Govt believes Gulf seafood is safe. Just to be sure though: Military Steps in to Buy Up Gulf Seafood

[The Straight Story]

Military Steps in to Buy Up Gulf Seafood

The U.S. military is coming to the rescue of fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico, by buying up a bounty of seafood that others have been wary of since last year’s oil spill.

Operators of 72 base commissaries along the East Coast are now promoting 10 Gulf products, including fish, shrimp, oysters and crab cakes. Although consumers have feared the region’s fish, oysters and other products were tainted by oil and chemicals used to fight the spill, testing has so far indicated that the food is safe.

Now, it’s a matter of changing the public’s perception, and in turn boosting sales of the seafood industry in Louisiana, Mississippi and other Gulf states.

The Department of Defense’s Defense Commissary Agency, which sells groceries to military personnel, reservists, retirees and their families at cost plus a 5% surcharge, is promoting seafood also to help promote first lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” fitness and health campaign.

The 72 commissaries involved in the effort represent less than a third of the 249 base stores located in the U.S. But officials are hoping more commissaries will join the program to assist the Gulf region.

http://www.allgov.com/Where_is_the_Money_Going/ViewNews/Military_Steps_in_to_Buy_Up_Gulf_Seafood_110208

[peace13]

1. Don't eat it folks!

They are willing to poison their own?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKkshc-awzs

[The Wielding Truth]

2. So if this is contaminated food its going to our service families?

[monmouth]

3. Will we hear about it when they get sick???? I doubt it. DON'T

EAT THE FISH!!

[quinnox]

4. Uh huh, as if the government cares using the service people as guinea pigs

Nice try. Its always the service people who get shafted. "Here, have some nice toxic oil poisoned fish!"

[saras]

5. A new way to kill more soldiers for Big Oil

And you don't even need an enemy!

[metapunditedgy]

6. They should serve it at the White House table 3 days/week. Right? n/t

[noamnety]

7. Remember when they did this during mad cow disease?

No?

I do. I can't donate blood now because of it.

The military never notified me I was at risk of mad cow because of what they sold at the commissary. I only know because of the fine print rejecting me at the blood banks.

[kath]

10. Whoa! What is the question that blood banks are using that screened you out of the donor pool?

Yikes!
I had not heard of this.

[noamnety]

13. Here's the restriction

At this time, the American Red Cross donor eligibility rules related to vCJD (mad cow) are as follows:

You are not eligible to donate if:

You were a member of the of the U.S. military, a civilian military employee, or a dependent of a member of the U.S. military who spent a total time of 6 months on or associated with a military base in any of the following areas during the specified time frames

From 1980 through 1990 - Belgium, the Netherlands (Holland), or Germany
From 1980 through 1996 - Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy or Greece.

------------
I fall under that. The especially pathetic thing is that they were giving us an allotment of either incredibly crazy cheap or free beef (I forget which), we were allowed one package of it a month and it was a small benefit but we really looked forward to it. They phrased it as a "subsidy program for farmers."

They neglected to tell us it was subsidizing them so they could sell beef that wasn't considered safe for the public within the US.

[HockeyMom]

8. As someone who lives on the Florida Gulf

I have not eaten Gulf shrimp since before the Oil Spill. Besides that, you will be hard pressed to find Gulf Shrimp in the supermarkets. They are selling imported Taiwan. If you do see the Gulf variety, there isn't much quantity and it is VERY EXPENSIVE ($14/lb.).

[annabanana]

9. Yet another reason to join up. .

:eyes:

[Rex]

11. They didn't give a shit when it was Agent Orange, they didn't care about

Gulf War Syndrome and they sure as hell won't care if seafood loaded with toxins makes our troops sick. The way VA is treated should be evidence enough the govt doesn't give a fuck about the military D or R.

[Tsiyu]

12. "Here ya' go, Soldier. Eat up!"

"This is what you been fightin' for, Buddy. Looks like you can eat it..."