The Complete Patient
David Gumpert

It’s kind of amazing, when you think about it, that we’re still debating–as Milky Way and Ken Conrad were, following my previous post–whether milk comes through a cow’s udder sterile or having picked up certain beneficial bacteria.

Our government and public health research establishment are so committed to eliminating raw dairy from the public consciousness that they wouldn’t consider exploring raw milk’s probiotic nature and dynamics. They wouldn’t, after all, want to find positive news.

Another amazing phenomenon is the failure of our public officials to explore the role of raw dairy is its role in community and economic development. Read Full Article »

Posted in Opinion/Editorial

Dean Foods’ organic label, Horizon, claims that “the USDA has not banned the use of plant-based DHA.”  However, according to federal law, any ingredient or additive that is not produced according to organic standards must be formally petitioned, reviewed and accepted before it can be added to organic foods.

The federal organic standards provide a list of non-organic ingredients and additives that have been approved for use in organic foods, and the algal DHA oil used in Horizon’s milk does not appear on this list. Read Full Article »

Posted in Opinion/Editorial

New York Times
By Mark Bittman

If you want to avoid sugar, aspartame, trans-fats, MSG, or just about anything else, you read the label. If you want to avoid G.M.O.’s — genetically modified organisms — you’re out of luck. They’re not listed. You could, until now, simply buy organic foods, which by law can’t contain more than 5 percent G.M.O.’s. Now, however, even that may not work.

In the last three weeks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved three new kinds of genetically engineered (G.E.) foods: alfalfa (which becomes hay), a type of corn grown to produce ethanol), and sugar beets. And the approval by the Food and Drug Administration of a super-fast-growing salmon — the first genetically modified animal to be sold in the U.S., but probably not the last — may not be far behind.

It’s unlikely that these products’ potential benefits could possibly outweigh their potential for harm. But even more unbelievable is that the F.D.A.and the U.S.D.A. will not require any of these products, or foods containing them, to be labeled as genetically engineered, because they don’t want to “suggest or imply” that these foods are “different.” (Labels with half-truths about health benefits appear to be O.K., but that’s another story.) Read Full Article »

Posted in Opinion/Editorial

By Arran Stephens, Nature’s Path Foods

Dear President Obama,

As a Canadian citizen, as an idealist, as the CEO of North America’s largest organic breakfast foods company, independent, strong and family owned—with plants in Wisconsin, Washington and BC employing hundreds of wonderful team members, I want to let you know that when my family and i witnessed your election and your promise of a new, enlightened leadership of the United States and an example to the rest of the world, i was thrilled and moved to tears. I was ready to work on your campaign, if that would have been possible.

When Mr. Vilsack was appointed as the Secretary to the USDA, i was concerned about his past ties to Monsanto and the biotech industry. On the other hand, i was thrilled to learn of your wife, Michelle’s move to plant an organic garden in the White House lawn.

Now that the USDA has given unrestricted approval to propagate genetically engineered alfalfa, i was so disappointed in the USDA, and to you, sir. You have let the world down by this careless decision. Read Full Article »

Posted in Opinion/Editorial

Los Angeles Times
By Doug Gurian-Sherman

Soybeans, corn, cotton and canola — most of the acres planted in these crops in the United States are genetically altered. “Transgenic” seeds can save farmers time and reduce the use of some insecticides, but herbicide use is higher, and respected experts argue that some genetically engineered crops may also pose serious health and environmental risks. Also, the benefits of genetically engineered crops may be overstated.

We don’t have the complete picture. That’s no accident. Multibillion-dollar agricultural corporations, including Monsanto and Syngenta, have restricted independent research on their genetically engineered crops. They have often refused to provide independent scientists with seeds, or they’ve set restrictive conditions that severely limit research options. Read Full Article »

Posted in Opinion/Editorial