08/11/06 Uniform food health warning labeling

Farm and Ranch August 11, 2006 Commodity groups, food companies, grocery concerns and others are arguing for common sense in food label health warnings and urging congressional passage of the National Uniformity for Food Act. In explaining why this legislation is needed, Chris Voigt Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission, points to California which requires a warning label on anything that may cause cancer. Well, many foods when cooked contain a by-product acylamide, which has been found to cause cancer in lab animals. Voigt: "And this is causing a lot of consumer confusion. Because a lot of these products, particularly the whole grains and potatoes are very nutritious products and now we are going to be faced with putting cancer warning labels on them. For example, a whole wheat product might say that this may reduce certain types of cancer and right below it, if you sell it in California, you gotta say well it might also cause cancer." In fact, a California lawyer has sued the Ohio company which makes Maypo, and Wheatena for not putting the cancer warning label on Wheatena. The National Uniformity for Food Act would create a consistent, national system that also recognizes the role of state and local governments in the regulation of food products. It has passed the House of Representatives but is being attacked in the Senate by activists, trial lawyers and others. Senate committee action on the bill could come next month. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.