Posted on 10/21/2011 10:49:20 AM PDT by jazusamo
Six senators introduced legislation that would make selling fake maple syrup a felony offense that can lead to fines and up to five years in prison.
The Maple Agriculture Protection and Law Enforcement (MAPLE) is a response to what chief sponsor Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and others say is the increasing practice of cheating Vermont, upstate New York and other maple syrup regions by selling inferior, fake syrup.
"I have been alarmed by the growing number of individuals and businesses claiming to sell genuine Vermont maple syrup when they are in fact selling an inferior product that is not maple syrup at all," Leahy said Thursday. "This is fraud, plain and simple, and it undermines a key part of Vermont's economy and reputation for quality that has been hard-earned through Vermonters' hard work."
He added that others in the syrup-producing regions of Maine, New York and other states also have been hurt. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) are all cosponsors.
Under current law, fraudulently selling fake maple syrup is a misdemeanor offense.
Under the bill, S. 1742, selling fake maple syrup would be listed as an act of fraud that is seen as a felony offense, along with falsifying bank entries, mortgage transactions, loan applications, citizenship records and dozens of other activities.
"We need to make sure that those who intentionally deceive consumers get a trip to jail, not a slap on the wrist," Leahy said. "Schemers should not easily be able to sully the seal of quality that is associated with genuine Vermont maple syrup."
The bill specifically lists what qualifies as real maple syrup: a liquid food derived from heating tree sap or mixing water and maple sugar. In either case, not less than 66 percent of the weight of the product must be "soluble solids derived solely from the sap of a species of tree in the genus Acer."
I only like FAKE MAPLE syrup!~
The only good maple syrup is fake maple syrup.
For the most part that gives you all the flavor you need.
Bi-partisan! Yippee! Success!
This is what the U.S. Congress is wasting its time and taxpayer’s money on?
Might look into that stuff someday ~ all of you.
I'm always reminded of that when I see a reference to gypsum wallboard!
Sounds more like birch syrup.
That’d be the Mohawk method, but it’s not really a pole it’s a SPIT, and they put you over the fire to roast.
These are the kinds of issues our Constitution exists to deal with. -sarc- Sheesh. Maple syrup.
It’s about individuals selling 100% corn syrup as genuine maple, labeled as genuine maple.
Another day another stupid law. Rush was right when he said “My favorite congress is a congress than never meets.”
Ditto for me.
Mapleine + sugar + water = Yum!
it is easy......... really easy
i tap my tree that produces several gallons of sap each day in january. then boil it down.
ten gallons of sap makes a quart of syrup.
“Aunt Jemima, Log Cabin , Mrs Butterworth”
They’re all going to JAIL!
Maybe you too, eh?
Put my daughter in there too, she always liked the fake syrup better, drove her father and me nuts.
"Did you really think we want those laws observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We want them to be broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against... We're after power and we mean it... There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted and you create a nation of law-breakers and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Reardon, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."
('Atlas Shrugged' 1957)
well, we’re conservatives. just trying to conserve money and natural resources ;-)
OMG Poor Mrs Butterworth LOL!
That classic photo Monk ROFL
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.