Organic Farming - Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net
It would appear so considering the history of his latest appointment of Michael Taylor, as "Food Czar". The former Monsanto Executive worked closely for years with the FDA, passing legislation that restricts organic farming. As an attorney for agriculture giant Monsanto, Taylor helped find legal "loopholes" for manufacturers of DDT, PCB's, pesticides, aspartame and bovine growth hormone, all of which have been found to be harmful for human consumption. Later, he was appointed Policy Chief for the FDA where he was responsible for writing propaganda declaring the safety of bovine growth hormones. From there he went on to push policies which allowed the FDA to sue small dairy farmers.
In addition to the FDA's Policy Chief, Taylor's resume includes positions such as Vice President and Chief Lobbyist for Monsanto. His lobbying efforts have done much to hurt small non-commercial farmers, especially those with organic farms. To say the president's appointing such as individual as "Food Safety Czar" is questionable, would be a gross understatement.
A more recent concern is the Food Safety Enhancement Bill (HR 2749). The title is misleading, to say the least. This bill, if passed, with give the FDA even more power than it already has, including the ability to randomly inspect, without notice, any farm and confiscate property without probable cause. Reportedly, the bill also provides the FDA with control over organic farming, and gives them the right to impose the use of GMO animal feed, pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Which would, in essence, eliminate organic farming as we know it.
The future of commercial organic farming may be murky at best. This is sad considering organic foods are gaining popularity now that educated consumers are demanding them more. For those who are concerned about consuming harmful pesticides, herbicides and other chemical additives in standard commercial food, and wish to ensure a future for organic farmers, there are two options:
1. Get involved politically. Write your representatives and let them know you are opposed to the Food Safety Enhancement Bill (HR 2749), and any other legislation that puts unfair restrictions on organic farmers and other small, non-commercial farms.
To find your local reps. go to https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
For congressmen go to http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/officials/?lvl=L
2. Garden. While it may not be practical to grow all food for your entire family at home, there is much you can do, even in urban areas, to supplement your groceries. Your local food coops are often good resources. See http://www.coopdirectory.org/ for more information and to find a coop near you.
Be educated on the products you consume. If you cannot pronounce or understand most of the ingredients on the label, maybe you should not purchase that product. From a holistic perspective, the best diet is simple. It is one based on whole foods: whole grains, fresh/organic fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and quality oils from nuts and seeds. Processed flours, sugars, high-fructose corn syrup, chemical sweeteners and preservatives should be avoided as much as possible. However if we, the people, allow the government too much control over agriculture and the food industry, we may not have much of a choice in what is available to us in the future. As always, be educated, be aware, and be involved.
SOURCE:
http://www.naturalnews.com/026809_food_Monsanto_the_FDA.html
Comments
This is scary!!!
You people are scary. Keep drinking your green Koolade.
@David s.... better you should go read all about Food Safety Enhancement Bill (HR 2749). It is a very scary piece of legislation. Designed to keep us under the control of the "powers that be" and to keep us stuffed full of preservatives, insecticides and goodness knows what else they put into the soil where our food is grown. Go write to your congressfolks now.
This is very true and so few people are getting involved. I am afraid these bills are going to get passed as they are being shadowed by the health care debate. Please sign my growing petition to get GMOs on food labels here - gopetition.com/petitions/require-foods-to-list-genetically-altered-ingredients.html
And please copy that link and paste it in your status box to share with your friends!
First the small farmer was driven off of their farms or paid not to farm the land. Then they were "price gouged" on the purchase of the seed. And now we have the "attorney lobbyist" going after the organic farmer. Gee...what a country!!! America…the land of opportunity???
The documentary Food INC. gives even more reasons to fight against this bill.
The government want to double there exports of agriculture items, so resistance to the big agribusiness is bad for there bottom line. Regardless of what it does to us. I wonder if michelle obama eats organic?
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