Replies

>> It *is* a legitimate function of the government to set basic First World hygiene standards and mandate labeling for food and water so that we can know the truth about what we purchase, that it is represented accurately by the seller.

>It is not. How much taxpayer money should be wasted detecting grapefruit juice in juice labeled orange juice?

None. How about detecting pesticides in the OJ? That OK with you to enter the market without your knowledge? I guess if the govt. can’t do anything about food, nobody will detect it, because the OJ company with the unsafe factories in Mexico won’t tell you.

>How much taxpayer money should be spent regulating trans fats?

None. Gee, this is easy!

>Should they measure whether food was cooked in sunflower oil or sesame which is healthier uncooked but can burn when used for cooking?

None. Yawn.

>The bureaucrats you want to empower are excellent at splitting meaningless hairs while rubber stamping complete crap like the pet food.

Then the problem is not the mission, but with the crooks helming the agency.

>>>Then the problem is not the mission, but with the crooks helming the agency.

THAT is true.

The USDA use to be the farmer’s friend. Now, they are the enemy.

>>>How about detecting pesticides in the OJ?

Ironic isn’t. One of the biggest producers of those pesticides are the ones that have the USDA in their pocket.

http://www.flora.org/healthyottawa/HRSS-CHOsubmissionOct05.doc
Imidacloprid Facts – all about the grub-killer “Merit”

http://www.ocfp.on.ca/English/OCFP/Communications/CurrentIssues/Pesticides/default.asp
Ottawa College of Family Physicians.

I don't know what world you live in, but government bureaucrats will always regulate what is easy and politically correct to regulate like home producers. They will gladly heed the politicians who pulled NAFTA on us and allow tainted juice from Mexico. If that's a problem for you I would suggest buying local juice rather than trying to solve the endlessly deep and complex problem of figuring out how Mexicans can taint OJ. I guarantee you all the ways you have thought about, they will create another.

Can we at least agree that technology like internet communication and cheap testers can at least take some of the power away from the government? Can we also agree that "crooks" or at least incompetents will helm every government agency eventually?