FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


CONTACT:
Steve Warrington
Ostriches Online
(708) 452-7596
(708) 452-7510 (Fax)
mailto:steve@ostrich.com
http://www.ostrichesonline.com


Consumers Overcharged for Ostrich Meat Due to Government
Fees


CHICAGO, IL - December 14, 1998 (INB) -- Consumers who eat
"Heart Healthy" Ostrich meat are paying as much as $2.00
per pound more than necessary because the USDA imposes
unfair and unnecessary inspection fees, according to Steve
Warrington, spokesman of Ostriches On Line.


"Ostrich meat is a virtually fat free red meat and has
fewer calories and less cholesterol than skinless chicken
or turkey, yet consumers who demand a more healthy diet
are paying an unjust premium for the privilege," says
Warrington.


The inspection fees are a remnant from the time when
Ostriches were classified as 'exotics', explains Warrington,
but with more than 5,000 Ostrich ranchers farming 500,000+
livestock across the US, it is now time for the legislature
to change this outdated ruling. "Beef, chicken, turkey, pork
and other agriculture industries do not have to pay these
fees," he says. "So we are not competing on a level playing
field and as a result the consumer is not getting a fair
deal."


Warrington, who has begun an on-line petition, is on
target to collect 250,000 names and present these to the
106th Congress where House bill number HR 4828 is due for
discussion. "We must get the Senate and the Congress to
pass this amendment and our petition will be presented to
Mr. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, instigator of the
amendment," he says.


"Once amended, consumers should begin to see a steady
decline in the retail price over a 2 to 3 month period,"
Warrington continued. "Ostrich meat is already a premium
meat because the industry is so young, and for consumers
to have to pay these extra costs is outrageous. But what
we really need is for as many consumers as possible to
sign the petition and write to their Congressional
representatives. That way we stand a much more favourable
chance of getting this amendment passed."


The on-line petition can be found at:
http://www.ostrichesonline.com/general/petition.html


About Ostriches On Line
Ostriches On Line is an Anglo-American company that operates
the world's largest International Ostrich company. Their
award-winning website has over 3,500 pages. Ostriches On
Line can be contacted via telephone at (708) 452-7596, via
fax at (708) 452-7510 and via e-mail at
mailto:steve@ostrich.com. The web site is located
at http://www.ostrichesonline.com.