VOTE: NO
Died In Committee on 06-26-21
Status (overview) of bill:https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Measures/Overview/HB2348
Committee assigned to bill:https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Committees/HHC/Overview
This bill prohibits hospitals and long term care facilities from offering processed meats.
Personal Choice and Responsibility
Government has no business playing medical expert nullifying personal choice. Nutritionists say that seniors don’t get enough protein in their diets. This is ruthlessly endangering seniors.
Limited Government
Government has no business dictating how private businesses should be run unless health is imminently and seriously at risk. “Processed meat” means meat and poultry that has been transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking or any other process, other than cooking, to enhance flavor or improve preservation, including but not limited to hot dogs, sausages, bacon and turkey bacon”.
Local Control
Is this an attack on ranchers as a first step to eliminate raising cattle as a carbon producer?
Free Markets
Long Term care facilities are also subject to this bill, but at least they get to keep their bacon and hotdogs, for now. Long term care facilities provide medical services, but not surgical. This bill requires them to offer to patients, residents, staff and visitors 100% plant-based meals and 100% plant-based beverages that are low in fat, sodium and added sugars. Many of the plant-based products are not recommended for freezing giving them a short shelf life which could lead to increased food waste and increase the cost for long term care. The bill clearly states that “100 percent plant-based meals shall be offered at no additional cost beyond the cost charged for a comparable meal that is not plant-based” so all food costs will go up.
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