S. 510: FDA Food Safety Modernization Act

[IslandTractor]

I'd like people to understand the source of the problems and fight it there. Unfortunately, this is the more expensive way. That's one of the reasons irradiation came about. There is significant evidence that these processes destroy beneficial parts of the food. Look at the whole raw milk arguement. I'd rather that Big Ag not take garbage and add some chemicals, nuke it, preserve it in some toxic gas and then tell me that it's safe to eat. And this can happen at the same time Big Ag tells the government to shut down a real farm which is producing a good natural product in a safe manner.

What evidence are you talking about regarding "destroy beneficial parts of the food"?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Do the folks who did this REALLY need more power?:

morningland dairy - Google Search

It all started when Morningland got caught up in the Rawesome Food Club raid in California a few months ago. Morningland cheese was confiscated by FBI, FDA, California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and Health Department agents who entered the raw food club with guns drawn.

On August 24th, 55 days after the Rawesome raid, the CDFA reported it had found dangerous Listeria and Staphylococcus bacteria in two Morningland cheeses.

Since then, Morningland Dairy has been visited by the FDA and the Missouri Milk Board, and have been ordered to destroy all their cheese stock some 8 months of work the value of which is approximately $250,000.

The FDA also recently announced a nationwide recall of Morningland cheese, even though no one has reported any illness from Morningland products in the dairy痴 30-year history.

FDA Orders Morningland Dairy to Destroy 50,000 Pounds of Raw Cheese – Eat Drink Better

 

[IslandTractor]

Do the folks who did this REALLY need more power?:

morningland dairy - Google Search



FDA Orders Morningland Dairy to Destroy 50,000 Pounds of Raw Cheese Eat Drink Better

Listeria in cheese is a bad actor. Kills newborns if mother is infected. Also causes serious problems for immunocompromised individuals. Easily prevented with pasteurization so why not do that?

 

[Scooby074]

im definitely not in favour of big ag..

BUT.. we do need rules regarding food safety. I think alot of people forget how many died from food borne illness just 100 years ago.

Unless its something you grow yourself, for your own consumption, then there has to be regs.

Last year there was new regs put in place to force roadside vendors to have refrigeration. And there was the same outcry.

Up till then they just had their fish/meat/ whatever on ice. "Nobody ever got sick" was the cry to keep the status quo. But how do we know? Many people have food illness and never think what they ate is the source.

Do you honestly think that the guy selling lobster on the side of the road will throw out $500 if the temp rises because he didnt have enough ice? Not likely.

As i said, if its for your own family, i really dont care what you do.. but if your going to sell to mine then there are certain standards.

 

[tungularafishcamp]

im definitely not in favour of big ag..

BUT.. we do need rules regarding food safety. I think alot of people forget how many died from food borne illness just 100 years ago.

Unless its something you grow yourself, for your own consumption, then there has to be regs.

Last year there was new regs put in place to force roadside vendors to have refrigeration. And there was the same outcry.

Up till then they just had their fish/meat/ whatever on ice. "Nobody ever got sick" was the cry to keep the status quo. But how do we know? Many people have food illness and never think what they ate is the source.

Do you honestly think that the guy selling lobster on the side of the road will throw out $500 if the temp rises because he didnt have enough ice? Not likely.

As i said, if its for your own family, i really dont care what you do.. but if your going to sell to mine then there are certain standards.

I don't know about the guy selling lobsters on the side of the road but I do know that I don't sell my #2 salmon, they go to crab bait and I wouldn't even give a dead crab to my exwife, much less sell it to someone. I like many small food producers take pride in my products and their quality.
We are seeing a real comeback in farmers markets and things being harvested and sold locally. The advantage for everyone is you get to know and develope a relationship with your customer/supplier. Big Ag sees this too and I feel they see it as a threat and are useing their lobbying power accordingly. Did you see the part in the bill making it illegal to save your own seeds??? Come on.....


I agree that we do need health standards but we need to have some common sense about them too, and have them for the good of the CONSUMER and not for the good of the producer who has the most to gain from them. :2cents:

Rick

 

[inveresk]

What evidence are you talking about regarding "destroy beneficial parts of the food"?

There's a good deal of evidence which highlights concerns with food irradiation. For example, Australia in 2009 banned the irradiation of cat and dog food following the paralysis of around 100 animals, about 30 of which died. This article explains. It also has good links to other articles, particularly that published by the Veterinary Information Network.

What have we learned from cats and dogs about food irradiation? TheDailyBite's Blog

Also, the International Institute for the Concern for Public Health has published their views. Here's a recent article, first published by them in 2004 where they highlight health concerns. To the best of my knowledge, these concerns are still valid which is why they republished the article.

Concern for Public Health: Food Irradiation Revisited

As IICPH note, irradiation uses gamma, x rays and high energy electrons. We know these cause mutations in living tissue and the dosage for irradiated food is up to one hundred million times the dosage you'd get during a chest x ray in hospital. it's evident that the irradiation somehow altered the cat and dog food in Australia last year. How it was altered isn't clear although the same product, without the irradiation, was sold without problems in other countries. However, the health concerns were sufficient for Australia to ban irradiation of pet food in 2009.

This article also deals with your question about how food nutrients are altered or destroyed.

 

[tungularafishcamp]

So can you irradiate people food in Australia?

Rick

 

[inveresk]

So can you irradiate people food in Australia?

I understand that Australia, New Zealand and the European Union permit food irradiation for human consumption. I believe the list of foods approved for irradiation is limited and labelling is compulsory. No doubt last year's events in Australia will have reawakened the debate within a number of governments about safety.

 

[tungularafishcamp]

That is pretty ironic that it isn't safe for pets yet ok for people
Rick

 

[inveresk]

That is pretty ironic that it isn't safe for pets yet ok for people
Rick

I completely agree. It certainly reveals in whose interests our legislators are working. The interests of "We, the People" seem to have been subjugated to those of We, the Corporations.