. has experienced a major upswing in produce imports from Mexico. At the same time, the USFDA now inspects far less imported food than it did before NAFTA. The results with volume up and inspections down: Americans in every state now face a substantially greater risk of exposure to unsafe food as a direct result of NAFTA. Moreover, serious public health problems in border communities linked to high levels of environmental contamination generated by maquiladora production have worsened under NAFTA. In particular, certain types of fatal birth defects and sanitation-related diseases are on the rise. Consider these issues related to food safety and environmentally-linked health threats:Food Safety Since 1993, FDA inspections of imported food declined from 8% of total imports to less than 2%. NAFTA does not require member countries to maintain a minimum level of food safety standards. The flood of fruit and vegetable imports from Mexico coincides with severe cuts to Mexico's domestic food inspection budget. In 1992, Mexico's spending on food safety was $25 million (U.S.), but by 1995 had been slashed to $5 million (U.S.). In 1993, imported strawberries from Mexico were found to have an 18.4% violation rate for illegal levels of pesticides. Five years later, Mexican strawberry imports into the U.S. have increased 31% under NAFTA, and comprise 96% of total U.S. strawberry imports.Environmentally Linked Health Threats Contamination of the Rio Grande River during NAFTA has been well documented. Extensive testing has reveled that extreme fecal contamination leaves border residents at risk for Hepatitis A. According to the Texas Department of Health, since NAFTA went into effect the Hepatitis A rate for Cameron County rose form 17.8/100,000 residents to 87.4/100,000 residents, an increase of almost 400%. The Hepatitis A rate for Maverick County increased by 122% since 1993, from 82.5/100,000 to 183/100,000. And in Webb County the increase was 78% ...
