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."
Excellent point. It shows where the priorities are for turkeys like Leahy, they legislate the sale of fake syrup to be a felony.
So then why do we need a new law?
It’s time we realize that they are a bunch of jokers in the senate!!! This is what they are wasting taxpayers time on?
I think they used to hang them in Great Britain if the were found to have added sugar to their beer brewing but I can understand that.
Smugglers will hide them inside bags of crack in an attempt to get a lighter sentence
if leaky leahy is arguing about syrup this means he does not have time to screw up important issues.
“We want Dogs in our Hot Dogs”
Do you want real girl scouts in your girl scout cookies, too! LOL!
Maybe the occupy Wall Street hippies can demand lower price on Maple Syrup. /s
Of course it takes 5 gallons of sap to make a gallon of syrup.
In all honesty do we need the Senate to take up this?
As someone who loves VT, most of the NATIVES (most of the natives are slowly dieing or moving) hate both Leahy and Sanders. The people who voted for those MORONS are the New Vermont Citizens -- people from New York City who wants to get back to nature (by banning Success!!).
Vermont needs lots of Conservatives to move in to get Sanders and Leahy out!!
How about we just make being a fake Senator an offense?
I’m glad there are no Krauts in my sauerkraut.
I stopped buying Vermont maple syrup when that crumb bum Jeffords switched parties.
“Of course it takes 5 gallons of sap to make a gallon of syrup.”
That should be 40 gallons.
Selling fake maple syrup should be a capital crime.
When I wake up in the morning, I want real maple syrup, not some corn syrup confection.
Patrick Leahy is right on this one.
A felony? You have to be kidding. This sounds more like a civil thing than a criminal action?
Oh boy. Here we go. I have run up the white flag on that hill.
It’s Seer - up
Great drawing. I love the little boy with the horn.
But I thought they were actually tied horizontally to a rail, not sitting up like that.
Mrs. P2 and I both like “the real thing”, but pronunciation is a deep chasm.
So, go make a citizen's arrest of Zer0.
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