A Letter to Senator John McCain

Dear Senator McCain:

I am writing you about your introduction of Senate Bill 632.  I resided in your home state of Arizona for the past four years studying fisheries and aquaculture at the University of Arizona before moving to Arkansas to work as an extension aquaculture specialist helping out the aquaculture industry here.  In my studies and through my experience I have learned quite a bit about water quality, food safety and what it takes to provide quality food products to the American Consumer.

To say that the USDA catfish inspection program's sole purpose is to "prop up the US catfish industry at the expense of the American consumer and our international trade partners" is misguided and even insulting.  It is no secret that the waters used to grow many foreign seafood imports are heavily polluted.  To combat poor water quality, these fish farmers are often forced to use antibiotics and other chemicals that are not approved for use in the United States and which may even pose serious health effects for American's who consume these products.

Currently the FDA tests less than 2% of seafood imported to the U.S. and the failure rate is well above what we should hope for as a civilized society.  When it comes to imported seafood, laboratory inspection is the most crucial safety aspect, since fish will absorb much of the contents of their environment.  Whether that be metal contaminants such as arsenic or antibiotic residues, these things are not detectable without laboratory tests and pose the greatest health concern for consumers.

If you are going to look out for special interest groups, look out for ones in your own country.  It appeared that our government does not care about food safety judging by the passing of the Monsanto Protection Act, but you have made it evident that you don’t care about the safety of the American people.  Allowing potentially contaminated seafood to flow freely into our markets at the expense of the American Consumer is the real tragedy here not propping up a hardworking American industry.  Ask yourself mister Senator, would you eat contaminated seafood? 

Sincerely,

Matthew Recsetar

Extension Aquaculture Specialist