on 02/06/2011 8:32:18 PM PST by Mortrey (Impeach President Soros)
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To: Racehorse

So how was the bidding process done in order to determine the seafood supplier?

And how much will it cost us in health bills from contaminating our men and women in the armed forces?


4 posted on 02/06/2011 8:35:45 PM PST by Tempest (I put money ahead of people)
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To: Racehorse

Bad enough when you’re fired upon. Now you have to be poisoned, as well....?


5 posted on 02/06/2011 8:39:32 PM PST by edpc (It's Kräusened)
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To: Racehorse

Gulf Shrimp Syndrome


6 posted on 02/06/2011 8:40:01 PM PST by edpc (It's Kräusened)
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To: Tempest
“And how much will it cost us in health bills from contaminating our men and women in the armed forces?”

Why would you say that??
There are no reports that I have seen indicating any problems with any Gulf seafood.
I have no problem eating any products from the Gulf.

7 posted on 02/06/2011 8:40:51 PM PST by HereInTheHeartland (Vote like Obama is on the ballot)
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To: Racehorse
Jambalaya!
8 posted on 02/06/2011 8:40:58 PM PST by smokingfrog ( BORN free - taxed to DEATH (and beyond) ...)
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To: edpc

I eat fresh caught gulf shrimp every week. Quality is good.


9 posted on 02/06/2011 8:50:24 PM PST by Kirkwood (Zombie Hunter)
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To: Kirkwood

Great to hear!


10 posted on 02/06/2011 8:59:34 PM PST by NoLibZone (Obama must be impeached and tried for treason.)
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To: flying Elvis
..... Oh...you cynic!

.... these are honest purchases from hard work'n folks ... (incidental donars) to the people's party!!!!

C'mon readers follow the money where does it lead?

11 posted on 02/06/2011 9:01:58 PM PST by pointsal
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To: Kirkwood

Probably, those of use who regularly consume seafood at restaurants or make purchases from the grocer do so without knowing from whence those shrimp came. Taste-wise, no complaint from me!

As for what they do for my bad and good cholesterol levels . . . only that yearly visit to the doc can tell. So far, so good.


12 posted on 02/06/2011 9:06:07 PM PST by Racehorse (Always preach the Gospel . . . . Use words if necessary.)
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To: Racehorse

I wish I could get seafood from the GoM. Our local grocery has never carried it. Some comes from NC the rest from Taiwan. Those who think that it’s poisoned don’t have a clue.


13 posted on 02/06/2011 9:06:38 PM PST by TigersEye (Who crashed the markets on 9/28/08 and why?)
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To: Kirkwood

I’d probably wait awhile. Then again, I used to live in MD and eat the local catches. Can’t say the Chesapeake is exactly pristine.


14 posted on 02/06/2011 9:14:49 PM PST by edpc (It's Kräusened)
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To: Tempest; Racehorse
And how much will it cost us in health bills from contaminating our men and women in the armed forces?

I live on the Gulf Coast and have continued to eat seafood from the Gulf. It's perfectly fine!

15 posted on 02/06/2011 9:40:27 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
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To: Paleo Conservative

How long before the oysters are cleared for consumption? I’m jonesing for some good oysters right now.


16 posted on 02/06/2011 9:44:00 PM PST by flying Elvis ("In...War, the errors which proceed from a spirit of benevolence are the worst" Clausewitz.)
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To: Paleo Conservative

Surely not all areas of the Gulf coast were affected the same by the infamous spill. What’s bothersome is the lack of transparency about how seafood is screened. Last I heard, they were counting on humans to literally smell out the tainted parts of the catch. While that might detect grossly contaminated fish, it doesn’t raise great confidence about smaller degrees of contamination. If the official fish smeller is getting a cold, he or she could let some bad stuff by. Why not, at least, use dogs?


17 posted on 02/06/2011 10:18:30 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (I am in America but not of America (per bible: am in the world but not of it))
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To: flying Elvis
"How long before the oysters are cleared for consumption? I’m jonesing for some good oysters right now."

The Gulf of Mexico is a big place. There are plenty of oyster beds unaffected by the spill. Those beds contaminated are still off limits for harvesting. Enjoy any you can find....they're perfectly save.

18 posted on 02/07/2011 4:49:54 AM PST by Wonder Warthog
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To: HiTech RedNeck

http://www.louisianaseafoodnews.com/2011/01/02/a-step-by-step-journey-how-gulf-seafood-is-deemed-%E2%80%9Csafe%E2%80%9D/


19 posted on 02/07/2011 4:52:34 AM PST by Wonder Warthog
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To: HereInTheHeartland; edpc; Racehorse; TigersEye; Paleo Conservative; HiTech RedNeck; ...

Check the links on Zero Hedge article

Meanwhile Back in the Other Gulf

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/meanwhile-back-other-gulf

BP worked hand in glove with Mubarak Dictatorship

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/02/bp-worked-hand-in-glove-with-mubarak.html


20 posted on 02/07/2011 5:37:48 AM PST by Whenifhow
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