“Buyers beware. The farm bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives is dangerous to your health. It includes a provision that may, literally, make you sick to your stomach. The provision certainly increases your risk of contracting food-borne illness from contaminated meat or poultry because it ends the requirement that meat or poultry cannot be sold across state lines unless a federal inspector, sworn to protect public health, has determined the product is safe, wholesome, and accurately labeled. Forty years of uniform federal safety standards are thrown out in favor of allowing meat and poultry inspected by state governments to be sold anywhere in the U.S. or abroad. The bill does not, however, permit states to set higher health standards.” (10/01/07)