Working People Thank Gulf Coast Leaders for Bringing Reason Back to Raw Oyster Debate

A press release issued today that spells out some of the activity going on to block the proposed FDA ban of raw Gulf coast oysters.

FDA Ban on Traditional Food Doesn’t Make Sense


November 9th, Franklin County, FL-- Over the last week tens of thousands of working people on the Gulf Coast and throughout the country have spoken out against a proposal by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban the sale of traditional, raw Gulf Coast oysters.


Bills aimed at stopping the unprecedented FDA ban were introduced last week by a bi-partisan group of Senators and Representatives. They’re part of a growing list of state, local government and business leaders who say a ban would eliminate thousands of jobs.


Taunya James, a wife, mother and seafood worker in Apalachicola, Florida thanked Gulf Coast leaders for speaking out for working people. “There’s going to be a lot of jobs and people’s lives that would be affected (by a ban). It’s not just a history and a heritage that they are just coming in and taking it away, it’s a livelihood.”


“Consumers, oyster harvesters, truck drivers and those who work in the restaurant industry thank the elected officials who are just trying to have a rational discussion about traditional raw oysters,” said Mike Voisin, whose family has harvested oysters for eight generations along the Louisiana Coast.


The Florida Restaurant Association and Louisiana Restaurant Association have also spoken out against the proposed FDA ban, being pushed by the non-profit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) in Washington, DC.


“It’s the height of arrogance for a group like CSPI, well known for its exaggeration, to tell Americans they don’t have the right to decide what to eat,” said Kevin Begos, executive director of the Franklin County Oyster & Seafood Task Force.


"The FDA has gone overboard in proposing a ban on raw oysters," said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-FL. "It’s like trying to kill a gnat with a sledgehammer. We’re going to stand up for the people, businesses and communities whose livelihoods depend on the oyster industry."


Senators Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and David Vitter (R-La.) joined Nelson in opposing the proposed FDA ban, following legislation introduced in the House by Rep. Alllen Boyd, D-FL.


Thousands of people are speaking out against the FDA Oyster Ban on the new Facebook group Save the Gulf Oyster Industry, which has nearly 6,000 members in just one week, while an online petition at SaveOurShellfish.org has 3500 signatures in just four days. In Florida, seafood workers gathered over 4000 signatures opposing the FDA ban in just two days.



http://www.oysterradio.com