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You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 604518
7/28/2009 9:32 AM
Report abusive post | You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety
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The person who may be responsible for more food-related illness and death than anyone in history has just been made the US food safety czar. This is no joke.
Here's the back story.
When FDA scientists were asked to weigh in on what was to become the most radical and potentially dangerous change in our food supply -- the introduction of genetically modified (GM) foods -- secret documents now reveal that the experts were very concerned. Memo after memo described toxins, new diseases, nutritional deficiencies, and hard-to-detect allergens. They were adamant that the technology carried "serious health hazards," and required careful, long-term research, including human studies, before any genetically modified organisms (GMOs) could be safely released into the food supply.
But the biotech industry had rigged the game so that neither science nor scientists would stand in their way. They had placed their own man in charge of FDA policy and he wasn't going to be swayed by feeble arguments related to food safety. No, he was going to do what corporations had done for decades to get past these types of pesky concerns. He was going to lie.
Dangerous Food Safety Lies
When the FDA was constructing their GMO policy in 1991-2, their scientists were clear that gene-sliced foods were significantly different and could lead to "different risks" than conventional foods. But official policy declared the opposite, claiming that the FDA knew nothing of significant differences, and declared GMOs substantially equivalent.
This fiction became the rationale for allowing GM foods on the market without any required safety studies whatsoever! The determination of whether GM foods were safe to eat was placed entirely in the hands of the companies that made them -- companies like Monsanto, which told us that the PCBs, DDT, and Agent Orange were safe.
GMOs were rushed onto our plates in 1996. Over the next nine years, multiple chronic illnesses in the US nearly doubled -- from 7% to 13%. Allergy-related emergency room visits doubled between 1997 and 2002 while food allergies, especially among children, skyrocketed. We also witnessed a dramatic rise in asthma, autism, obesity, diabetes, digestive disorders, and certain cancers.
In January of this year, Dr. P. M. Bhargava, one of the world's top biologists, told me that after reviewing 600 scientific journals, he concluded that the GM foods in the US are largely responsible for the increase in many serious diseases.
In May, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine concluded that animal studies have demonstrated a causal relationship between GM foods and infertility, accelerated aging, dysfunctional insulin regulation, changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system, and immune problems such as asthma, allergies, and inflammation
In July, a report by eight international experts determined that the flimsy and superficial evaluations of GMOs by both regulators and GM companies "systematically overlook the side effects" and significantly underestimate "the initial signs of diseases like cancer and diseases of the hormonal, immune, nervous and reproductive systems, among others."
The Fox Guarding the Chickens
If GMOs are indeed responsible for massive sickness and death, then the individual who oversaw the FDA policy that facilitated their introduction holds a uniquely infamous role in human history. That person is Michael Taylor. He had been Monsanto's attorney before becoming policy chief at the FDA. Soon after, he became Monsanto's vice president and chief lobbyist.
This month Michael Taylor became the senior advisor to the commissioner of the FDA. He is now America's food safety czar. What have we done?
The Milk Man Cometh
While Taylor was at the FDA in the early 90's, he also oversaw the policy regarding Monsanto's genetically engineered bovine growth hormone (rbGH/rbST) -- injected into cows to increase milk supply.
The milk from injected cows has more pus, more antibiotics, more bovine growth hormone, and most importantly, more insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 is a huge risk factor for common cancers and its high levels in this drugged milk is why so many medical organizations and hospitals have taken stands against rbGH. A former Monsanto scientist told me that when three of his Monsanto colleagues evaluated rbGH safety and discovered the elevated IGF-1 levels, even they refused to drink any more milk -- unless it was organic and therefore untreated.
Government scientists from Canada evaluated the FDA's approval of rbGH and concluded that it was a dangerous facade. The drug was banned in Canada, as well as Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. But it was approved in the US while Michael Taylor was in charge. His drugged milk might have caused a significant rise in US cancer rates. Additional published evidence also implicates rbGH in the high rate of fraternal twins in the US.
Taylor also determined that milk from injected cows did not require any special labeling. And as a gift to his future employer Monsanto, he wrote a white paper suggesting that if companies ever had the audacity to label their products as not using rbGH, they should also include a disclaimer stating that according to the FDA, there is no difference between milk from treated and untreated cows.
Taylor's disclaimer was also a lie. Monsanto's own studies and FDA scientists officially acknowledged differences in the drugged milk. No matter. Monsanto used Taylor's white paper as the basis to successfully sue dairies that labeled their products as rbGH-free.
Will Monsanto's Wolff Also Guard the Chickens?
As consumers learned that rbGH was dangerous, they refused to buy the milk. To keep their customers, a tidal wave of companies has publicly committed to not use the drug and to label their products as such. Monsanto tried unsuccessfully to convince the FDA and FTC to make it illegal for dairies to make rbGH-free claims, so they went to their special friend in Pennsylvania -- Dennis Wolff. As state secretary of agriculture, Wolff unilaterally declared that labeling products rbGH-free was illegal, and that all such labels must be removed from shelves statewide. This would, of course, eliminate the label from all national brands, as they couldn't afford to create separate packaging for just one state.
Fortunately, consumer demand forced Pennsylvania's Governor Ed Rendell to step in and stop Wolff's madness. But Rendell allowed Wolff to take a compromised position that now requires rbGH-free claims to also be accompanied by Taylor's FDA disclaimer on the package.
President Obama is considering Dennis Wolff for the top food safety post at the USDA. Yikes!
Rumor has it that the reason why Pennsylvania's governor is supporting Wolff's appointment is to get him out of the state -- after he "screwed up so badly" with the rbGH decision. Oh great, governor. Thanks.
Ohio Governor Gets Taylor-itus
Ohio not only followed Pennsylvania's lead by requiring Taylor's FDA disclaimer on packaging, they went a step further. They declared that dairies must place that disclaimer on the same panel where rbGH-free claims are made, and even dictated the font size. This would force national brands to re-design their labels and may ultimately dissuade them from making rbGH-free claims at all. The Organic Trade Association and the International Dairy Foods Association filed a lawsuit against Ohio. Although they lost the first court battle, upon appeal, the judge ordered a mediation session that takes place today. Thousands of Ohio citizens have flooded Governor Strickland's office with urgent requests to withdraw the states anti-consumer labeling requirements.
Perhaps the governor has an ulterior motive for pushing his new rules. If he goes ahead with his labeling plans, he might end up with a top appointment in the Obama administration.
[link to deepjournal.nl] |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 722396
7/28/2009 9:38 AM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
I really don't get why this or anything else connected to big corporations and politics still surprises people. Most if not all politicians are bought by big corporations and lobbies. They are the shadow government. And yea.. it sucks.. but its a fact. |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 272605
7/28/2009 10:03 AM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
I really don't get why this or anything else connected to big corporations and politics still surprises people. Most if not all politicians are bought by big corporations and lobbies. They are the shadow government. And yea.. it sucks.. but its a fact. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 722396
Maybe people are surprised because Obama's a "Democrat", and they shouldn't be doing things like this.
I'm not surprised, though. It's all about money.
Talk about the fox guarding the hen house though... |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 671832
7/28/2009 10:15 AM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
I really don't get why this or anything else connected to big corporations and politics still surprises people. Most if not all politicians are bought by big corporations and lobbies. They are the shadow government. And yea.. it sucks.. but its a fact.
Maybe people are surprised because Obama's a "Democrat", and they shouldn't be doing things like this.
I'm not surprised, though. It's all about money.
Talk about the fox guarding the hen house though... Quoting: Anonymous Coward 272605
The two party system is so easily manipulated. The same regime can switch sides depending on the public. It was obvious that after Bush, things would be swinging towards a Democrat even though the last few decades have been mostly RINOs (Republican In Name Only) and not true republicans. So the regime found a way to manipulate people who wanted Democrats and put a DINO in now. Now we have a system that is easily manipulated and puts forth candidates that misrepresent itself and the party they are supposed to represent. |
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LemuriaInTheSea
User ID: 541057
7/28/2009 10:17 AM
 | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
OMG! We're DOOMED!! |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 648271
7/28/2009 10:39 AM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
Change you can believe in... TO KILL YOU. |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 736665
7/28/2009 10:40 AM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
So the wolves really are in charge of the sheep pen now. |
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InmYliFe
User ID: 732030
7/28/2009 10:55 AM
 | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
What are we going to eat! |
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joejoe
User ID: 736456
7/28/2009 11:00 AM
 | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
wondering how the obamaclowns will spin this into something good...
not like it is a really any surprise considering his actions up until now though.
-i'm here to find truth, not to make friends. if i do happen to make some friends along the way, then all the better.
-the 2 party system is a sham. both the dems & the repubs are puppets playing for the same team. |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 736542
7/28/2009 11:04 AM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
What are we going to eat!
 |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 601415
7/28/2009 11:09 AM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
sad, it won't be labeled corruption until zero humans are left on this barren rock...  |
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Moran
User ID: 735698
7/28/2009 11:10 AM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
stfu....  |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 726434
7/28/2009 11:46 AM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
Yes Virginia, there Is a hell and some day, some year,
somebody will find his own very special place there.
I will continue praying for him but he's chosen the side of evil by the looks of things. |
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Krysalis
User ID: 570987
7/28/2009 11:47 AM
 | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
Why am I not surprised???!!!! |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 736114
7/28/2009 11:56 AM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
He’s working on the unemployment problem  |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 645417
7/28/2009 12:04 PM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
Monsanto in charge of food safety...
You must be joking. That's like putting Satan in charge of heaven.
Pfff, talking about corrupt. This is really scary. |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 357422
7/28/2009 12:08 PM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
This is SOP for American "government". |
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LURKING
User ID: 656081
7/28/2009 12:10 PM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
What are we going to eat!
They have a Czar of mineralogy? We still have rocks.
"The Truth is so valuable that it must be protected with a bodyguard of lies"
Winston Churchill
Punted from GLP for the last time by unresponsive mods. Have gone to greener pastures where there is more professionalism. |
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mr...bojangles
User ID: 731190
7/28/2009 12:11 PM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
monsanto came into the white house when george bush came into office....
this is nothing new..... |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 734591
7/28/2009 12:15 PM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
where is that psyco pollyannah who trolled the board for obama during the election?  her an whats its face REECE..
 |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 730464
7/28/2009 12:19 PM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
JUST KILL ME NOW PLEASE> I CANT TAKE ANY MORE |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 380131
7/28/2009 12:36 PM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
fascism... |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 717453
7/28/2009 12:44 PM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
JUST KILL ME NOW PLEASE> I CANT TAKE ANY MORE Quoting: Anonymous Coward 730464
Have we reached the bad news critical mass factor yet or what?!
Please! No more!!! |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 478606
7/28/2009 12:45 PM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
Monsanto is clever bunch -- first it's the foods --- then the water ----then the air-- Worse possible choice in the world to put over food safety..... |
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anonanon
User ID: 736748
7/28/2009 12:45 PM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
Yet another Czar???? And none of them seem to be good or ethical choices related to what they are supposed to be overseeing.
He does seem to be building his own private government that no one has anything to say about it. None of them have to go before Congress to be appointed.
People complained wildly because they thought George W. Bush and Cheney were expanding the powers of the executive branch of our government far too much. Yes, he did but nothing compared to this.
If his Czars and staffers are doing all the work of the administration, just what the hell is he doing besides traveling and going to town halls? |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 717453
7/28/2009 12:46 PM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
Monsanto in charge of food safety...
You must be joking. That's like putting Satan in charge of heaven.
Pfff, talking about corrupt. This is really scary. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 645417
Is that Freddy Kruger minding the kids?? |
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~•:*Winnie*:•~ 
the thread killer
User ID: 735670
7/28/2009 12:56 PM
 | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
i am not in the least bit surprised..... unfortunately!
We the people
Are so fucking tired
Of all the corruption
And lies
This is Critical Mass
This is a system crash
Here and now
We'll rip and tear it down
And start over again
Cause we got nothing
To lose
And we got nothing
But time
Cause the spirit
Never dies
And we know about the lies
And they playin both sides
ANd they conquer
And divide
And we decided
That we want it to end ~ Hed PE |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 621262
7/28/2009 1:01 PM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
time for mass arrest of all the DC politicans for treason, organized crime, theft, terrorism, 9/11, chemtrails, ... |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 736757
7/28/2009 1:02 PM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
Speaking of food, it looks like "The Farm Food Safety Act" H.R. 2749 is going up for a vote tomorrow.
This bill . . .
* authorizes warrantless searches of farms
* imposes a $500 tax (or "registration fee") of all operators in all steps of the food production chain
* imposes civil penalties up to $20,000 per individual for each violation
* creates a food trace-back system, burdening farms and small businesses with reams of new paperwork
* empowers the Dept. of Health and Human Services to micro-manage the raising and harvesting of crops (you might have assumed that Congress would've handed the U.S. Dept of Agriculture this terrible power).
In essence, Congress wants to punish the innocent and protect the guilty. It is not small farms and businesses that were the source of contaminated food scares, but rather the processing facilities of large corporations. Yet this bill will only drive small farms out of business, which means reduced competition and higher prices in an already-bad economy.
Suggest calling, send emails and/or using a service like downsize-DC to automate the process. |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 717453
7/28/2009 1:06 PM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
You so much as wisper the M word at the herb fairs, or organic markets here in baltimore, and it's like sombody yelled fire in a movie theatre.
Every, and I mean every last vendor has their own personal diatribe about Monsanto.
How does such an anathema get such a stranglehold on all our basics.
It's appalling! |
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Anonymous Coward
User ID: 334065
7/28/2009 1:09 PM | | Re: You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! Monsanto lobyists to be placed in charge of food safety | Quote |
This just goes to show WHO and WHAT he is.... |
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