"petition" news and stories

You may have heard about the recent salmonella outbreak. Or possibly your brain is just generally buzzing about the sorry state of the food safety system here in the United States. I know I've been reading about those topics a lot recently, and I'm quite concerned.

I was happy to learn recently that there is a way to try to help the situation, as there are several members of Congress that are trying to improve the food situation. According to Seasonal Pantry, Representative Diana DeGette has introduced legislation that will improve the traceability of fresh produce. The bill is HR3485 and everyone who cares about food safety should be contacting their representative and asking them to support the bill.

In addition to letting your Congressman know that you want him or her to support HR3485, Seasonal Pantry also has started a petition. If this is something you're interested in, this may be a way for you to walk your talk.

Coincidentally related to Nicole's post, The Great Taco Hunt, a blog dedicated to "the Los Angeles Taco Scene" recently pointed out that new fines and regulations are making things a little more difficult for the taco trucks of L.A. Apparently parking fines for catering trucks have increased to up to $310 for repeat offenders. Trucks can now no longer stay in one place for more than an hour in commercial areas or a half hour in residential areas. The new ordinance says that the trucks must move at least a half a mile away and be gone for at least an hour. The Great Taco Hunt also points to an online petition to get the ordinances changed. At the moment the petition has 127 signatures.

A city councilman in Philidelphia, Jack Kelly, has developed a plan that would block the sale of foie gras. Modeled after the Chicago ban, which prevents foie gras from being sold by retailers and at restaurants, Kelly suggests implementing similar measures. Predictably, there is resistance from some in the restaurant community. Retailers like Assouline & Ting, which supplies foie gras to eateries, also oppose the ban, saying that they would have to lay of some employees if that sector of their business was curtailed.

There is obviously at least some support for the proposal, as there is a petition online with over 1,300 signatures in favor of a city-wide ban.

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