With the USDAs publication of the proposed rule regarding catfish and its comically debated definition, some heavy hitters are weighing in on whether this wasteful, duplicative project is even a worthy endeavor at all.

Enter former FDA Food Safety Czar Dr. David Acheson who wonders if we can really afford to spend $30 million on a program for a low risk food noting that theres no plausible public health reason to move the regulation of catfish.

No one whos been watching this issue is under any illusion that this is about anything but erecting barriers to trade and Acheson hits the nail on the head when he hopes, wisdom and sound public health policy, not food politics, will prevail in this argument.