Now there's Mad Cow Disease. In our global economy, it's increasingly difficult to reply with absolute certainty. The Water Keeper Alliance, an environmental group, has announced plans to file lawsuits against large livestock polluters. The time is ripe to question the status quo. In Germany, the aftershocks of Mad Cow Disease produced a new farm minister from the Green coalition to head a new Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture.
Government has a role, too.
U.S. supermarket acquisitions have been blocked by the Federal Trade Commission, and price-fixing cases have been filed. The impact on the consumer is easier to prove than in the ag antitrust arena. Copyright Meredith Corporation 1997-2001 . All rights reserved. Visit the home and family sites from our parent company. .