Confusing Recall & Ag Gag Bill

Confusing Recall & Ag Gag Bill

Confusing Recall & Ag Gag Bill. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

A recent FDA recall of caramel apples due to a listeria outbreak has resulted in another recall of Granny Smith and Gala apples from a California apple grower after tests confirmed two strains of listeria monocytogenes were found at the facility. Bidart Bros. are working with officials on the recall. There's been some confusion over the recall which extends only to those apples produced by Bidart Bros and not to all Granny Smith and Gala apples. Consumers who are buying or have recently bought Granny Smith or Gala apples should ask their retailers if the apples were supplied by Bidart Bros. Other varieties of apples and apples from other growers are not affected by the recall.

Several states are considering bill that would criminalize unauthorized recordings of ag operations. In 2014, Idaho's Gov. Butch Otter signed an "ag-gag" bill into law and now Washington State is considering a similar bill. At a recent hearing, Representative David Taylor from Washington's 15th District spoke out in favor of the bill.

TAYLOR: What this bill is dealing with as Representative Schmick said is legal, on-going activities that are not in violation of any law or statute.

But the bill has little support from Democrats who say the bill's criminal activity is already illegal under trespass and vandalism statutes.

That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.

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