STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1266-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2804

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2804, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PRE-PACKAGED MEAT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to update Hawaii's statutes in regard to food safety by providing that a meat or a meat product is adulterated if it is treated with gas or other technology for the sole purpose of enhancing color.

     The Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers, Local 996 supported this bill.  The Hawaii Food Industry Association opposed this measure.  The Department of Agriculture and National Meat Association submitted comments.

     Your Committee heard testimony stating that the use of carbon monoxide gas (CO) on meat products is currently prohibited, but CO is currently used on fish by the food industry to prevent discoloration, especially fish with pink flesh such as tuna and salmon which are popularly used in sushi.  Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce is respectfully requested to look further into this matter to determine why the use of CO is not allowed for color enhancement in meat yet is considered safe for fish.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2804, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2804, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair