U.S. Food and Drug Administration

SWEENEY/BURZICHELLI/FISHER URGE FDA TO REMOVE NEW JERSEY SPINACH FROM WARNING LIST

(TRENTON) -- Concerned about overwhelming and irreversible economic consequences for the state's farmers, Senator Steve Sweeney and Assemblymen John Burzichelli and Doug Fisher today called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to remove New Jersey from the list of states subjected to a nationwide warning against consumption of bagged spinach.

ASSELTA CALLS ON FDA TO CERTIFY N.J. SPINACH AS SAFE
Unsanitary California Produce Imperils New Jersey Farmer’s Livelihoods

Senator Nicholas Asselta, (R-1) and Congressman Frank LoBiondo, (NJ-02) called today on Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., acting commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration to review and certify New Jersey spinach as safe for human consumption. The FDA advisory against eating any raw spinach is in response to an outbreak of E. coli that has been traced to crops grown in California’s Salinas Valley, far from southern New Jersey’s fields.

SENATE PASSES BILL CURTAILING MINORS’ ACCESS TO COMMERCIAL TANNING SALONS

Measure to Prohibit Use by Minors Under 14;Require Parental Consent for Minors Under 18

(TRENTON) -- The Senate today gave final legislative approval to legislation Assemblyman Fred Scalera, Gary Schaer, and Herb Conaway, M.D. sponsored to restrict juvenile access to tanning booths and other artificial tanning devices.

ASSEMBLY ADVANCES VAINERI HUTTLE/CONAWAY BILL TO COMBAT ILLICIT HARVESTING OF HUMAN TISSUE

Bill Crafted in Wake of Multi-State Body-Parts Theft Scandal

(TRENTON) -- The Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee today released legislation Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Assemblyman Herb Conaway, M.D., sponsored to establish tough criminal penalties -- including maximum 20-year prison terms -- for individuals who illicitly trade in the harvesting and sale of human body parts.

SENATOR SCUTARI'S REMARKS TO THE SENATE HEALTH COMITTEE ON S-88, 'THE NEW JERSEY COMPASSIONATE USE MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT'

"Chairman, members of the Committee, good afternoon.

"I would like to open today by thanking you, Mr. Chairman, for scheduling this informational hearing on my bill, S-88, The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. This is not an issue that is bereft of controversy; medical marijuana has both passionate advocates and detractors. Therefore this hearing marks an important opportunity to better educate the public about a subject that is often obscured by the harsh rhetoric, conjecture, and misinformation that attends such heated debate.

ASSEMBLY ADVANCES BILL CURTAILING MINORS' ACCESS TO COMMERCIAL TANNING SALONS
Measure to Prohibit Use by Minors Under 14; Require Parental Consent for Minors Under 18

(TRENTON) -- The Assembly today passed legislation Assemblymen Fred Scalera, Gary Schaer, and Herb Conaway, M.D. sponsored to restrict juvenile access to tanning booths and other artificial tanning devices.

MORIARTY CONDEMNS HOUSE EFFORT TO END STATE FOOD LABELING
Legislation Would Wipe Out More than 200 State Laws
Regarding Safety Labeling of Food

(TURNERSVILLE) - Responding to a bill passed by the United States House of Representatives that would wipe out state laws on food safety labeling, Assemblyman Paul Moriarty condemned the Wednesday vote and how it was rushed through by the House Republicans bankrolled by the food industry.

"This is an attempt by the food industry to hide the effects their products may have on the consumers who purchase them," said Moriarty (D-Camden/Gloucester). "Consumers have the right to know what is being added to the products they are purchasing and the potential harms those additives may have."