NEW YORK (AP) – Congress is pushing the Agriculture Department to exempt the groups behind promotional campaigns like “Incredible, Edible Egg” and “Pork, the Other White Meat” from public scrutiny of their internal operations despite recent controversy.
The push comes after organizations representing eggs, pork, potatoes and even Christmas trees pressed for an exception from the federal Freedom of Information Act for programs that promote agricultural products. A provision supporting their push was part of spending legislation approved by a House panel last month.
The familiar campaigns are overseen by USDA but paid for by the industries that vote to organize them. In a non-binding report accompanying the agriculture spending bill, the House Appropriations Committee urged USDA to recognize that the campaigns are “not agencies of the federal government” and therefore should not be subject to information requests required by federal FOIA laws.
The move comes after some so-called “checkoff” programs have been dogged by controversy. Last year, The Associated Press reported that the American Egg Board tried to stop the sale of an eggless mayonnaise alternative at Whole Foods, based on documents obtained through a public records request.
The head of the egg board subsequently stepped down and the USDA launched an investigation into the board’s activities, saying it does not condone “efforts to limit competing products in commerce.”