Tester Amendment Protects Small Farmers in Food Safety Bill

Wright County Egg, Hillendale Farms, Kellogg's — these are just a few of the massive producers who sickened thousands of Americans this year through contaminated food. If passed, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510) would take these large-scale food manufacturers to task for their irresponsible actions. But some of the bill's critics feel that the legislation would hurt one segment of the food-producing industry more than it helps — small-scale, local farmers.

Small, family farms simply lack the monetary resources and man-power to comply with new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations that would take effect if S. 510 is signed into law. While the new rules would force large-scale producers to churn out safer, healthier food, some critics think they might unintentionally make things more difficult for already-struggling small farmers.

Enter Senator Jon Tester's (D-MT) and Senator Kay Hagan's (D-NC) amendment to S. 510. If implemented, the Tester-Hagan amendment would ensure that small farmers wouldn't be held to the same standards as massive factory farms like Wright County Egg. As Food Safety News reports, "The folks ... know firsthand that foodborne illnesses don't come from family agriculture," Tester told reporters during an event last week.  "As we do the vital work to make sure the food on our kitchen tables is safe, we've also got to make sure we don't treat small producers the same way we treat big corporate farms.  That's exactly what my amendment will fix."

More specifically, the amendment will offer protections for operations that make less than $500,000 a year and sell most of their products directly to consumers in the same state or within a 400-mile radius. The amendment also applies to all operations that the FDA classified as a "very small business." In other words, small, local farmers would not necessarily need to comply with some of the requirements and produce safety regulations implemented under the federal FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. Instead, these small-scale producers (like those who sell their goods at farmers' markets or roadside stands) would continue to be regulated by local and state entities.

While the Tester-Hagan amendment was left out of the final bill's package, Tester will bring his most recent amendment to the floor during debate. Tester said he expects the Senate to approve the amendment.

S. 510 has its fair share of critics, including Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), who refuses to support the bill until Democrats can find a way to fund it. But at least when it comes to small scale farmers-versus-Big Ag reform, it's doesn't have to be an either-or scenario. The Tester-Hagan amendment to S. 510 would allow the small, local food scene to keep blossoming while whipping large-scale operations into shape.

If the 85 food recalls America's seen in the last year tell us anything, it's that the country's food safety system is in desperate need of reform, which is why it's important that S. 510 passes. But let's not better Big Ag while small farmers suffer. Sign Oregon Rural Action's petition asking senators to support the Tester-Hagan amendment in the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.

Photo credit:U.S. Government via Wikimedia Commons