Wal-Mart capable of huge impact on the dinner table
To the Editor,

As Bath area citizens consider the potential impact of a Wal-Mart on their community's quality of life, local economy and the environment, they may not realize the huge influence the retailer has on another part of daily life: the dinner table.

As the nation's largest grocer, Wal-Mart supplies a significant amount of food for consumers every day. With a food safety crisis in our country involving everything from tainted pet food to contaminated seafood to botulism in canned chili, the health and safety of consumers is at risk. Many people don't know that Wal-Mart imports more than 70% of its products from China - the origin of many of the contaminated food products. But, instead of pushing for more safety standards and inspections of imported food, Wal-Mart has spent millions of dollars lobbying against them.

In a recent national poll, 92% of Americans said they want to know where their food comes from. Yet, Wal-Mart continues to fight against implementing Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), which would provide consumers with the name of the country where the meat and other products originate. In addition, the company is often slow to remove items that are subject to recall, putting consumers at further risk. Rather than only using its massive power to push constantly push suppliers to cut costs (and potentially cut corners on safety), it should use some of its clout to ensure the food it sells is safe.

By lobbying against food inspections, opposing country of origin labeling (COOL), and not reacting quickly enough to remove recalled products from shelves, Wal-Mart's focus on low price is selling the health of its customers and the safety of our food system, to the lowest bidder. As the citizens of Bath consider a stance against Wal-Mart, it could mean protecting the local economy, preserving the unique charm, keeping traffic manageable and keep Keuka Lake and its tributaries clean. It could also be a vote for a better food system.

For more information regarding Wal-Mart's business practices, please visit our web site at www.walmartwatch.com.

For more information regarding Wal-Mart's role in the food safety crisis, please read or download our In Depth publication at http://walmartwatch.com/pages/in_depth/.

David Nassar
Executive Director
Wal-Mart Watch