I have no axe to grind in the politics of food debate, but I'll throw this link in just to balance out the discussion: http://www.nofavt.org/sht04.cfm
So why has big agribusiness tried to get laws passed that prohibit food producers from stating that their products are not genetically engineered or are hormone-free? Why don't they want us to know what we're consuming? Why the corporate censorship? In eleven different surveys, American consumers have indicated overwhelmingly that they do not want milk that contains genetically-engineered hormones, and that they want milk labeled so they can make an informed choice in the grocery store. Source: Michael Hansen, "Testimony Before the Joint Meeting of the Food Advisory Committee & the Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee on Whether to Label Milk From rBGH-Treated Cows by Michael K. Hansen, Ph.D." Monsanto and other firms have consistently pressured the FDA to issue warnings to food producers to NOT label their products as being not genetically engineered or hormone-added. Apparently big agribusiness knows that most people care and, as usual, they're going to ride roughshod over the public's right to know and stifle the liberty of organic food producers to tell us what is or is not in what we eat and drink. What are they hiding? This reminds me of how tobacco companies declared for decades that smoking was safe, hauled out tons of mercenary liar... oops, I mean "experts", to "prove" it was safe. They lied through their teeth to everybody until they got busted. You can't trust corporations to sell you safe products if they can make a profit selling you a product that is known to be dangerous. Maybe these hormones and frankenfoods are safe, maybe not. But big business sure doesn't want anyone to know what they're feeding us and that alone should make anyone with half a brain suspicious.
Funny. Your gas station has stickers on the gas pumps telling you that ethanol makes up 10% of your gasoline but God forbid we should tell people if the food they're eating or drinking has been genetically altered. Personally, I think I'd rather have the option to choose (you know, the premise of the free market) what goes into me. Cause big business ALWAYS cares about people, not profits. Right? And the FDA never bows to industry pressure to permit something to come to market when it is harmful to your health *cough*some artificial sweetners*cough* Right?
Many auto safety features and events happened under government pressure, if not outright force, and after much private industry whining and foot-dragging.
Is there an example of a food producer who was prevented from labeling a product with "no DDT inside" or something like that? And is the warning more along the lines of preventing someone from putting on their package "no leprosy inside, unlike all those other tortilla chips"? More and more, everything we get is from one big corporation or another. Which ones do you suggest that we shun, Joe? Which ones are do-gooders not trying to get a competetive advantage from the regulators? Anything you get made from Durum wheat is genetically engineered, I think. Even drawing that line can be tricky. Is the complaint that producers are prevented from saying "milk produced with no blah-blah hormone" on the package or is it people who want to force all the other milk producers into putting on their packages "this milk has loads of bad stuff in it"? The former I'd say is unfair to the do-gooders, the latter is do-gooders trying to put unfair burdens on everyone else.
I believe that it is illegal in Illinois to state on milk cartons that the milk comes from cows not fed bovine growth hormones.
Interesting Story Thanks for the heads-up it's five years old, though http://www.benjerry.com/bgh/bgh-il.html I knew Monsanto was pretty unscrupulous, this is a pretty bad indictment of them. Chicago, well, that city's reputation is already pretty well-established. Even if you label the milk "BGH-free" though, most people will wonder what the hell that means. I'm going to look for it now, though. Another scandal is that the federal gov't buys up surplus milk, so uncle sam is being taken to the cleaners again, too. The get you coming and going.
Here is my take on the labelling issue, brief and to the point. I think organic producers should be able to label where their product comes from if it can be verified. It is easy to make the claim that it is organic, yet still not be. I think consumers should have the right to know. It will not affect my purchasing habits. Genetically altered food doesn't concern me all that much, but for those who are concerned by it, they should have the right to know what they are purchasing.
I would want to know whether the organic food I buy is organic by governmental definition, or by Farm Aid definition. There's a lot of differences. Out of curiosity she asks: Is anyone else able to buy organically raised frozen meat? I've been looking for it everywhere, and can't find it. The alternative is to buy into a cow, and get half a cow all wrapped for the freezer once a year. I just don't need that much meat!!
or you could just quit shopping at the meglo mart down the road. There are options besides government intervention. try looking for an actual butcher.many quality butchers know the source of their product.In some areas it may be more difficult, but you would actually be suprised where you'll find a knowledgable butcher or green grocer once you decide to break the addiction to govt. welfare cases known as supermarkets and actually look for a source elsewhere.
I just hope the genetically alter food so it tastes better. By the way is there much of a difference between gen altered food and selective breeding of plants and animals?
This being treehugging country we have a chain of organic grocery stores. (I believe there a new chain coming up from the States soon). Its called Choices. They have organic beef, but I've no idea (not being an eater of meat) whether its all fresh or there is some frozen. Sorry that doesn't help you much. In my parents area they have a health/natural foods store where they also sell organic beef. http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company/pennsylvania.html http://www.iatp.org/EatWell/orgResults.cfm?region=Northeast&country_ID=70&state=DC','MI','OH','WV','VA','MD','DE','NJ','CT','RI','MA','NH','ME','VT','NY','PA[/url]