Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 332, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to protect consumers and the local food industry from the sale of food that is misleadingly labeled or presented, by requiring all frozen food that is thawed before being sold, to be prominently labeled as being "frozen and thawed."

Testimony in support of this bill was received from the ILWU Local 142 and Hawaii State Teachers Association. The Hawaii Food Industry Association supported the intent of the bill. The Department of Health offered comments.

Your Committee believes that all foods should be offered for sale in a way that does not mislead or misinform the consumer, and that consumers should be informed that food has been frozen and thawed at the time that they make their purchases.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 332, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.