SACRAMENTO — In the wake of confirmation that a U.S.-reared animal had mad cow disease, California cattle ranchers and grocers are battling consumer, health and labor groups over legislation aimed at allaying fears about tainted meat.
One lawmaker wants to require that beef carry labels showing its country of origin, and to force health authorities to make detailed public announcements about recalls of all contaminated meat and poultry. Another wants to permit ranchers to voluntarily test their cattle for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, so-called mad cow disease.
Federal regulations bar testing, labeling and detailed disclosure about recalls. Foes of the state effort say that federal law takes precedence and that courts would strike down any state statutes. But consumer groups, saying the federal government is soft on meat producers, hope California can force the issue by approving state laws that might pressure the federal government to act.
"It is time for agriculture to step into the 21st century and realize they are part of the larger society," said state Sen. Mike Machado, a Democrat from the San Joaquin Valley town of Linden. "We need to do whatever we can to say that we have the best-quality and safest food."
Machado is a third-generation farmer whose father and uncle raise cattle. But he is angering influential agricultural organizations and many cattle ranchers with plans to reintroduce a cattle-testing bill he offered unsuccessfully last year.
A country-of-origin labeling measure, pushed by Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood) and backed by consumer groups, labor and some farmers, is pending in the state Senate. A recall disclosure bill, by Sen. Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough), supported by county and city public health officers, is set for a vote in an Assembly committee Tuesday.
Most Democratic legislators are siding with labor and consumer groups in favor of labeling and disclosure. Republicans are lining up against both, and are expected to align themselves with much of the cattle industry to fight testing.
"It unnecessarily sensationalizes the disease and it sends a message to consumers that this [mad cow disease] is a legitimate food safety threat in this country. We know that it is not," said Ben Higgins, executive vice president of the California Cattlemen's Assn.
