General Discussion
Showing Original Post only (View all)Hillary Clinton, the TPP, and Protecting Our Food [View all]
One of the downsides of the TPP will be its affect on food labeling and food inspection. What concerns me is that, without country of origin labeling or proper food inspection, consumers in the US will not have the information they need to make choices about food they buy. An example from the past and present that comes to mind is the US government's downplaying of the ongoing effects of the Fukushima disaster, the lack of inspection of or restrictions on imports from Japan, and the cessation of EPA testing for the presence of Radioactive particles in the air, water, and soil.
What is especially disturbing for me is Hillary Clinton's alleged role, as secretary of state, in allowing import of food products from Japan without restriction. Other nations have inspected and rejected imported goods from Japan -- including food, autos, and other products. We have yet to hear from Secretary Clinton about these issues, and I would like her to verify whether the following statement is true:
From: http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/06/15/whats-really-going-on-at-fukushima/
This is important for me. If Clinton did agree not to test food from Japan and this was done in the interest of not offending our trading partner Japan, then I would question whether the FDA under Clinton -- and even more so with tribunals compelling us to accept Japanese products (even if contaminated) -- would vigorously defend the health and well-being of American consumers.
I would like her to weigh in on this and to give an account of why other countries are screening food from Japan, but the United States is apparently not.
Edited to correct: The US has resumed testing of food from Japan, but "safe level" standards have changed, and not all types of contamination are tested.