New federal label law smashes California’s mercury warning efforts

Steve_L sends news of the US government’s latest efforts to protect consumers from themselves, also known as protecting fisheries from health advocacy groups. A California law requiring tuna companies to place mercury warning labels on their cans has been overturned. What’s more, the decision appears to have been made in part due to new legislation passed in March which would prevent states from requiring food warnings that go beyond federal law. There are already a number of stupid labeling regulations on the books, like the one that prevents milk from being marked as growth-hormone free (because there’s officially no difference, and it makes the Monsanto-produced milk look inferior), and if this law goes ahead (39 attorneys general have come out against the bill), I’m sure we can expect many more, with states powerless to oppose them. Link.