FOOD FIGHT

Food Bill Backlash Stuns Government

Politicians and government officials appear to have been blindsided by a backlash to new food safety laws, with nearly 4000 people signing a petition demanding change.

The petition argues that the sharing of food is a basic human right.

"The Food Bill ... will seriously impede initiatives like community gardens, food co-ops, heritage seed banks, farmers markets, bake sales, and roadside fruit and vegetable stalls," say the organisers of the petition, nzfoodsecurity.org.

Opponents of the law claim free trade agreement negotiations and the long arm of multinational genetically modified seed giant Monsanto are among the drivers of the new law. They also cite changes to US food laws that have seen armed raids conducted against organic food producers and distributors.